I just sent this letter to Jim Demint...

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Dear Jim,

I grew up in SC, and went to USC.

I don't think there is a better place in the world to grow up. I feel lucky.
I am also very proud of the clear, brave, and principled leadership coming out of South Carolina lately. Don't give up. You uplift and encourage millions of patriotic americans. DONT become dispirited.

If I was in ACORN, I would vote for you dozens of times!
(hehe)

Please consider this request. As I read it, the US Constitution allows the House of Representatives and the Senate to conduct all internal business autonimously. It even specifies any member can be removed by a simple 2/3 vote of the body.

Our current leadership has CLEARLY broken their oath of office by allowing the latest slate of bills to come to a vote. (I'm talking about TARP, BAILOUTS, etc).

As Americans, our job is to protect the Constitution. To that end, we are obligated to fight for removal of any House or Senate members that brazenly ignore the very Constitution they are sworn to protect.

As I see it, these leaders are either ignorant of the Constitution, or are commiting criminal offenses. In either case, they do NOT have the right to remain after breaking their oaths of office.

I would say the same about the President, but that is a different process.

I URGE you to work with Blue dog Democrats to form a coalition and SWEAR to vote out any leader who sponsors or allows un-constitutional bills to come to the floor for a vote.

THANKS FOR YOUR BRAVERY and SERVICE.

I just sent the following letter to my state representatives:

Dear Sirs (and Madam),

I feel lucky to live in a place that has truly great representation.
You guys do a great job. Thank you for your service.

Most of my friends and I watch the news with disbelief.
We can't believe the brazen, unconstitutional actions our federal government is taking.
The federal government is completely out of control. They are acting illegally, and are daily exercising powers NOT granted to them by the people OR the States of this nation.

The Constitution gives the federal government the duty and power to ENUMERATE (count) the number of citizens in each state in order to provide accurate representation in the House of Representatives. Any federal law threatening a citizen with fines or imprisonment for refusal to provide ADDITIONAL information is unconstitutional and overreaching. Many of us talk loudly about the out of control federal government. Now is our chance to do something about it.

US Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann has publicly stated she will NOT answer any questions aside from household size. If we follow her leadership, this issue could become the 1st shot in the 2nd (peaceful) revolution. We have the responsibility to preserve freedom, and to defend the US Constitution from the direct attack it is under.

Rosa Parks fought against the immoral State segregation laws at great personal peril. Can't we do the same?
Let us not shrink in fear. If we cower, we deserve to be herded like the sheep we have become.

I respectfully request you draft a simple piece of legislation declaring:

1. The State of Georgia, under the US Constitution and the 10th amendment, declare all questions in the US Census not pertaining to ENUMERATION for the purpose of representation to be unconstitutional, and therefore, null and void.
2. The State of Georgia declares its citizens immune from federal prosecution for not answering questions unrelated to population enumeration for the purpose of representation in the US House of Representatives.
3. Georgia citizens must answer Census questions about household size.
4. Georgia citizens have the right to refuse to answer any Census question not about household size.
(This includes questions about income, personal habits, race, etc...)
5. Cencus workers may not threaten or harrass Georgia citizens that refuse to answer Census questions not pertaining to ENUMERATION.

I know our legislature is not in session. We have declared emergency sessions for lesser issues. This is OUR CHANCE to start peacefully reclaiming Georgias constitutional right to self-governance.

I think our federal government is out of control and acting unlawfully. If you feel the same way, I BEG you to write this bill and PUBLICLY call for a special session to enact it. You will have MASSIVE support from Georgias silent majority.

Thank you for your service.

Sincerely,

Fred Bunn

The 1st shot of the 2nd revolution !!!

Michelle Bachmann (R-Minnesota) has once again shown leadership.
If you haven't heard yet, she has publicly refused to answer the Census questions.
The only answer she has given is the number of people living in her house.

The US Constitution authorizes the US Government to conduct a cencus in order to COUNT (enumerate) the number of citizens in each state. That is the ONLY POWER granted to the US Government census process. It is illegal to ask anything other than the number of household residents when conducting the Census.

As usual, our "little emperors" in Congress have completely ignored the Constitution.

Many of us (including me) talk loudly about how "Something should be done".
Well... Now is our chance. It's the perfect opportunity to peacefully and legally inform our Congress that we have had enough. We have the right and the duty to ignore any federal action that violates the US Constitution.

The current Census is in clear violation of our Constitution.
Refusal to answer all questions is rarely prosecuted.
I believe the penalty for non-compliance is a $1000 - $5000 fine.

I will not answer any question on the Census except the number of residents one.
I urge all patriotic Americans to join me. This can be OUR first shot in the revolution.
If we don't stand up now, we don't deserve freedom. We deserve to be herded like sheep.

If they fine us, it's a small price to pay. It's just another tax increase.
If they fine ME, I swear I will take them to court.
They will lose the case. And it might well be our first step on the long road back to freedom.

I'll follow up this post with federal statutes and Constitutional quotations.
It's in our best interest to KNOW what we are doing is legal. We must know what we believe, and act on what we know.

God Bless (If I can still say that!)

Fred Bunn
Atlanta, GA

I just ran across this quote, and wanted to share it with you all.
In modern language, I read it as:
"A constitution spells out how the government is 'constituted' by the people. Any governance without a constitution is power without a right. Powers exercised outside a constitution are 'stolen' powers which a government has unilaterally assumed."

It reinforces what we are all learning here.

"That men mean distinct and separate things when they speak of constitutions and of governments, is evident; or why are those terms distinctly and separately used? A constitution is not the act of a government, but of a people constituting a government; and government without a constitution, is power without a right.

All power exercised over a nation, must have some beginning. It must either be delegated or assumed. There are no other sources. All delegated power is trust, and all assumed power is usurpation. Time does not alter the nature and quality of either."

Thomas Paine - "The Rights of Man"

Another idea for promoting our founding principles.

Much of our march to socialism is only possible because we've allowed our language to be redefined.
It may be time to resurrect the REAL language in correct historical terms.

As a starting point, perhaps we should start referring to the various states as "Countries", and the US government as "Nation". For example:

Georgia, Virginia, South Carolina, New York, Maine, Massachusetts, and other states were all viewed as independent COUNTRIES at the writing of the US Constitution. That's why federal powers were so carefully limited. Please remind everyone the term "State" in 1776 actually MEANT an independent country. That's why citizens are so confused today. It's hard to tell why we need states anymore. That's because the feds have stolen all their powers and resources, in complete opposition to the US Constitution.

State and Local Election Candidates:
Philisophical Position:

o Return governing power to the States, as the Constitution demands.

* Taxation - Repeal the income tax (16th amendment)
This would force the government to ASK us (the States) for funding every year. This is how our constitution was originally written. Move all taxation power to the States, who are more answerable to the people that elect them. This enables us to have more control over personal tax burdens, and allows us to DECIDE how our taxes should be paid. We have a strong voice at the state level, and can champion a FAIR TAX, sales tax, flat tax, or progressive income taxes. We can tax businesses or NOT tax businesses. In short each State can decide what works best for them.
* Reigning in the federal government - Repeal the 17th amendment
Originally, our government was founded on the PEOPLE electing US congressmen, and the STATE GOVERNMENTS appointing US Senators. The reasoning was simple and sound. US SENATORS would not let the federal government seize powers from the States, enact unconstitutional programs that harm the states, or spend money we don't have by taxing or borrowing.
* Social Issues - Campaign for human life and freedoms, but promote the idea of having the PEOPLE decide by direct voting. Specifically, our candidates should speak their own conscience, but abide by the will of the people.

EXPLANATION:
Why our national and local platforms should differ:
The Federal government is operating a multitude of illegal programs. Washington politicians in have become the Kings we fought to escape. We have replaced one lifetime king with 535 elected ones. They tell us how much we can earn, what kind of light bulbs to use, what products we can make, and even how we can talk to one another. They pit one citizen against another so we won't pay attention to what they are doing. They seek the power to define every aspect of our lives. WHY? So they can sell their influence and power to the highest bidder, or in benign cases, so they can use us as pawns to build the "perfect world" of their imagination, without regard to our freedom or well being.

Social programs run by the federal government are unresponsive, inefficient, and ineffective. They are a breeding ground for corruption, and once started, can't be gotten rid of. On the other hand, State run social programs have a real chance of success. Programs to protect the downtrodden, sick, and elderly are good, but they must be done at the State level. This is the only way we can monitor and control their effectiveness. More importantly, we have the power to end State programs that turn out badly.

We must return governing power to the States, where you have real power to effect change. Not only is this is the BEST solution. It is the ONLY LEGAL ONE. Washington D.C. has been operating illegally for years. The politicians have been cheating us. They ignore the rules of the game defined in the Constitution, and use "compassion" to excuse their actions and demonize anyone who disagrees with them.

How we got here:
The revolutionaries who fought to escape government repression told us exactly how to avoid our current problems. They viewed New York, Virginia, and Georgia as the equivalents of Britain, France, and Germany. That's why they called them "States". Each state had complete control of its own government. It made its own laws and found its own solutions. The federal government was forbidden to interfere or control what laws or solutions a State should make, unless a state law violated YOUR freedoms as defined in the Bill of Rights.
Legally, the Federal Government may only do three things:

1. Provide a common voice for diplomacy and defense
2. Prevent any state from passing oppressive laws, measured by the "Bill of Rights".
3. Provide a common currency, roads, post offices, and a national border. This is why we can buy and sell products accross state lines without currency exchanges or customs paperwork. The "national border" is why we don't need customs checkpoints at each state border (like in Europe).

National Election Candidates:
Strategy:

o Let the states decide. Let the states experiment to find the best solutions.
o Become protectors of the Constitution and defenders of individual freedoms.
o Advocate moving governmental powers back to the States, where people can have a voice.

Philisophical Position: The federal government has become arrogant, unresponsive, dictatorial, corrupt, and is operating ILLEGALLY. People should control the Government, not the other way around. The only way we can do this is to return governing power to the STATES. This is the only way individuals can ever have a real voice in their government.

We Replublicans accept responsibility for contributing to the problem. To avoid being called "heartless", we have made the mistake of looking the other way as our US Constitution has been incrementally disregarded. That is a nice way of saying we've looked the other way when our federal government intentionally did things that were against the law of our land.

* Social Security, Welfare, Medicaid and Medicare - Let the states run their own programs
We support social programs, but only when they are answerable to YOU. Social programs have to be run at the state level. In fact, Washington politicians are breaking the law when they form social programs at the NATIONAL level. See the "ACTION" position for details.
* Gay marriage and abortion - Let the citizens decide in each state.
These issues can't be addressed at a national level without creating animosity, and a never ending war between citizens of differing opinion. It becomes a constant of one citizen group fighting for the power of federal control over other citizens. Our founders had the right idea. Let the citizens of each State decide for themselves, and retain the right to enforce their decision inside State borders, regardless of other State positions.
* Free Speech - Demand the first amendment be obeyed
The federal government does not have the authority to champion one opinion over another in any forum. In fact, they are forbidden from doing so by the 1st amendment. The only constitutionally valid authority the FCC can claim is the right to allocate radio and television channel spectrums. This is the only kind of license they should ever issue.
* Business - Protect us from interstate fraud
The only legal authority the federal government has in business is to resolve interstate crimes. We need the federal government to prosecute people who commit fraud against citizens of another state. This includes failure to pay or provide services, scams, and frauds involving investments made on inside information. Banking regulation and insurance programs should be returned to the states, where they have belonged all along, or turned over to private insurance companies, regulated by each state. "Big Banks" would have to choose universally acceptable insurance programs.
* Accountability - Republican candidates will sign a contract agreeing they will not run for re-election under ANY party banner if the Republican party committee determines they knowingly proposed or voted for any unconstitutional federal law.
* REPLUBLICAN pledged ACTIONS -
o Vote for a freeze on all federal spending and programs.
o Freeze current programs and spending at 2008 levels until they can be reviewed for constitutionality.
o New programs or spending increases can only increase with a 4/5 majority vote in both houses of congress.
o Set the value of a our currencies against real commodities, like gold, silver, copper, etc...
o Transition unconstitutional federal programs back to the States by re-chartering them as non profit organizations that receive all funding directly from the States. States will agree to fund these programs at current levels for 4 years, then can decide to continue paying for services, provide their own programs, or opt out entirely.
o Place all government private ownership of corporations into one mutual fund pool, distributed equally to all legal citizens
o Make no new immigration laws until present ones are enforced and upheld
o Handle immigration enforcement by going after employers of illegals, and deporting lawbreakers.
o Clarify the constitutional language to stop chain migration by way of "Anchor babies". A baby is not born into US citizenship unless at least one parent is a legal US citizen.
o Make the EPA an independent organization. States can become members of the EPA by funding it and VOLUNTARILY adopting some or all of its recommendations. Citizens can lobby their own state legislatures to demand compliance. Citizens of each state can decide for themselves.

I no longer consider myself a "Republican", but I would fully support them if they would return to founding principles. We should not lose sight of the benefits that would come from convincing a group like the Republican party to abandon their losing strategies in favor of principles. To that end, here's a letter I recently sent to Michael Steele, the current GOP chairman. (And I think he's a bascially GOOD guy, dealing with a BIG problem)

Michael,

Thanks for taking time to read this letter.
I've seen you on Fox for quite some time, and like you very much. I know you have inherited a hard job. Like you, I want to save this country from the statists. Please let me offer some ideas that might prove useful.

We can WIN ELECTIONS, but only if we accept responsibility for our mistakes, and redefine ourselves on sound principles. The average voter is smart and principled.

Why *I* think we got here.
Republicans have traditionally advocated equality, freedom, and the rule of law. The statists have demonized Republicans for lacking compassion. We understand why centrally planned programs are unwise, unconstitutional, and inefficient, but have cowered when we were called "heartless". For a while, we forgot the principles of local governance. We must return to highlighting the loss of freedom that comes with accepting anything for "free". It's like living at home with your parents. Rent and food are "free", as long as you obey their rules (however oppressive).

A word about "Positioning"
I highly recommend the book "The 22 immutable laws of marketing". Not because we have a "product". It's deeper than that. It's about presenting clear image of who we are, and what we will do for our votes. Our presented image must jive with reality, and present a CLEAR difference between us and the statists (Democrats, socialists).
We must define a true, defensible position the statists cannot claim as their own, then let the voters decide. We must PROMISE to act as promised when elected or be banned from ever running again.

Winning businesses always clearly position themselves against their competitors. For example:

* 7-Up campaigned as the "UN-COLA". It was brilliant. How can Coke fight back? They can't claim to be an "UN-COLA", too!
* Avis used their #2 position to convince people they "try harder", and put you first. How can Hertz fight that? They can't also claim to be #2. Their only alternative is to change the subject.
* Foreign auto makers focused on "reliability", then planted the message that "Foreign cars are more reliable". This blindsided the US manufacturers. They couldn't say "We make foreign cars, too"! Their only choice was to improve reliability and fight the deeply implanted image already in consumer minds.

Here's how I think we can win:

Strategy:

o Run national candidates differently than State candidates.

o Run AGAINST central control.
o Run FOR local control.
o Remind people it's not wise to become the "children" of an out of control, uncaring central government.
o Run FOR returning all taxation to the States.
This will force the federal government to REQUEST funding, not demand it.
o Promote the idea of States having better tax systems like the FAIR TAX, sales taxes, or flat taxes.
o Promise to follow the money trail in corrupt federal programs, and prosecute lawbreakers who are receiving taxpayer dollars through graft, corruption or fraud.
o Promise to protect people while federal programs are transitioned to State control.

It's dagnytaggartsociety@blogspot.com

I've sent an email.
I'm just now forming an organization in order to execute a "bottoms up" grassroots plan to repeal the 16th amendment. It appears that is one of the only peaceful, realistic option we have left to get the federal government to return to constitutional rule.

Anyone interested in learning more can email me at: dagnytaggartsociety@gmail.com
I'll be erasing this comment soon to keep the spam monsters at bay.