FREEDOM

What is your definition of freedom? People all have their own definitions of freedom. In the 1828 Noah Webster dictionary, the definition is: A state of exemption from the power or control of another. The second definition is "liberty", and the third definition is exemption from slavery.

Most people will agree with these definitions, but ask them if they think they are free and you could get many answers. It depends on what you consider "big government." I think there is too much government. The government has grown much too large. The intent of the founders was to go to congress, take care of business and then coming back to their homes and living under the laws they passed.

Today we have a political class. Professional politicians whose main business is to get re-elected. While they are in Washington, they believe it is their duty to pass more laws, create more agencies and increase taxes to pay for all their largesse. Every time they pass another bill, you lose more of your freedom.

This happens at the state level and the local level. Even the local school board takes away some of your future freedom when they fail to make sure students learn not only the Constitution, but the principles upon which it was founded.

If our students don't know what freedoms they are given by God and our Constitution, then they will never know what they lost. They will only know what the government will give them.

Do you want to be a doctor? A lawyer? A policeman? A small business owner? Do you want to make that choice or do you want the government to decide that for you.

Are you as free as you used to be 20 years ago? 10 years ago? Will your children inherit that same freedom? Will they even know what freedoms we had? What can you do to save our freedom? Get involved with your local government. Take back your freedoms by participating. Run for local precinct committeeman. Run for your local school board. Change what your children are being taught. They are not being taught about freedom. YOU can change that!

Freedom is the capacity for self determination. There is a desire of freedom written in every human heart. Freedom is the absence of restraints on our ability to think and act.

The only thing we should want from our government is FREEDOM!

We are still free to restore our freedom, but only if you ACT NOW!

IF I WERE ELECTED TO CONGRESS

There are just so many things I would like to see changed. Not change we didn't ask for, but change to reduce the size of the government and their ever increasing control over our lives. What would I do differently if I were elected to congress?

I am going to answer that in the next couple of columns, but I must put up a disclaimer......

1) I know that I alone cannot accomplish everything I want to do by myself. I need other like minded citizens in congress.
2) I wouldn’t stay more than one or two terms at the most. Damn the seniority rule. Full speed ahead.
3) I would try to be the role model for the Congress I would like to see. It’s sort of like Mr. Smith Goes To Washington. The theme of the campaign would be freedom, which we slowly lose daily.

Lets start with Terms of Office
Sessions of Congress should only be conducted 6 months out of the year. Three months in session, then three months in your home district. Another three months in session and another three months at home. There is no law that is so important that it's debate cannot be continued till the next session. Congress and/or their staff are the ONLY people allowed to write the bill. If a bill is so important, it can be voted on electronically at his home office.

During their time at home, they will be required to get out and meet real people, not lobbyists and not other politicians. They will have to visit offices, factories, bowling alleys, truck stops and hospitals including military hospitals to talk to veterans. No set up of one sided rallies.

They will be required to read EVERY bill they are to debate and we the citizens have the right to know who actually wrote it. Bills must contain only one subject. There would be no adds or amendments to a bill that is not germain to the main concept of the bill.

People always complain about the high salaries Congress’ gets paid. They passed a law/resolution to automatically give themselves PAY RAISES every year! In 2009 they gave themselves a pay raise, but Social Security beneficiaries received not even a one dime increase.

How can this be corrected? An amendment to the Constitution that would FREEZE the salaries at the current rate. Then with every election for Congress, the Congress would put a request for a raise (either a percentage or fixed amount) to the people. This request would be placed on the ballot along with the Congressional candidates names. The raise would then be voted on by the people. They work for us. not the other way around.

Another complaint is that when Congressmen lose an election, they always get a high paid job in the government or a job as a consultant or lobbyist. Another amendment could say that once you have lost an election, you could not work in any government job for 10 years or more (whatever length is chosen by the people). They could not work as a lobbyist or consultant to the government or other politicians for the same period of time. They would get great retirement pay, so they could go back to practicing law or start a business or work for a company just like the rest of us do.


How about those HUGE salaries for CEO's? Come to think of it, no CEO is worth hundreds of millions of dollars. If they want to make that much, let them get a percentage of the profits. If there are no profits, they don't get paid. I would vote against all bailouts and "so called" stimulus plans. Let companies fail. Someone else will pick up the gauntlet in a free enterprise system.

Any bill they pass, Congress must live under that law. NO exceptions or exemptions for Congress.

I also think that any legal citizen who wants to run for the Senate or Congress, including State Offices, must pass a test on the Constitution. In the early 1800's, our children had to pass a test from a document called the Catechism on the U.S. Constitution. There were 332 questions. To make sure the test is administered honestly, the candidates would be quizzed orally by high school seniors in their congressional district. If they can't get a passing score, then they have no business running for office. Besides, wouldn't that be a great learning experience for the students?

How about this? I would try to pass a proposal that would allow Congress to spend an entire session of Congress REPEALING unConstitutional laws! Every Congressman would have the opportunity to submit 10 laws that they felt were unConstitutional. They would be debated and than repealed if it did not meet Constitutional requirements of the original Constitution. In order to keep it as law, it has to be justified.

The Supreme Court is supposed to judge whether or not a law is valid. Congress can also repeal any law they created and this would be a great learning experience for Congress. They would learn more about the Constitution than they ever have before.

Let congress work in their home offices 75% of the time. With high tech today, they can vote online and have plenty of time for their constituents.

Kill the healthcare debate. It is unconstitutional. Come to think of it, where in the Constitution is the authority to take over an auto company and fire the CEO?

Look at the money we would save and the freedom we would restore to the citizens of our Republic.

That would just be the start to take back this government.

IF I WERE ELECTED TO CONGRESS

Many people complain about the government, the congress and various elected officials. I'm a major complainer. Once in a while someone throws it back in my face and asks “What would YOU do if your were a Congressman?”

1) I know that I alone cannot accomplish everything I want to do by myself. I need other like minded Congressmen.
2) I wouldn’t stay more than two terms at the most. Damn the seniority rule. Full speed ahead.
3) I would try to be the role model for the Congress I would like to see. It’s sort of like Mr. Smith Goes To Washington. The theme of the campaign would be real freedom.

Sessions of Congress
Sessions of Congress should only be conducted six months out of the year. 3 Months in session, 3 months in your home district, 3 months in session and 3 months home. There is no law that is so important that it’s debate cannot not be continued in the next session.

During their time at home, they will be required to get out and meet real people, not lobbyists and not other politicians. They will have to go to the offices, the bowling alleys, the factories, the truck stops and the hospitals including visits to military in the hospital. They can visit the home clubs, both Democratic and Republican clubs. No set up of one sided rallies.

They will be required to read EVERY bill they are debating and we the citizens have the right to know who actually wrote it. Bills must contain only one subject. There will be no adds or amendments to a bill that is not germain to the main concept of the bill.

Congressional salaries will be frozen at the current rate and stay that way for at least 2 years. The only way they can get a raise is for voters to vote it in when electing Congress and the amount will be on the ballot for Congress.

Any bill they pass, the Congress must live under it. NO exceptions or exemptions for Congress.

Election Requirements
I realize each State will set their own requirements in addition to the basics required by the Constitution, but I think most elected officials are totally ignorant about the Constitution and 10 Amendments or they are just totally ignoring it.

I would require anyone wanting to run for the Congress or the Senate including State offices, must pass a test on the Constitution. In the early 1800’s our children had to past a test from a document called the Catechism on the U.S. Constitution. There were 332 questions. To make sure the test is administered honestly, the candidates will be quizzed orally by high school seniors in the district they are running in.

If they can’t get a passing score, then they have no business running for office.

5000 Year Leap Scholarship

If you are coming from the Carboy blog post, welcome!

What's the scholarship about? Do you love the freedoms we have in this country? Do you want to pass them on to your children?

Have them read the book "The 5000 Year Leap? by Cleon Skousen. It's all about the principles our country was founded on. There are 28 principles that are absolutely amazing. You can compare what the founding fathers designed to what the Congress is doing today.

We ask high school seniors in NE Ohio to read the book and write an essay about the comparison. The essay winner will get a partial scholarship to the college of their choice.

This is currently a local program, but we hope it will eventually go national. We need money for the scholarship. You can contribute $2, $5, $25, $50 or even $100. The Pronciples of Freedom, LLC is a non profit, tax exempt organization.

For details go to: http://tiny.cc/5000YrLeap

Tee Shirts by The Carboy

How did tee shirts show up on a political/historical blog?

Sometimes educational programs require funding. You know......cash, dollars, greenbacks! This is one of those cash generators (I hope).

These Tee Shirts have a picture of a little boy with his first car. He has this smug look on his face and he could be saying to you "wanna race?". Check the website for these exclusive tee shirts. (Hey.....the little boy is me in 1941.

Go to: http://tiny.cc/TeeShirts.htm

You might ask "what educational program are you talking about?" Go to my blog posting titled "The 5000 Year Leap Scholarship" and find out the details.

Political Video Clips

Here are a few good video clips including one great performance by Ted Nugent playing our National Anthem on guitar.

http://www.evtv1.com/Politics.aspx

Is this book for real? Have you purchased it?
http://cancersnaturalfix.com">http://cancersnaturalfix.com

http://campaignforliberty.com/article.php?view=62

http://campaignforliberty.com/article.php?view=60

http://hotairpundit.blogspot.com/2009/04/ted-nugent-star-spangled-banner-at.html

Roman for Congress - States Rights

Do you believe in States Rights? Are the States sovereign?

James Madison described the division of labor between the states and the federal government as follows:

The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State governments are numerous and indefinite... The powers reserved to the several States will extend to all the objects which, in the ordinary course of affairs, concern the lives, liberties, and properties of the people, and the internal order, improvement, and prosperity of the State. (Federalist Papers, No. 45, pp 292-93)

Please don't pull the old cliche that "it was written 233 years ago, it's outdated". Morality is never outdated and human nature never changes.

Roman for Congress - Congressional Staff

Have you ever thought about those people who work in the offices of Congress and the Senate?

They actually write most of the legislation for their employers (Congress and The Senate). Take the bailout for example. Almost all of the legislature said they NEVER READ THE BILL!

Who did we vote for? The Congressman or the staff? Why aren't the staffs "vetted"? Who checks their records, resumes and beliefs? Do the people who are totally unknown to the public write all of our laws?

I think there has to be a comprehensive job interview for the staff. They should be required to take a test on the Constitution and the Amendments before they are allowed to be our "shadow government".

What do you think?