Isocrates, 436-338 B.C., Ideas on Liberty, Sept. 1955, P66
Virtue is not advanced by written laws but by the habits of everyday life; for the majority of men tend to assimilate the manners and morals amid which they have been reared. Furthermore, they held that where there is a multitude of specific laws, it is a sign that the state is badly governed; for it is in the attempt to build up dikes against the spread of crime that men in such a state feel constrained to multiply the laws. Those who are rightly governed, on the other hand, do not need to fill their porticoes with written statues, but only to cherish justice in their souls; for it is not with legislation, but by morals, that states are well directed, since men who are badly reared will venture to transgress even laws which are drawn up with minute exactness, whereas those who are well brought up will be willing to respect even a simple code.
One need look only at the proliferation of laws governing roads and driving that have been enacted since the days of unlicensed horsemen as an example of how corrupt and overreaching our government has become.
How many laws do we really need? And why do the legislators and voters keep asking for more?
221 Years Ago Today, The Greatest Nation Was Formed
The oldest federal constitution in existence was framed by a convention of delegates from twelve of the thirteen original states in Philadelphia in May 1787, Rhode Island failing to send a delegate. George Washington presided over the session, which lasted until September 17, 1787. The draft (originally a preamble and seven Articles) was submitted to all thirteen states and was to become effective when ratified by nine states. It went into effect on the first Wednesday in March 1789, having been ratified by New Hampshire, the ninth state to approve, on June 21, 1788. (Infoplease)
As Illegitimate President, I commend all Americans to take some time this week to read some portion of the Constitution, or of the Bill of Rights. Do not be intimidated by the length or language of the Constitution -- it comparable in length to a long poem, and shorter than a typical short story. It is written in plain english, rather than complicated legalese. It states simply what it intends to say.
Take, for instance, Article 1, Section 1:
All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.
Simple, and to the point! Some things to note about this section:
All legislative powers are granted. Granted by whom? By the people, who are forming this government, and who are banding together via this Constitution and delegating certain specific responsibilities to the new government. The government does not in and of itself possess rights to legislate or rule the people -- the people are granting specific responsibilities to the government, and one of these powers is to legislate. Section 8 defines the specific, narrow subjects in which this legislation is allowed.
Secondly, the legislative powers are vested in Congress, composed of the House and Senate. The President is not named here, and is granted no legislative authority.
This is an absolutely critical point to understand, because the other Illegitimate President would have you believe that he can create law. That he can pass Executive Orders that are law. That he can form an agency, and that agency can create laws, regulations, or codes that must be followed. But those laws and codes are just as illegitimate as he is, and have no constitutional (or legal) legitimacy.
And as the Constitution is an agreement between we the people and those in which we have delegated authority, the minute they leave the bounds which we have defined, they are no longer acting within their official capacity, and are like an ice cream man attempting to give traffic tickets to speeders and jaywalkers, and who enters one person's house and takes their money to pay for the ice cream given away to someone else. They have no authority to do what they are doing, and their actions do not have the force of law. In short, they become criminals and tyrants.
Please, my fellow Americans, I implore you to become familiar with our Constitution, and hold our representatives accountable to their Oath of Office. The President's is defined in Article II, Section 1:
"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
This Day in 1775
I would like to take a few minutes on this beautiful Sunday to recognize those brave Colonial Minute Men who stood up to the British Army regulars at Lexington and Concord, in Massassachusets, preventing those government agents from confiscating colonial stores of arms and ammunition, and thus fighting the initiatory battle of the American Revolution.
Happy Birthday, Thomas Jefferson
You are my favorite President and Statesman, and your service has been invaluable to the birth of this nation.
Thank you for the Declaration of Independance, may we remember its values and apply them in our day.
Thank you for consistently fighting Hamilton and resisting the establishment of a central bank, may we abolish ours and return freedom and prosperity to our nation.
Thank you for all of your inventions and for the Patent Office which protects the rights of inventors.
Thank you for the Louisiana purchase, for sending Lewis and Clark around the continent, and for fighting off the Barbary Pirates, rather than giving in to their demands for ransom and tribute.
Thank you for leaving us your writings and example. May we all learn the lessons you learned over 200 years ago, avoid repeating the same devestating mistakes, and enjoy the peace and prosperity that come from living with a just government.