The unpleasant fact is that the Federal government established by the States has overthrown the Constitutional limits on Federal authority, and is now attempting to consolidate power. There has been much discussion about this of late. Several people have mentioned that Mark Levin has suggested in his book "The Liberty Amendments" that we might improve matters by passing amendments to do the following:
- Establish term limits for Congress;
- Repeal the 17th Amendment and restore the power of the States to select Senators;
- Set term limits for Supreme Court justices, and provide a legislative over-ride for judicial over-reach;
- Establish limits on Federal taxation and spending;
- Limit the Federal bureaucracy;
- Promote free enterprise;
- Protect private property;
- Give the States the authority to directly amend the Constitution;
- Give the States the authority to repeal congressional legislation;
- Requires that voters be properly identified in order to register and vote.
As I argued here I think that the three biggest roots of American tyranny are:
- The establishment of the Federal Reserve Bank;
- The establishment of the income tax;
- The creation of centrally directed and state and Federally funded public schools.
One can argue, and I would agree, that the 17th amendment, which strips the States of their power to influence legislation ought to be repealed, but that is not the reason that we are in the mess we are in. Similarly, the establishment of the Fourth Branch of government is a lethal threat to the Republic, but trying to limit the power of the Federal bureaucracy by passing laws or even Constitutional Amendments is treating the symptoms and not the disease, and will prove ineffective.
It probably would prove more effective to simply eliminate the permanent hiring of ANY federal employee, with certain very limited exceptions for combat-experienced military cadre; no person's Federal employment could span between administrations. Much was made about the inefficiency of the spoils system, in which the incoming administration hired their own administrators and Federal employment was one of the rewards of victory, and those criticisms may have had some basis. The Progressive answer was to hire a permanent bureaucracy, the civil Service, which was supposed to be non-partisan and neutral.
Not only have we seen how false that hope was, (witness the IRS harassment of conservative political groups among other abuses,) but Pournelle's Iron Law accurately predicted the reality we see today, as noted here. The Fourth Branch will crush us all if it is not trimmed, branch and leaf, and the myriad 'regulations' repealed. Get rid of the regulations and those who make them, before they bury us.
To sum up, if we are discussing future amendments to the Constitution, I suggest these as being essential:
- Repeal of the income tax and an absolute prohibition against spending more than net receipts, with exceptions crafted for a declared war, and requiring that loans be repaid within a certain time, say 10 years;
- Absolute prohibition of any sort of Federal or state charter of any sort of bank, combined with a gradual elimination of any sort of Federal or State currency. Not only should we end the Federal Reserve, but we ought to end the pernicious practice of fractional reserve banking, and end the 'legal tender' laws. Both will probably have to be gradually phased out over some time, say 3 or 4 years.
- Absolute prohibition against any Federal, State or local governmental involvement in education of any sort. Separation of school and State. No taxes or fees to be extracted by any government upon or related to education of any sort, nor shall any sort of regulation or direction as to the nature or extent of schooling or teaching whatever be permitted.
- Repeal of all existing "regulations" combined with an absolute prohibition against any sort of permanent Federal employment, with some possible exceptions for fighting military people. Support staff we can hire; fighting men we probably should not.
- An enforcement clause, classifying violation of the Constitution by elected or appointed officials or employees as meriting immediate confiscation of all pay, benefits, and personal property at a minimum, and particularly egregious violations, such as willful conspiracy or violations resulting in the death of another, as treason.
I cannot foresee what will happen in the future, but I do know that we cannot continue as we have been doing. I also know the awesome power of the myth of the Constitution. I saw that power in action on the National Mall on October 13th. 75,000 people who all believed in that same myth came to the Mall and made tyranny blink, made the myth real, if only for a day. It is worth considering, gentle reader, how we the people of these presently united States can make the myth become a permanent reality. We may not be able to prevent the coming collapse, but we, each one of us, can help shape the aftermath. And who knows, the horse may learn to sing!
I look forward to your comments and responses, gentle readers.
With regard to all who serve the Light,
Historian
Update:
Concerned American graciously linked this post, and there is much good discussion at his site, link here. I'd love more comments here at Liberty Hollow, but I will take them where I can get them. BTW, if anybody knows about any other comment repositories, I would appreciate a heads-up. My thanks in advance.