Immigration and Property Rights
One of the most refreshing articles on immigration and undocumented workers. You will learn something here, without doubt.
Presidential Eligibility
Wow, everything you ever wanted to know about natural born citizens. Is President Obama eligible to be president? Only the Supreme Court can clear this up. See if you can decide which side to come down on. Link
My Report to the Continental Congress
At the link below, click on 11-18, part 2. Go to the 16 minute mark to see a video of my report on Foreign Policy and the General Welfare Clause. Link
Real Clear Politics Thinks it Answered My Question
Real Clear Politics thinks that congress has the constitutional authority to require mandatory purchase of health insurance. They claim the commerce clause and the general welfare clause both authorize congress to do this.
Nope, doesn't get it:
Thus, the court said, Congress was entitled to tell Roscoe Filburn how much wheat he could grow to feed his own chickens. Surely, then, Congress could require Filburn's grandson to buy health insurance.First, Filburn was an incorrect ruling by SCOTUS, but even if you accept it, regulating commerce is not the same as creating commerce. Using the commerce clause to authorize forced consumption is a laughable stretch. If you accept this, nothing is unconstitutional.
Second,
Congress clearly has authority to, in effect, require employees to purchase health insurance for their old age by imposing a payroll tax to fund Medicare.No, they don't have that authority either, but that's another story, related to taxation.
Third, they claim that
The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United StatesThis is from Article 1, Section 8,the General Welfare Clause. It is restricted to the enumerated powers which follow it. As James Madison states in Federalist 41 regarding the commerce clause:
Nothing is more natural or common, than to use a general phrase, and then to explain or qualify it by a recital of particulars,Madison went on to state that it would be an absurdity if the list of particulars was interpreted as anything but restrictive on the general statement.
But even if they COULD do it, they SHOULD NOT. The proposed health care provision that requires everyone to purchase insurance is unlawful, immoral, and unnecessary. Exorbitant health care costs are the result of monopolistic regulations by government (allopathic over natural), corporate welfare and favoritism, (FDA, pharmaceutical companies), and inflationary monetary policies (Federal Reserve).
Those who currently do not have health insurance, either by choice or because they cannot afford it, have an incentive to search for natural remedies, which when found will contribute to their overall well being. Providing them with health insurance will in many instances remove that incentive.
The current proposed health care reform with its mandatory participation will restrict American liberty even further, push the entire nation further toward bankruptcy, and actually make the nation as a whole less healthy, the exact opposite of its stated intentions.
Giving Thanks
It was a privilege for me to have been a part of Continental Congress 2009 this month, and today seems appropriate to give thanks to all my mentors that made it possible for me to make a contribution. In chronological order:
First, my wonderful parents, who always taught me to think for myself, rather than following the crowd. What a difference that has made.
Others along the way include George Ohsawa, Michio Kushi, Herman Aihara, Lino Stanchich, Naboru Muramoto, Otto Skinner, Lysander Spooner, and many others. Thank you.
Articles of Freedom
Ed Vallejo reading the Preamble to the Articles of Freedom, which were then adopted by the Continental Congress 2009. You Tube Link
A Line in the Sand
Article recounting the Preamble and Civic Actions as adopted by CC09 in their Articles of Freedom Document.
At Last, a Little Press
Chicago Suburb Daily Herald gives CC09 a rather balanced report:
They are not necessarily liberals, conservatives or Libertarians. Their uniting belief is that the government, namely federal but those of the states as well, has systemically violated the U.S. Constitution for decades.