FREEDOM'S SAFETY VALVE

By Ron Ewart, President

"The 10th Amendment, Freedom's Safety Valve"
© Copyright May 20, 2009 - All Rights Reserved

The wisdom of the Founding Fathers borders on providence. How was it that their perspective of individual freedom was so clear in their minds and so succinct in their words? How was it that they were able to insert so many road blocks in our founding documents, to government tyranny? First, they limited the power and scope of the central government authority by specifying what those powers were. Knowing that those limits might not stop the exponential growth of a central government, they inserted the "Separation of Powers" doctrine that balanced the power of the three branches of government against each other. These wise men weren't even sure if constitutional limits and the Separation of Powers was sufficient to inhibit the all-too insidious desire by politicians to increase their power, so they gave all those rights that were not specifically enumerated in the Constitution, to the states and to the people, via the 10th Amendment: "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."
The wisdom of these great men may have just saved the United States of America from self-immolation, if not trial by the fire of revolution. That central government would move to increase its power is not an unknown phenomenon. We have 5,000 years of history that proves men in power will do whatever is necessary to expand their power, including circumventing the very documents that authorize their power. We should not be surprised that the American central government has parroted that history and their violations of the limits on their power, expand almost daily. What remains to be seen is whether the Founding Father's safety valve in the 10th Amendment, can restore the power to the consent of the governed, that last ditch answer, that last of all alternatives before revolution becomes the final solution ..... the supreme power that is reserved to the states and the people.
Well take heart. The 10th Amendment is alive and well and showing its teeth. Tired of the lust for power that exists in that den of thieves in Washington DC, robbers of the public treasury, legislators in many states are once again, showing their independence ..... the independence that is embodied in the 9th and 10th Amendments to the U. S. Constitution. Several states have already passed resolutions warning the central government that they have exceeded their limited powers and the states are exercising their rights and powers under the 10th Amendment. Some states are even strengthening the 2nd Amendment by passing resolutions informing the government that any firearms or ammunition manufactured in their state and kept in their state, do not fall under any jurisdiction of the federal government.
This sudden rise in state courage, is infectious. Other state legislatures are following suit. There is now a new organization called "The Patrick Henry Caucus", inviting legislators from all levels of government to join with them in preserving, protecting and defending the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the state in which the individual legislator holds residence.
Yes Americans! That unstoppable spirit of freedom is on the rise and it must infuriate those in power, for otherwise why would the American government, under the offices of Homeland Security, issue a report on potential extremists who would dare to proclaim their rights under the constitution (imagine that), believe in the sanctity of marriage between a man and woman, believe that abortion is murder, believe that amnesty for illegal aliens is just plain wrong, and these so-called extremists are now being labeled by government as a threat to national security? Why would they say that returning veterans who have served this country honorably by laying down their lives for our freedom, are potential extremists who would be vulnerable to extremists acts? Why indeed!
Thomas Jefferson said: "When the people fear the government, we have tyranny. When the government fears the people, we have liberty." The government is beginning to fear the people once again and they grow nervous. As they grow more apprehensive of the people's rise to reclaim their freedom, they will do even more crazy things to increase their power over us and increase their enforcement of a growing body of unconstitutional law.
Barry Goldwater said: "Extremism in the defense of liberty is not a vice." We hail the constitutional extremists who stand up for liberty. We wave our right hand in the air, in support of the tea party revolution. We take our hats off to those who believe that amnesty for illegals is wrong, that abortion is murder and that the constitution is worth defending, even with our lives. We are proud to be a part of the idea that freedom is the natural order and that whatever is necessary to preserve that freedom is indeed, not a vice.
Every day we stand in amazement at the wisdom of our Founding Fathers and the skill and knowledge they exhibited in giving us (at great cost) a solid foundation (our Constitution) that works to preserve freedom and inhibit tyranny.
We ask that all those of you who know of a legislator who is supporting 9th and 10th Amendment resolutions in their state, to personally thank and encourage them. They need your support. They are truly domestic heroes and America needs every last one of them, if she is to remain free.
In the name of those Founding Fathers and all those who cherish freedom, we hereby claim our right to life, liberty, property and the pursuit of happiness, without undo, unnecessary and unconstitutional government interference, so help us God.
Ron Ewart, President
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF RURAL LANDOWNERS
P. O. Box 1031, Issaquah, WA 98027
425 222-4742 or 1 800 682-7848
(Fax No. 425 222-4743)
Website: www.narlo.org