The Crisis

In 1776 Thomas Paine began writing a series of essays that are now collectively known as The Crisis Papers.  The first of these dated 23 December 1776 moved General Washington to have it read to his soldiers at Valley Forge.  Here is the famous opening paragraph:

THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated. Britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has a right (not only to TAX) but "to BIND us in ALL CASES WHATSOEVER" and if being bound in that manner, is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth. Even the expression is impious; for so unlimited a power can belong only to God.

As we did in 1776, we now face a crisis.  Not from a foreign power that seeks to maintain dominion over us, but from our own government, that will soon be controlled by a political party that violated it's own charter, and federal election law, in order to secure the White House, and no doubt more seats in the Congress (as yet I have not found cases of this applied directly to Congressional races but, considering the illegal voter registration activities of ACORN on behalf of the Democrat Party, I think it is safe to assume that Democrat Congressional candidates also benefitted from illegal activity; they are free to disprove my statement upon which I will detract it).

As we have seen, and as I have written here many times, the federal government itself has taken action in the face of popular opposition; chiefly the passing of a FISA bill that does not abolish warrantless wiretapping, and grants retroactive immunity to telecom companies that participated in the program, and the passing of the $700 billion financial rescue package that the majority of Americans did not want.  When our elected representatives, whose primary duty is to vote according to the wishes of their constituents, vote against the will of the people, clearly we have a government that is broken, no longer serves the interests of the people, and that is in violation of the social contract laid out in the Declaration of Independence.  The same can be said for the President, who tapped our phones without warrants, in direct violation of the Fourth Amendment.

A government that passes laws, over the objection of the people, a violation of its founding principles, is a government to whom you do not owe allegiance.  You do not pledge allegiance to the federal government.  The pledge of allegiance is to the flag, it is to our nation.  The federal government is not the nation.  The nation is We The People.

The sunshine patriot, the summer soldier, stands up and cheers over the election of a fraud and liar, and then goes back to sleep.  If you say "country first," if you understand that we are a nation of laws, not men, and you stand up and just say no deal, then you are, as Paine suggested, worthy of the love of all men and women.

How do we resist?  If the federal government is going to ignore our will, then what's to stop us from doing the same?  We employ the principles of our Founders, of Thoreau, of Gandhi, of King.  If the government passes a law that we did not support, do we have any obligation whatsoever to be bound to it?  The Congress is obligated to pass laws based on our desires, not based on what they think is best.  For too long they have done the latter.  The time has come to say, "No more!"  Either do what we tell you to do, or we will use our powers under the Constitution of the United States to create governing institutions that exercise our will.  It's very simple.  But this cannot work unless every American stands up and holds their representatives accountable.  If a bill is scheduled to be voted on that you feel is against your interests then make your voice heard.  Call your legislators.  Better yet, go to their offices.  If they vote against your interests then go back and demand to meet with them and speak your mind.  Take out an ad in the paper, or put up a poster publicly that states the events that transpired, and how your rights were violated, how your voice was ignored.  The only reason why this happens to us again and again, on our dime no less, is because we allow it to happen.  WE ALLOW IT TO HAPPEN.  How much longer will you let this pass?  Until there are cameras in your house?  Until your bank account is an open funnel to the government that can seize your assets when they like for any reason?  Until you, your sons, and your daughters are conscripted to fight in a war that you did not support or sanction?  This is your country.  Stand up and keep it that way.  

The people in our federal government are not evil.  They are drunk with power.  It's time we sobered them up.  It's time we imposed term limits.  It's time we had direct oversight of our elected officials.  It's time that we create citizen assemblies with veto power.  It's time for us to take responsibility for this republic, as our elected officials are doing nothing but making a mess of it.

But don't listen to me.  Listen to Thomas Paine who made the case far more eloquently than I:

Quitting this class of men, I turn with the warm ardor of a friend to those who have nobly stood, and are yet determined to stand the matter out: I call not upon a few, but upon all: not on this state or that state, but on every state: up and help us; lay your shoulders to the wheel; better have too much force than too little, when so great an object is at stake. Let it be told to the future world, that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive, that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet and to repulse it. Say not that thousands are gone, turn out your tens of thousands; throw not the burden of the day upon Providence, but "show your faith by your works," that God may bless you. It matters not where you live, or what rank of life you hold, the evil or the blessing will reach you all. The far and the near, the home counties and the back, the rich and the poor, will suffer or rejoice alike. The heart that feels not now is dead; the blood of his children will curse his cowardice, who shrinks back at a time when a little might have saved the whole, and made them happy. I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death. My own line of reasoning is to myself as straight and clear as a ray of light...if a thief breaks into my house, burns and destroys my property, and kills or threatens to kill me, or those that are in it, and to "bind me in all cases whatsoever" to his absolute will, am I to suffer it? What signifies it to me, whether he who does it is a king or a common man; my countryman or not my countryman; whether it be done by an individual villain, or an army of them? If we reason to the root of things we shall find no difference; neither can any just cause be assigned why we should punish in the one case and pardon in the other. Let them call me rebel and welcome, I feel no concern from it; but I should suffer the misery of devils, were I to make a whore of my soul by swearing allegiance to one whose character is that of a sottish, stupid, stubborn, worthless, brutish man. I conceive likewise a horrid idea in receiving mercy from a being, who at the last day shall be shrieking to the rocks and mountains to cover him, and fleeing with terror from the orphan, the widow, and the slain of America.

It's your nation people.  What are you going to do about this?