By
Michael LeMieux
September 24, 2010
NewsWithViews.com
America is more than a country is the opening line in this 21 page “pledge to America” which, to me, smacked more of political rhetoric than heart felt promise.
I will not repost the entire script here, you can read it at the link above, but I will go through it and pull out some key points that the reader may be interested in.
The pledge starts with a reference to the Declaration of Independence stating, as the pledge’s basis, that the “government’s powers are derived from the consent of the governed.” Really? I mean, I believe that, but if we look at the history of this government this amounts to more of a political fishing lead waiting to hook the reader. Instead I would have liked to hear them state, right up front, that the central government has gone astray and we must abolish all unconstitutional actions, although we do get some startling admissions.
From the consent of the governed would imply that in order for the government to take any action, if they truly believe that their power is derived from the people, then they would not be able to make something illegal for the people that they themselves do routinely under the color of law. For instance let’s take a quick look at Social Security – You work, the government takes money from your check, without your permission (we call that stealing), and tell you that it is your social security pension. Yet if you read the law it clearly states that ALL FICA taken from the people is nothing more than additional income tax that is placed in the general fund and is NOT earmarked for any specific purpose. Not one penny of the money taken from you is going to social security. Yes they “tally” the amount they took from you to establish your Social Security Welfare entitlement but it is nothing like a 401K that you invest in to “fund” your retirement. They steal your money and use the earnings of others to pay for your retirement; it is called redistribution of wealth, or in other terms a Ponzi scheme. “A Ponzi scheme is a fraudulent investment operation that pays returns to separate investors from their own money or money paid by subsequent investors, rather than from any actual profit earned.” (Wikipedia) Bernie Madoff tried a similar scheme and went to jail.
They go on to speak of the principles of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution and state that “…the power of the state is the consent of the governed, and regarding the policies of the current government, the governed do not consent.” I think he misses the mark here; yes the governed do not consent to the current government, but we haven’t for at least the last 80 years, as they have been increasingly stealing from and infringing against more and more of the people’s property and rights.
They state: “An unchecked executive, a compliant legislature, and an overreaching judiciary have combined to thwart the will of the people…” This is called usurpation of power and it continues today. Since when has either party done anything to really reduce the size and scope of government, since it has been in existence? Never! I did have to agree with the next statement “An arrogant and out-of-touch government of self-appointed elites makes decisions, issues mandates, and enacts laws without accepting or requesting the input of the many.” In their own words they support my supposition that they usurp power, the only word missing is corrupt.
So what does their pledge really consist of and is it REALLY a change or smoke and mirrors to get elected in two months? Let’s see!
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Their first pledge is a: “Plan to create jobs, end economic uncertainty, and make America more competitive” – We must first understand the federal government creates NOTHING they can only add cost to anything they touch. They plan to add this as a priority of government, but government does everything by legislation and direction. What we really need is a pledge that the federal government will repeal all legislation not clearly within the domain of “regulating interstate commerce” (that means making regular not passing regulations.) Reduce the size and burden on business and business will take off like it did during the industrial revolution.
Their second pledge is a: Plan to stop out-of-control spending and reduce the size of government – If only we can believe ANY politician who says this. I am 56 years old and every election I can remember I have heard politician after politician, party speech after party speech, say they are going to control spending and reduce government. How many times does the boy need to cry wolf before we don’t believe them anymore? Don’t get me wrong, I am all for reducing cost and size of government, I just am jaded from years of hearing it from politicians. My motto is “actions speak louder than words” and “I’ll believe it when I see it.” But I am an optimist and hope they do.
Now to really put things in perspective – when they speak of reducing spending and government what they really are saying, and said in the very next paragraph, is: “we will roll back government spending to pre-stimulus, pre-bailout levels…” Now remember, during the pre-bailout time we were embroiled in two wars, we were at the highest deficit in history, until that point, and things looked bleak. Yeah, rollback is better than increasing but it is by no stretch of the imagination a solution.
As an example one of their “plans” is to impose a “net hiring freeze on non-security federal employees…” Really? Let’s see what that leaves, now remember the primary purpose of government is security which includes the Department of Defense (the largest money hole), the intelligence network (CIA, NSA, NRO, NGA, Etc.), the Department of Justice, the FBI, the Secret Service, the Department of Homeland Security, the IRS (oh yes they have security divisions and intelligence divisions as well), even the Department of Transportation gets in the mix as they are responsible for much of the infrastructure security, and the list goes on and on. So really the “hiring freeze” will probably amount to a very low percentage of the total government.
One thing I really did agree with was a: plan to repeal and replace the government takeover of health care. But again I have to take what is being said with a grain of salt as political promises, most often, have less usage than toilet paper, but if they can I’m all for it.
Another good set of plans is to: reform Congress and restore trust and to keep our nation secure at home and abroad, again I like the idea, but I am in a wait and see mode.
Their plan to reform congress consists of:
•
Reading The Bill: This would be a breath of fresh air!
How silly that we would actually pass bills without ever reading them,
but we do. And then be amazed that what was passed was a total mess.
And these are the same people who did exactly what they say they will
now not do. I hope they do this one.
• Adhere To The Constitution:
A novel idea for a group of men and women who have sworn an oath to
protect and defend the Constitution. But what is even more amazing is
the admission that “For too long, Congress has ignored the
proper limits imposed by the Constitution on the federal government.”
Exactly what I wrote in my book, “Unalienable Rights,” three
years ago.
• Make It Easier to Cut Spending:
Again a promise to stop earmarks, and spending amendments that we have
heard, ad nauseum, for years.
• Advance Legislative Issues One at a
Time: We, in the patriot community, have been asking for this,
and all the above, for years. Why did they not listen to us years ago?
Under securing the homeland they pledge to:
•
Pass Clean Troop Funding Bills: Okay
• Keep Terrorists Out of America:
Really?
• Demand an Overarching Detention Policy:
Treat POW’s as POW’s and not criminals, okay.
• Fully Fund Missile Defense:
So far so good.
• Require Tough Enforcement of Sanctions
Against Iran: Sounds like UN stuff here.
• Establish Operational Control of the
Border: Again rhetoric we have heard since Jimmy Carter era
and still the illegal super-highway is in full swing.
• Work with State and Local Officials
to Enforce Our Immigration Laws: You mean instead of taking
them to court for enforcing the very same laws the federal government
refuses to enforce. This would be a welcome change, let’s be on
the same team for once.
• Strengthen Visa Security:
As my son would say, Duh.
The last section is entitled as: Checks and Balances – This has been a pet peeve of mine for years and would be a welcome relief, if they are successful – but again I reserve judgment until it is produced and not just promised.
Under their promise to restore checks and balances they pledge to:
•
Fight to ensure transparency and accountability in Congress and throughout
government.
• Continue to fight the growth of government
and oppose new stimulus spending that only puts our nation further in
debt.
• Fight efforts to fund the costly new health
care law.
• Fight to increase access to domestic energy
sources and oppose attempts to impose a national “cap and trade”
energy tax.
• Fight for the rights of workers and oppose
“card check” schemes that put union bosses before individuals’
right to a secret ballot.
• Fight efforts to use a national crisis for
political gain.
They conclude by pledging a “Call to Action” pledging: “To begin the process of implementing a new governing agenda that honors our Constitution and reflects the will of the people, we call on the leadership of the 111th Congress to bring these reforms and policies to an immediate vote, and ask all citizens of our Nation – men and women of good will and good heart – who share in our beliefs, to join with us today.”
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I cannot see into the hearts of those in Congress that ascribe to this pledge, I can only reflect on the history of what they have done in the past. At best I am hopeful for a true change of heart and for a people that will continue to inspire them to keep that pledge. At worst I am skeptical that this is another political stunt as has been perpetrated before every major election.
I pray that THIS TIME hopeful wins out over skeptical.
� 2010 Michael LeMieux - All Rights Reserved
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Michael
LeMieux was born in Midwest City, Oklahoma in 1956 and graduated from
Weber State University in Utah with a degree in Computer Science. He
served in both the US Navy and US Army (Active duty and National Guard)
and trained in multiple intelligence disciplines and was a qualified
paratrooper. He served with the 19th Special Forces Group, while in
the National Guard, as a Special Forces tactical intelligence team member.
He served tours to Kuwait and Afghanistan where he received the Purple
Heart for injuries received in combat.
Mr. LeMieux left military duty at the end of 2005 after being medically
discharged with over 19 years of combined military experience. He currently
works as an intelligence contractor to the US government.
Michael is a strict constitutionalist who believes in interpreting the constitution by the original intent of the founding fathers. His research has led him to the conclusion that the republic founded by the Constitution is no longer honored by our government. That those who rule America today are doing so with the interest of the federal government in mind and not the Citizens. Michael believes that all three branches of government have strayed far from the checks and balances built into the Constitution and they have failed the American people. A clear example is the Second Amendment, which the Supreme Court and the founders have all said was an individual right and could not be "infringed" upon, now has more than 20,000 state and federal laws regulating every aspect of the individuals right, a definite infringement. He has traveled around the world living in 14 States of the Union including Hawaii, and visited (for various lengths of time) in Spain, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Korea, Scotland, Pakistan, Mauritius, Somalia, Diego Garcia, Australia, Philippines, England, Italy, Germany, and Puerto Rico.
Michael now lives in Nebraska with his wife, two of his three children, Mother-in-Law and grandchild. His hobbies include shooting, wood-working, writing, amateur inventor and scuba diving when he can find the time.
Contact Michael through his Website: www.constitutiondenied.com
