Liberty-is-simple

**Liberty is Simple – It’s Tyranny That’s Complicated **
 * Leadership and Liberty **
 * **What is great about liberty/freedom? **
 * We all have the OPPORTUNITY to try. No matter where you start, you can succeed.
 * Our Founding Fathers asked two key questions à  (1) Who is sovereign? (2) What is the proper role of government?
 * When those questions were answered as the Founding Fathers answered them, we saw the American Dream at its best.
 * In our Declaration of Independence it answers #1 – we’re all “created equal and endowed by our Creator with…rights…life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” and #2 – “to secure these rights governments are instituted among men deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”
 * Jefferson then listed (Declaration) what would be the examples of tyranny.


 * **The Constitution limits the government – not the people **
 * Its job is to protect the individual – society is best when people are able to pursuit their own happiness/opportunity.
 * The Bill of Rights are crucial amendments to bind the government and protect the rights of individuals – personal freedoms


 * **Liberty is simple – when you try to make something complicated, it starts going away. **
 * “The more numerous the laws the more corrupt the government.”- Tacitus, Roman historian – there are over 176,000 federal regulations – Constitution lists only 3 crimes.
 * In the health care law (2010), there are over 86,000 pages of regulations à  might be a good law, might be a bad law but that is a lot of government power – that many pages.
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13px;">The government was meant to be our (we the people) tool for individual liberty and not our master to control us à <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13px;"> many think that if the government can’t do something, then it can’t be done.


 * **<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13px;">Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists **
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13px;">OVERVIEW: When the colonies won their independence, the 13 new states were independent, sovereign (absolute authority) nations under the Articles of Confederation. There were many weaknesses and problems, so a Constitutional Convention was held to fix the government and the Constitution was developed. There were some who liked this new Constitution and would be called Federalists while those who opposed it were called Anti-Federalists.
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13px;">The Anti-Federalists were actually the true federalists since a federal system is one in which a central government has power and the subdivisions (states) have some power – not the same powers à <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13px;"> dual sovereignty. The Federalists who supported the Constitution were actually called Nationalists because they wanted a central government that was stronger than the subdivisions – a national government.
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13px;">The Federalist Papers were written to convince New York to support the Constitution; written by James Madison, John Jay, and Alexander Hamilton.
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13px;">Madison, Robert Yates, and Luther Martin kept notes on the debates every single day at the convention. Madison said, though, it’s not what we believe but what the parties of the contract believe – that means the states – they have to ratify.
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13px;">State ratifying conventions give the best account as to what the Constitution is, since they had to ratify it.
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13px;">The Federalists argued that the powers of the central government are so limited that they cannot possibly infringe on your rights – it cannot encroach on your life because the central gov’t can only do what the Constitution says it can do.
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13px;">The Anti-Federalists argued that if corrupt people got power then they could use the Constitution to can be used to enslave the individual à <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13px;"> some of the fears of the Anti-Federalists have come to pass.
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13px;">Robert Yates was one who took notes at the convention; wrote Anti-Federalist papers under pseudonym Brutus – says if we ever have an income tax in America we’ll end up having armed guards come to your house and take your property, and put you to jail.
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13px;">John Locke had said the role of the government to protect your individual inalienable rights since your inalienable rights is what you bring to society – and Locke says government must protect property.
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13px;">Income tax was banned by the Constitution – nation ran fine without it – 1913 the 16th amendment allowed an income tax à <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13px;"> began to tax people’s efforts…this would hurt the individual…gives government power of the individual.


 * **<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13px;">Lack of Education **
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13px;">In 1848, Karl Marx wrote the //Communist Manifesto//, which explained a communist system built on top of a capitalist system since capitalism will build a nation’s wealth, but when times get tough, communism is there…redistribution of wealth à <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13px;"> lists 10 planks.
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13px;">Abolish private property – this hasn’t been completely done, but government (at each level) has much more control over your property than it did in 1787.
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13px;">High progressive income tax – 16th amendment in 1913; we have high rates on all income levels – deteriorates incentives to earn wealth.
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13px;">Government control of schools – this is the case today.
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13px;">Government control of schools – this is the case today; this doesn’t mean the founders were anti-public schools; in early America, communities led the education – various grade levels since we all learn at different speeds. Churches and communities led the education process. Today, the government sets certain standards as if we’re all capable of the same material at the same time – doesn’t recognize the INDIVIDUAL as different in terms of passion and abilities, but pushes the collective – we need to read at the same level, know the same math, science, history, etc.
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13px;">Read the Federalists Papers – hard to understand. Why? Education has grown in its lacking since government has become more and more involved. Proof? The Federalist Papers were written for average New Yorkers to understand.
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13px;">According to John Taylor Gatto’s book, in 1840, the average American’s complex literacy rate (that’s above college level) was 93%-100% of American’s…nearly 80% in African-American households (keep in mind slavery existed…how was that possible…communities educated each other – former slaves educated others).
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13px;">Education is different than schooling.


 * **<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13px;">Decline of Local Government **
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13px;">Madison called dual federalism or dual sovereignty – state government has its functions and federal system has their functions à <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13px;"> two checks and balances: (1) horizontal within the branches and (2) vertical in the levels.
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13px;">Like the trustee of a will – when I die, the trustee of my will must distribute the money and assets as I wished; even if the trustee has a better idea, that’s irrelevant because the trustee is an agent of the contract à <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13px;"> think of that with today’s politicians - they are to be agents of the contract (Constitution) yet often they feel they know better than the Constitution.
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13px;">The Constitution says what the government can do – when the government stays within its powers, the individual has more freedom and blossoms; when the government expands its power and dehumanizes the citizens (cookie cutter mentality) freedom is encroached upon.
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13px;">Decisions were largely localized – local communities knew their own needs than a one size fits all central government mentality.
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13px;">Their (local gov’t officials) repercussions for their actions were they were quickly replaced since they were your neighbors and friends – today, we don’t see as big a need or importance of local officials – they are important….but the central government (D.C.) has been able to control the funding and the mandates.
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13px;">Elected officials are suppose to be trustees – but they have grown in power and have passed laws that they are exempt from (not suppose to be the case).
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13px;">The Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”) has been a major point of controversy as it is an major increase in the power of the federal government.
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13px;">States set up exchanges for people to get health care through the ACA – the gov’t will fund it for those who have low enough income – others will pay for coverage in the ACA…the health care companies that get the business in the state exchanges are very happy because they’re getting the money.
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13px;">Why not allow competition across state lines? What if all health care providers in the country were competing for your dollar? Lower cost and better care….that’s the free exchange of ideas – central planning stifles society.


 * **<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13px;">The Bill of Rights **
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13px;">The Federalists didn’t want to list a bill of rights – they said why do you want to put a finite number on an infinite idea, because the Constitution constrains the federal government and once you start listing things, it could be misconstrued that that’s all you have.
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13px;">In the Virginia convention it only passed/ratified by 10 votes; New York was 5; North Carolina and Rhode Island were holding out yet; Madison promised his opponent in VA, Patrick Henry, that if it was ratified, his first order of business would be a bill of rights – Madison kept his word…get it?...Madison didn’t want them, but promised once in power and kept his promise to put in the Bill of Rights, something his opponent (Henry) wanted.
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13px;">The Bill of Rights is to constrain the government – take the 1st amendment on religion – the wall of restraint is to be on the government, not the individual
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13px;">2nd amendment was to protect the individual – self-defense.
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13px;">9th amendment says there is not a finite number – any right not listed is a right the people have and the 10th says any power not granted to the federal gov’t is a state power.
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13px;">Jefferson said if not for the 10th amendment – maintains state power.
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13px;">James Iredell, in the North Carolina convention, would be appointed to first Supreme Court, had said if Congress passes a law that is not enumerated, then it is null and void to the state – take the ACA à <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13px;"> not enumerated, presidents are not to sign laws that are not enumerated, and SCOTUS is suppose to rule unconstitutional…those three failed, so what’s left? Defund it – there’s precedence à <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13px;"> Madison didn’t like the Jay Treaty and fought to defund it (checks and balances). Iredell had said the House is more powerful since it has the power of the purse – starts funding bills.
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13px;">There is a way to give the federal government power that isn’t already given – for things like education or the health care takeover à <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13px;"> amend the Constitution. It’s difficult to do though (2/3 of both houses of Congress and then 3/4 of the states). Central planners know this and will pass laws anyways – the 5 out of 9 Supreme Court justices agree, then it’s good…not the system our Founding Fathers envisioned.


 * **<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13px;">Constitutional Crisis Today – Need to Return to Our Foundation **
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13px;">We have a Creator and the purpose of the government is to protect the unalienable rights our Creator has endowed us with.
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13px;">How did America grow? It wasn’t due to a central planning government telling individuals how to think…it was because individuals were free to think and work hard.
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13px;">What can the concerned citizen do?
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13px;">Have knowledge – of liberty and tyranny – read the complaints Jefferson had of King George III in the Declaration of Independence.
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13px;">Know the Constitution and Bill of Rights – to quiz those running for office.
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13px;">Benjamin Franklin noticed George Washington’s chair at the convention that had half of a sun – was that sun rising or setting – it was rising. What about our generation.

Click here to view the Declaration of Independence - read the "he has" parts in which Jefferson explains how he (the king) has committed acts of tyranny.

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