The Founding Fathers’
success formula
The first volume of Sir Edmund Gibbons' lengthy 27-volume thesis entitled “The
Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire” was released to the public in 1776. This
exhaustive work detailed both the principles that build empires, and the
principles that sow the seeds of destruction of empires. The Founding Fathers
capitalizing on this and hundreds of additional historical and political works
crafted one of the greatest works ever to come from the pen of mankind--the
Constitution of the United States of America. Balancing the nature of mortal men
against other mortal men's desires for power, this Constitution set the three
branches of government to serve as watchdogs against each others encroachment of
power, and States governments watching the Federal government.
Central in this complex formula was the United States Senate. In the Senate, the
crossroads of power, rested the safeguard against future King
George-like-bureaucrats. However, in 1913 a change in the Founding Fathers'
success formula was orchestrated that completely changed the face of our
governmental checks and balances.
We are all familiar with the horizontal separation of powers, which divided the
power to govern into three branches, the executive, the legislative, and the
judicial, leaving no one department of government with enough power to abuse the
people. Remember, the abuses and oppressions of King George were fresh on their
minds. Sovereignty was the battle cry.
However, today few know that the Founders also divided that same power
vertically between the Federal Government and the State Governments. How would
you protect the state governments?
James Madison, in discussing protection of the state governments from
encroachment by the national government, suggested that they make the states
part of the Federal Government!
The Founders did it by granting each state, large or small, two representatives
in the Federal Government. These representatives were called Senators. They were
chosen by the legislature of each state. They answered only to that states'
legislature! This placed them above the influence of special interest groups,
the media, and, to a great extent, political party bias, since members of all
political parties in the state legislature chose them. The state’s
representatives were given power to veto or monitor all three branches
of the federal government!!
After all, each piece of legislation, all judicial appointees, and all Executive
appointments had to be approved by the Senate. As for national and foreign
issues, all treaties, and all military affairs had to have the Senate's
approval. Thus the STATES had a hand in all Federal affairs and each state’s
sovereignty was protected. In this manner the legislator you elected from your
neighborhood had a direct influence in all federal affairs and could be held
accountable by you, his neighbor.
Hence, the Constitution dictated that the Senators were to be chosen by the
state legislatures and the federal government was granted only a limited number
of powers. Only powers requiring cooperation of all the states-- national
defense, foreign affairs, and interstate commerce. The remainder of powers was
given to the states and/or held in reserve by the people.
Because of the Founders concern over the central governments ability to abuse
the people, and because the states were closer to the citizens of each state and
thus they could more readily be held accountable by the people, the Founders
gave the states the responsibility of directly governing the people.
This all-important vertical separation of powers, dividing the power to
govern vertically between the States and the Federal Government, was lost with
the passage of the l7th Amendment
Since the passing of the 17th Amendment in 1913, the Federal Government has
exploded out of control, usurping the rightful power of State Governments to
govern the people. As the power was wrested from state elected officials, it was
transferred to non-elected Federal officials who do not answer to the people
because the people do not vote them in nor out of office. Thus any government
official not directly reporting to a specific elected official is out of the
control of the people. From these officials there is no redress!
We need to return to the Founding Fathers Success Formula, which kept government
leaders “chained down by the Constitution” and accountable to the people. We can
do this by repealing the 17th Amendment.
Returning the various powers to govern from Washington D. C. to the states would
automatically bring about campaign finance reform. Senators would not be
pressured to solicit money from any special interest group nor deal with media
phobia, nor the prejudice of spur of the moment opinion polls.
These are times of change; most recently some of the changes are monumental.
While we would rather ignore some of the consequences of these changes– some we
just cannot ignore. For example many historical scholars are finding some
alarming comparisons in today’s events with some of the mistakes of the past.
Are the “seeds of destruction that crumbled ancient Rome” as outlined by
Gibbons, evident in our civilization in our day?
Some find change too challenging to contend with, while others invite the
opportunity to make a difference. If you see a need, or feel a desire, to serve
your country, perhaps Friends For America has some answers.
Friends For America-- a non-profit Corp.–was founded by volunteers to bring
about a rebirth of freedom by restoring the balance of powers between the state
governments and national government. Educating state legislators of their
responsibility to maintain states rights and sovereignty is our mission. We have
met with great success in our meetings with numerous state legislators, and are
now in the process of setting up chapters in each state across the nation. We
continue to find great support from local ranchers, businessmen, and trade
associations. As we organize chapters in your area, city, or state, your
individual efforts can have great effect!
Please contact us.
Resolutions from a majority of the states' legislatures sent to congress will
produce an amendment to repeal the 17th Amendment-- the same process used to
repeal the 18Th Amendment (prohibition).
Friends For America has produced an excellent 11 min educational video
explaining these concepts and the plan to restore rights and freedoms to the
states and the people. To obtain one of these videos or to learn how you can
help, or join a chapter of Friends For America in your area, please contact us
at: www.friendsforamerica.com
This
article was contributed to States' Liberty Party by Friends For America
All
rights reserved to the author
