3rd Parties, States' Rights, Freedom and Religion

By States' Liberty Party

The latter half of the 20th Century saw a redefining of Liberty from a strong trust in God to a "secular" belief of tolerance, the allowing of just about any kind of human behavior that wasn't obviously directly harmful to another person.  This required a suppressing of religion and legislating of new laws that are contrary to religion, an impossible task, being that a majority of the public did favor tolerance, but not acceptance of views and values contrary to religion.  The change therefore occurred in federal court, the Supreme Court usurping the authority of the people and "legislating" new laws prohibiting religion in schools and overturning state laws banning most kinds of abortions.  This pleased the vocal intellectual community as a whole, and was wholesomely supported by them, even though the Court's action was contrary to the law..

The Democratic Party both defined and led the new values, and longstanding laws throughout every state prohibiting deviant moral behaviors began to be overturned, now viewed as archaic laws which had denied freedom to the minority.

The Libertarian Party became the first non-establishment major promoter of the new "religion", preaching a value system of "choice", at local levels of government, and this was seen as an even greater extension of liberty, both allowing more deviation from the ancient moral standards and also lessening the new federal policy of pressuring citizens to accept the new deviant standards.   Libertarianism became greater freedom from religion yet less oppression of religion, and seemed like truly the democratic system.

With the new freedom came new problems of unwanted children, terminated pregnancies, deadly sexually transmitted diseases and sexual confusion in youth, and  a general increase in violent crime, but was shrugged off as a product of the old moral system; lack of sex education, and conservative blocking of research money, etc, because obviously the new religion was superior to the older values and therefore cannot be more problematic.   "Freedom" could only mean betterment.

In time, the "Libertarian" star began to fade, and new alternative political parties are springing up, having a demand for a return to some of the ancient values, namely to the structure of government as designed by the Founding Fathers, and to religious values; such as the Constitution Party, Southern Party and others.

If the concept of liberty is better grasped by the Libertarians than the old liberal Democrats and more recent Green party, of whom still desire that religion be prohibited so that there is no conflict with sexual deviancy, what then is liberty as defined by Constitutionalists, those with a belief that liberty can only reside in the presence of responsibility and self-control?  Do we have liberty when we allow and defend sexual deviation or does the latter represent an absence of or danger to liberty?

The Dictionary may be our best beginning point in resolving the riddle.  Our best applicable definition, found on dictionary.com  may be this:

Freedom from unjust or undue governmental control.

Turning to the word "freedom" we find:

Exemption from the arbitrary exercise of authority in the performance of a specific action; civil liberty: freedom of assembly.

Freedom from an "arbitrary exercise of authority" pinpoints the the required focus, and with respect to religion means that a secular purpose is necessary.  For a free society to exist, no law may be punitive; a denying of some particular activity for no legitimate state purpose.

This, then is the basis of Libertarianism, and obviously a denying of religion in schools or public places is punitive, for if the legitimate purpose is to not offend people of other faiths or of no faith then nearly all ideas and philosophies would need be prohibited because any might be offensive to someone.  The ban on religion is thus prejudicial and arbitrary, having no "secular" purpose.

We need now only explore the question of deviant sex to determine which of the political views is truly of liberty.  The pilgrims and Founding Fathers strongly believed liberty could be obtained only through religious practice and through exercise of responsibility.  Spiritual growth was paramount; disorderly conduct no virtue at all, but the latter does represent "freedom" in a  broader term, yet it's restriction has the "secular" purpose of preserving the peace and well-being of others.  We continually revisit "arbitrary exercise of authority".   A free society places many restrictions upon individual freedom, and the dividing line is the general welfare.  If a freedom runs contrary to the well being of the society then it may be restricted by a free society, and this is the basis of longstanding laws first implemented by early settlers, prohibiting deviant sexual behavior.

Deviant sexual behavior may cause numerous problems and ills to a free society and these must be weighed against the benefits of allowing the most freedom or redefining the former restrictions as having no secular purpose; a longstanding prejudice from earlier but outmoded beliefs.  This is the basis of the Libertarian argument; that deviant sexual behavior causes no serious harm to a society, yet Constitutionists (the Party) are sure of exactly the reverse; that early settlers and Founding Fathers, having a direction set by the rock of ancient religion,  best understood the harm which can be seen by sexual deviation.

The States' Liberty Party does not reject either of the arguments, placing judgment in the hands of the people regionally by state.   Even though deviant sexual activity may harm the general welfare,, it's prohibition and regulation is to be determined by the people.

Little effort is needed for visualizing the damage done to a society by deviation from ancient attitudes of responsibility and self-control.  Where crime under a religious state was nearly non-existent, it is now ingrained in the society that has come to prohibit even mention of religion in schools; sexually transmitted diseases are epidemic and efforts to find cures are draining public medical resources, violent crime against women is rampant, and children are learning to be confused over their sexual orientation, as though they may have been born in the wrong sex body,  because societal sensual stimulations bring  them to be sexually aroused unnaturally.

The instinctive and pleasurable desirable to carry a newborn child into the world forms the basis of ancient responsible sexual attitudes.   Thought of child must be foremost or the activity is illegal.   A responsible and free-thinking society must subscribe to this view or fall into decay and eventual disarray.   Whether or not laws prohibiting or regulating sexual deviation are necessary or are an unwarranted intrusion into the lives of free citizens must be determined by the citizens.  They may not pass restrictive laws but to protect the society from degradation.  In this regard both Libertarians and Constitutionists are right, and both may be necessary in the preservation of liberty.

What must be rejected is the present system put in place by educated and liberal "experts" in law, who have failed to exercise their judgments faithfully, usurping the peoples' right to protect the general welfare and chart their nation's course.

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Montana Bill Needful of Montanans

Montana bill SJ10, to repeal the 17th Amendment to the United States Constitution, failed to pass through the State Senate because it was lacking support from Montanans.   the States' Liberty Party last year began a public campaign to educate Americans to the many benefits of repealing the 17th Amendment and restoring States' rights, as the Founding Fathers had intended.   Montanans might still revive the proposed resolution and amendment by sending a letter or message  to your own state legislators.  The Liberty Party Federalism page includes a link to the Montana Legislator web site, where a written letter to your own legislators may be created online.

Residents of other states desiring to restore the year 1789 federal system should also write to your state representatives and tell them that you want your state to pass a resolution advocating repeal of the 17th Amendment.  Also helpful are letters to editors, talk radio, and internet resources.  Forwarding an announcement or message to friends can reach and inform a wealth of people, as will placing a link on your personal or professional web site, if you have one.

Many people are for States' rights, but few are aware that the concept was lost with the passage of the 17th Amendment.

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God Bless America Web Ring

The States' Liberty Party was invited to join the "God Bless America Web Ring" and did.  There are many interesting web sites on the ring.  It can be accessed from very near the bottom of the front page at www.statesliberty.org   Web rings serve the purpose of linking together sites having similar interests and bringing new visitors to the sites.

Letters

Dear Sirs,

Can it be that a modern high standard state would not allow the freedom of religion? Should not everybody be able to give utterance to or find expression in free speech and free beliefs?

To be recognized as a valid communication partner a country or state has to be a democratic institution respecting his or her habitants and their individual thoughts and beliefs.

The U.S.A. is risking to loose his creditworthiness by pushing everybody in their restricted bodice.

Marcus Ampe
Foksweg 14
B.3061 Leefdaal
Belgium
W.Europe
European Union

Editor,

When was this a God-fearing nation. Is that why its citizens stole a people and enslaved them or what it when you destroyed the native americans-please tell me.

A Contributor

Newsletter,

Thanking you and God bless you for your site and for all the information.
May God arise !!!

Maree

Editor,

OUTSTANDING!!!
Thank you for such a perfectly written piece that I can use to help teach my children, and anyone else that wants to discuss it, about what is truly going on and what NEEDS to be done about it. This piece is now mandatory reading at my house.

God bless you and keep up the GREAT work.

Johnny Foote

Editor,

I recommend that you remove the counter on your home page. I reads 13058 since May 20. If this is true then you have no chance. I suspect that you have many more hits on the page linked by NewsMax.com. Keep the counter for your own statistics but remove it because it trivializes your cause by making it look like no one is interested.
 

Best regards,

Joe Baldauff

Editor,

I know you need to focus on this one issue at this time, but take a look at the part of the Constitution that says that any treaty is the supreme law of the land and must be honored by all courts. This is dangerous as the Senate and the President could do this on their own.

This should be replaced by language that says that no treaty can remove rights held by the people. I know that if the 17th is repealed, it will help much, but that supreme law of the land stuff is not needed.


Best wishes

A Contributor

States' Liberty Party,

I have to play devils advocate here.

Wouldn't repealing the 17th amendment put the power to name senators in the hands of the predominant political party in power in each state legislature?

In Ca we have a predominantly democratic legislature, that would mean that our senators would be entirely democratic until such time as a majority of another political party could gain the legislature vs the people getting tired of socialism and voting into office a different party senator at the very next election.

Doing what you suggest would take us back to the back

Craig Townsend

Editor,

Editor,

States' Liberty Party,

Returning state rights and powers back to the states, that were originally granted to the states by the Constitution, and restoring the balance of power between the state and Federal governments should be supported by every state legislator regardless of party affiliation.

We met with Governor Judy Martz, of Montana, she is very supportive of the repeal and she set up a meeting between our delegation and her Chief Legal Counsel, James W. Santoro. We met with him twice, each time for nearly an hour. He was very supportive and knowledgeable, and when we suggested since the Republican Party controls the legislature a message of encouragement from their Republican Governor would help get the bill passed. He agreed and was going to meet with her chief adviser to see if that could be arranged.

We have reported this to Senator O’Neil and suggested he and Duane Grimes, Chair of the Judicial Committee encourage and work with the Governor on this suggestion.

Chairman Grimes is very supportive of the repeal, and made special arrangements for our delegation to meet with his committee, but only Michael Wheat, Jerry O’Neil, Aubyn Curtis, and Jeff Mangan attended.

What we need is a strong delegation of Montana residents to go to the Capitol and show their support to the legislators.

We have been having some of our people in Montana conducting a telephone campaign to get as many as we can, but feel we can use a lot of help in this effort.

Senator O’Neil thanked us for our support, and was pleased with all of the support States Liberty Party, John McMullin and Friends For America have stirred up, but acknowledged this was all from out of state.

I have really been pleased with all of your efforts, I continue to receive messages from all over the nation, as of today I have received messages from legislators from nearly every state in the Union, including Alaska and Hawaii.

We are contacting each of these legislators with information, and encouragement, and have taken this to the board in hopes we can send delegations into these states as quickly as funds are raised.

I met with the Speaker of the House and the Governor of Utah, as well as the ranking Democrat in the Utah Senate this week, and each gave a measure of support. Marty Stevens, the speaker of the house has agreed to meet with the Republican leaders of the House and Senate of Utah to encourage each to send messages of encouragement to the legislators of Montana.

Governor Martz is the chair of the Western Governor Conference, which meets soon; we have requested her help in getting a few minutes on their next meeting agenda to make a presentation on the Repeal. We made this request with James Santoro, and I also mention this to Governor Leavitt. We will continue to pursue this as well as we are trying to get on the agenda of other organizations similar to ALEX, which many of the legislators belong to.

Thank you all for your help and support.


Gene Van Wagoner

FriendsForAmerica.org

States' Liberty Party,

Sorry, I was unable to get the resolution to urge congress to repeal
the 17th Amendment passed by the Montana Senate today.

State Senator Jerry O'Neil

States' Liberty Party,

I agree that the repeal effort in Montana can still be revived, I talked with the telephone receptionist at the Capitol, and she said it was tabled, which mean dead in some circles and dormant in others.

I am writing to all 50 of the Montana Senators asking them why they think it did not pass and would they like to see a similar measure passed, if not, why not.

The session goes to 1st April, if we can muster enough support with some of the residents we will try to go up there again. We were able to change the vote from 4 for, 4 against and, 1 undecided, to a 6 to 3 favorable vote in the Judiciary Committee, so I am still optimistic.

I wonder why the shift at the last minute, Jerry at one time had 12 sponsors yet he only had 9 votes, and Jerry Grimes the Chair of the Judicial committee pulled some special favors while we were there to get us face to face with his committee, He told Jerry he had considered putting in a bill of his own several times before, but always chickened out, so I know he is very much in favor, yet he voted against it on the senate floor, but for it in committee.

I will keep you informed of anything I learn.


Gene

FriendsForAmerica.org

Editor,

Thanks for your efforts on behalf of states rights. Please don't become disheartened!!!!

I hope all on the party go and see "Gods and Generals" which starts in theatres on Feb 21st. It will hopefully educate many "dumbed down" public school products about the true reasons for the war... states rights.

Doug

Dr. Douglas W. Schell
70 Mission Church Rd.
Pembroke, NC 28372
douglas.schell@uncp.edu

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