In the recent history of the United States we had armed conflicts in which Congress did not exercise its authority to declare war.  The Korean and Vietnam Wars were examples.  More recently, Congress gave President Bush the authority to use American troops in the invasion of  Iraq.  Even this was not a declaration of war.  Rather, it authorized the President to invade Iraq.  Over the past fifty years of our history, the President has had more authority to declare war than Congress.

            This resolution is appropriate because it serves as a reminder that only Congress should have the authority to declare war.  It was one of many checks and balances established in the constitution.  We need such legislation to reaffirm the constitution with respect to the powers of Congress because over the last half century, we have forgotten that Congress has the authority to declare war.  If it is left in the hands of the president only, one of the checks and balances of or government will be taken away, and the   Executive Branch will have more power than it should.  These checks and balances were built into the Constitution as a safe guard to keep one branch of government from dominating the others.  If more people are involved in a course of action, there is more assurance that it will be in the best interest of the nation and not serve the whims of one individual.

Recently, a stimulus package was proposed and passed by congress.  This package was designed to create more jobs to jump start the economy.

This package has been met with much criticism from people who believe that the government is unnecessarily spending tax payer’s money.

As I contemplate this debate, I reflect on the Louisiana Purchase.  This purchase doubled the size of the United States giving us over 827000 square miles of land (1).  The territory purchased extended from New Orleans to modern day Montana.

Although few people today would call this purchase  a mistake,  at the time,  it was considered  unconstitutional by critics who argued that the president had no right to purchase land without the consent of the senate.   However, Jefferson justified this action by saying, “It is the case of a guardian, investing the money of his ward in purchasing an important adjacent territory; and saying to him, when of age, I did this for your good.” (2)

Through out history, our country has dealt with constitutional dilemmas.  How much power should the government exercise in governing?  We at politiv

ote believe that as citizens, we should not come to think of ourselves as wards of a benevolent government who is acting for our benefit.  It is our right and, moreover, our duty to examine critically the actions of our government.  Failure to do this can lead to a dictatorship.  As citizens, if we allow ourselves to sink into apathy, it will be much easier for the government to rule unopposed.  As mentioned before, the Louisiana Purchase turned out to benefit our nation, and this shows that in many cases, the actions of the government can in fact contribute to the nation’s well being.  We should also remember that government actions which seem ill advised may over time be beneficial.  For this reason, we should be careful and prudent in weighing the possible benefits and costs of our government’s actions.

Resources

1) http://www.nps.gov/

2) http://www.monticello.org/

Patrick Henry in the Virginia House of Burgesses delivering his infamous speech that swayed the decision to declare independence from Great Britain.

Okay, so according to Wikipedia, the quote is… “”An appeal to arms and the God of hosts is all that is left us. But we shall not fight our battle alone. There is a just God that presides over the destinies of nations. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone. Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it Almighty God. I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death.” — Patrick Henry

What happened to this sentiment in America?  As the years have gone by in our country’s relative infancy, we have watched as voter turnouts have been on steady decline.  Only when issues of race (Civil War, current election) or issues of unjust treatment of minorities (Civil Rights Movement) are staring us in the face do we, as citizens, have the courage to truly stand up and fight for something.

I believe there is hope for our country, but I believe that the only true way to rekindle that fire within our collective hearts is if we, those who enjoy the fruits of living in the greatest nation the world has ever known, stand up collectively and shout as Patrick Henry, “Give me Liberty or Give me Death!”.  If we stop accepting every tax bribe offered by every politician, every glamorous distraction shown to us by Hollywood, every drop of debilitating, mindless, escapist forms of self-indulgent entertainment and focus on what’s important — creating a better future for ourselves and for our children — if we can do this, I know that one day, we will realize the vision of our noble forefathers.  We will be able to stand with pride that we have made a change, a difference.  We will look once again on our flag, our country, and our government, and we will realize…

We are free.

We invite you to be a part of this, the greatest experiment in free democracy in our time.  Vote, and be heard with PolitiVote.

I spent the afternoon reading a Wikipedia article about a man I greatly admire; the musician, author, and free-thinking yeoman, Thomas Jefferson. After learning more about the man behind the legend, I read about his political philosophy regarding democracy. I hope these words stir you as they did me:

“Jefferson believed that each individual has “certain inalienable rights.” That is, these rights exist with or without government; man cannot create, take, or give them away. It is the right of “liberty” on which Jefferson is most notable for expounding. He defines it by saying “rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add ‘within the limits of the law,’ because law is often but the tyrant’s will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual.”

Hence, for Jefferson, though government cannot create a right to liberty, it can indeed violate it. The limit of an individual’s rightful liberty is not what law says it is but is simply a matter of stopping short of prohibiting other individuals from having the same liberty. A proper government, for Jefferson, is one that not only prohibits individuals in society from infringing on the liberty of other individuals, but also restrains itself from diminishing individual liberty.”

As I pondered what Jefferson would think of today’s America, of where we are and what we stand for, I began to wonder if he would be pleased with what he saw. Are we, the people, writing laws and passing them? Is his ideal of a democracy where the rule of law is not supreme, but free will, limited only by the limits imposed rightfully by others, truly being demonstrated in the way in which we live?

I would suggest that we are still on the path to Jefferson’s vision of democracy, but that we are facing a crossroads in our progress as a nation. If we, as Americans, allow ignorance in our people and corruption in our leaders to continue, we will create a multi-headed, tyrannical beast that masquerades as our friend while denying us basic rights to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” We MUST stay informed. We MUST stay involved. We MUST ACT, and I believe that PolitiVote is part of that process. Vote, be heard, build a better life for yourself and for those in your future, and you will see that the world in which you live is not an inflection of an unjust fate, but a reflection of your will to change it.

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