Since my senior year in high school, Robert 'Bud' Cramer has represented the 5th district of Alabama in Congress. Just recently he announced he would NOT seek re-election so now there is a lot of talk of other 'career politicians' wanting to make a bid to fill his seat.
Maybe I should throw my hat in the ring as well?
One might wonder what qualifications I have. That's a fair question. The answer is that I am MORE THAN QUALIFIED since I well exceed the three requirements.
1) You have to be at least 25. Check!
2) You have to live in the state you represent. I'm 2-for-2 so far...
3) You have to be a U.S. citizen. Looks like I'm batting a thousand!
So if elected to the House of Representatives, what would I do?
In no particular order...
1) This country's tax system is beyond broken. It doesn't need tweaking and it doesn't need fixing. It needs to be abolished and replaced with the FairTax.
2) I would introduce legistation to repeal the 17th amendment. Back in the day, senators were elected by your state legislatures. The 17th amendment did away with that and now you vote directly for your senators.
3) I would vote NO on every bill that I couldn't read from beginning to end in less than 10 minutes.
4) I would vote NO on every bill that had a provision in it that wasn't specifically enumerated as a function of the federal government.
5) Every bill must show where in the Constitution it is a function of the federal government. Otherwise, the 10th amendment applies and it gets a 'no' vote.
6) I would introduce the 'Equal Treatment Bill' which would state that what the federal government does for one citizen it must do for ALL citizens. Likewise, what it doesn't do for one citizen it must not do for any citizen.
Those are six things just off the top of my head... but I think it's a good start...
Showing posts with label constitution. Show all posts
Showing posts with label constitution. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Drug Testing Students?
The Madison School Board was about to vote on drug testing students recently but the vote was stalled thanks to three parents who voiced their opposition.
So how could any rational parent be opposed to this vote? The parents 'said they didn't think the proposed policy had been publicized enough and would like to know why the policy is being considered in the first place.'
Good for them! These three parents deserve our thanks. They stopped politicians from sneaking through a vote that would affect their children. That's called being a GOOD parent.
By the way, it IS 'sneaking' when the board doesn't put it on the agenda and doesn't mention it on their website.
The school board says the drug testing would have been 'random.' Random meaning students who drive to school and those who participate in extracurricular activities.
That pretty much covers 90%+ of students age 16 and older... and folks, that's not 'random.'
This is another example of government run schools. First, when your child is ready for school, your local school system sends you a letter. It states that your child is required by law to go to school. Punishment for not complying? Mom and dad go to jail.
Wow! Where do I sign up for that?! (note sarcasm)
(You've already signed up. You don't have a choice.)
Next, after being forced to go to school, the government decides that, for a better, safer and healthier society, that it will test the students for illegal drugs.
Great!
Just show probable cause and get a warrant FIRST.
Yes... GET A WARRANT. People in this country have RIGHTS and it doesn't matter if the person is 40 years old or 15 years old. The same rules apply across the board! EVERYONE is protected by the 4th amendment... which reads:
'The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.'
What part of the 4th amendment isn't clear about that?
I've heard the argument that the Constitution doesn't apply to minors or students... but that's hogwash. The Constitution applies to our GOVERNMENT.
What's sad is that when it comes to 'winning the war on drugs,' the government is quick look past the rules (the Constitution) that impedes their effort.
Which is yet another reason to end the insane war on drugs...
So how could any rational parent be opposed to this vote? The parents 'said they didn't think the proposed policy had been publicized enough and would like to know why the policy is being considered in the first place.'
Good for them! These three parents deserve our thanks. They stopped politicians from sneaking through a vote that would affect their children. That's called being a GOOD parent.
By the way, it IS 'sneaking' when the board doesn't put it on the agenda and doesn't mention it on their website.
The school board says the drug testing would have been 'random.' Random meaning students who drive to school and those who participate in extracurricular activities.
That pretty much covers 90%+ of students age 16 and older... and folks, that's not 'random.'
This is another example of government run schools. First, when your child is ready for school, your local school system sends you a letter. It states that your child is required by law to go to school. Punishment for not complying? Mom and dad go to jail.
Wow! Where do I sign up for that?! (note sarcasm)
(You've already signed up. You don't have a choice.)
Next, after being forced to go to school, the government decides that, for a better, safer and healthier society, that it will test the students for illegal drugs.
Great!
Just show probable cause and get a warrant FIRST.
Yes... GET A WARRANT. People in this country have RIGHTS and it doesn't matter if the person is 40 years old or 15 years old. The same rules apply across the board! EVERYONE is protected by the 4th amendment... which reads:
'The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.'
What part of the 4th amendment isn't clear about that?
I've heard the argument that the Constitution doesn't apply to minors or students... but that's hogwash. The Constitution applies to our GOVERNMENT.
What's sad is that when it comes to 'winning the war on drugs,' the government is quick look past the rules (the Constitution) that impedes their effort.
Which is yet another reason to end the insane war on drugs...
Monday, October 8, 2007
Torturing Terrorists & Constitutional Rights
Last Friday night I was listening to a local radio talk show. The discussion was about torturing terrorists in order to gain information about future attacks & terrorist activities.
I think I may have been the only individual who called in to think that it's wrong to do so.
Other callers said that torture was completely acceptable... by any means necessary!
Wow. That's just plain scary.
When I called in, I said that I was fairly confident, more than 98% sure, that when the feds apprehend someone they think is a terrorist, they've got the right guy.
Great. Give him a trial and prove it.
That's right. Give the suspected terrorist a trial (and a lawyer). After all, if the government is so certain, the trial should be open and shut in a day!
What ensued quickly thereafter were numerous callers saying that terrorists don't have a right to a trial. In fact, they don't have any rights, period!
Well, that's just plain ignorance of how our government works.
When our government suspects someone of a crime or other illegal activity, there are certain rules that must be followed. The individual(s) must be charged, given a trial, etc.
Other calls didn't seem to think so... that our constitution doesn't apply to others.
That's true. Our constitution applies to our government. It's the set of rules that restricts what our government can and cannot do.
Other callers chimed in using the term 'constitution rights.'
Folks, there are no such thing as CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS. That's a ridiculous term that implies that the rights and freedoms we have come from a document that specifies what our government can and cannot do.
Not so.
Our rights come from above. Period. Our constitution was created by our founding fathers to ensure that the government does not impede or trample on the rights we, as human beings, have. Our rights are therefore constitutionally protected.
I think I may have been the only individual who called in to think that it's wrong to do so.
Other callers said that torture was completely acceptable... by any means necessary!
Wow. That's just plain scary.
When I called in, I said that I was fairly confident, more than 98% sure, that when the feds apprehend someone they think is a terrorist, they've got the right guy.
Great. Give him a trial and prove it.
That's right. Give the suspected terrorist a trial (and a lawyer). After all, if the government is so certain, the trial should be open and shut in a day!
What ensued quickly thereafter were numerous callers saying that terrorists don't have a right to a trial. In fact, they don't have any rights, period!
Well, that's just plain ignorance of how our government works.
When our government suspects someone of a crime or other illegal activity, there are certain rules that must be followed. The individual(s) must be charged, given a trial, etc.
Other calls didn't seem to think so... that our constitution doesn't apply to others.
That's true. Our constitution applies to our government. It's the set of rules that restricts what our government can and cannot do.
Other callers chimed in using the term 'constitution rights.'
Folks, there are no such thing as CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS. That's a ridiculous term that implies that the rights and freedoms we have come from a document that specifies what our government can and cannot do.
Not so.
Our rights come from above. Period. Our constitution was created by our founding fathers to ensure that the government does not impede or trample on the rights we, as human beings, have. Our rights are therefore constitutionally protected.
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