West Point vs America

There is disturbing news out of West Point this week.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jan/17/west-point-center-cites-dangers-far-right-us/

“It says anti-federalists “espouse strong convictions regarding the federal government, believing it to be corrupt and tyrannical, with a natural tendency to intrude on individuals’ civil and constitutional rights.”

And so West Point thinks that makes constitutional conservatives a violent threat to overthrow the government??  What?

Do they know what the United States of America is?  The United States of America is a republic form government (not a democracy) that forms a union between the several sovereign states via the Constitution.  Our forefathers had just fought a war against Tyranny.  They took every step necessary to prevent tyranny and to preserve the rights of the individual and the sovereignty of the States, while allowing for necessary federal level organization and arbitration.  "powers not granted to the federal government by the Constitution, nor prohibited to the States, are reserved to the States or the people."

Do they know what an anti-federalist is?  Anti-Federalism began as a movement opposed to increasingly stronger U.S. federal government.  Yes, they  originally opposed the signing of the constitution in its current form  But why?  Because they worried, among other things, that the position of president, then a novelty, might evolve into a monarchy.  The US Government, as it is defined by the Constitution, has no fear from anti-federalists (if any still exist).  However, individual power hungry politicians who are high on government over-reach and don't want to get voted out may.

Do they remember their vow to protect the constitution?  Given that candidates to west point are usually recommended or appointed there by senators, this may well be a conflict of interest, </snark> but they DO take the vow to protect the constitution.

Constitutional and fiscal conservatives believe in the federal government:  The foundation, structure and military that our constitution sets forth is sound.  And they want to protect that, not destroy it.

However, the facts remain facts: Many politicians in our federal government are corrupt and tyrannical, with a natural tendency to intrude on individuals’ civil and constitutional rights.  We simply have far too many people in these otherwise valid federal government positions and offices that hold ideologies that are either anti-American, or simply greedy & selfish.

This is the nature of humans and power.  Power corrupts.  The more power the more corruption.  The federal government as expanded beyond it's intended power base and needs to be reined in.  We are a nation of laws.  Laws depend on both legislation and precedent.   We need to remove the corrupt, and set the precedent that when the federal government over expands, we will contract it.  Stripping them of certain powers with explicit legislation -even constitutional convention if necessary - since they apparently can't read the constitution as it is.

Over the years, the power hungry have boiled the frog.  Step by step, going over the slippery slope until the federal government is so far removed from the public that they no longer represent us. 

But still, we do not advocate violent protest or the violent overthrow of  our government.  The pen is mightier than the sword.

America:  The federal government is not lost.  Your vote still counts.  And if we can remove voter fraud, teach our children, educate the public and de-fund the conflict of interest that is government dependent voters, then we can make it count for more.

We must take our offices back, and remind them who they work for.  We must remove the current trappings and privileges of public office.  As public servants, they should not have the luxuries and life-long reassurances that "rich and powerful" men and women have.

There is an old saying "Anyone who wants to be king is not fit to be king".  We need statesmen, not politicians.  The job should be a duty, not a country club.

• Defund extravagances. Restrict tax funded expenses. 
• Set term limits. 
• Ban pork on legislation.  Limit bills to 1500 words and a single topic. 
• Restrict campaign funding - allow no contributions, give everyone a set limit they can spend & no more. 
• Remove executive privilege.
• Have congress men stay in state with their constituents & vote remotely, so as not to get "DC living mentality"