(Editor's note: This package also includes the sidebars "The More You Make, The More They Take" and "The 'Contract' and 'Article 8 of the Articles of Freedom the Works of Continental Congress 2009' on the Income Tax.")

Your  Servant GovernmentWere our federal and state constitutions written to limit and control the actions of the people or limit and control the actions of the government? The Iowa Constitution reads: "All political power is inherent in the people. Government is instituted for the protection, security, and benefit of the people, and they have the right, at all times, to alter or reform the same, whenever the public good may require it."

What denotes "public good" is no doubt the seed of discord between those who would see government take or borrow resources to provide for those that cannot provide for themselves and those who would see government ensure the protection of personal property so the people may provide for themselves and each other.

(Editor's note: This is a sidebar to the editorial " Is Your Government Your Servant or Your Master?" This package also includes the commentary "The More You Make, The More They Take.")

Several different limited-government initiatives address the issue of the income tax.

The Contract from America

The Contract from America (TheContract.org) is "a grassroots-generated, crowd-sourced, bottom-up call for real economic conservative and good governance reform in Congress." Its top 10 priorities are scheduled to be released April 15 at Tax Day Tea Party rallies. Among the top three is "Demand a Balanced Budget," which reads: "Begin the Constitutional amendment process to require a balanced budget with a two-thirds majority needed for any tax hike."

It feels like 2010 arrived at breakneck speed. Perhaps this is due to the fast-tracking of legislation that, by its very design, will financially impact American lifestyles in ways we cannot yet comprehend. The time has come for Americans to truly question the lawfulness of the legislation that is being passed in Washington, and what we are willing to do about it. Make no mistake: The next three years will shape for generations to come how we define ourselves as Americans.

Continental Congress 2009

The Continental Congress 2009 concluded its 11 days of deliberating on Saturday, November 21. The work product that is emerging, titled "Articles of Freedom," is a testament to a measured, thoughtful, and lawful process that all Americans can be proud of. The more than 100 delegates that convened from 48 states set out to end the violations of the Constitution through which the People's administrative and judicial processes have already been exhausted - i.e., exercising their First Amendment Right to Petition for a Redress of Grievances with no legitimate response from the federal government.

The resultant document, "Articles of Freedom," is the proverbial line in the sand that, if 3 to 5 percent of America embraces it, can restore Constitutional order in America. The "Remedial Instructions to Congress & the States" as well as the suggested "Civic Action" for the people to take to enforce these instructions illustrate that we are in our Republic's 11th hour. If we are to remain a free people, it is time to take action beyond two-party elections, beyond unheard petitioning, and beyond rallies and marches. Those efforts have not worked.

The People Draw the Line in the Sand for America

Beyond Elections.
Beyond Petitions.
Beyond Tea Parties.


ST. CHARLES, IL - The first time free people assembled as a Congress of the People for such a critical point in the nation's history was in 1774 in Philadelphia.  Over 230 years later 116 Delegates from 48 states have convened a modern day Continental Congress to exercise popular sovereignty and restore self-governance to the people of America.

The twelve day Congress is being broadcast live via streaming webcast at:
www.cc2009us.com, www.givemeliberty.org/cc2009, www.freedom.tv/live
from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CDT through Saturday Nov 21st.

States prepare for coming Continental Congress

Locals invited to become delegates, National Election Day October 10th

EVERY STATE, U.S.A., September 14, 2009 - Citizens fed up with constitutional violations causing devastation to the economy and the Nation, are stepping up to join constitutional activist Robert L. Schulz, Chairman of We The People Foundation for Constitutional Education, to prepare for a modern-day Continental Congress to take place November 8-22, 2009 at the Pheasant Run Conference Center in St. Charles, Illinois.  Continental Congress 2009 is not political or partisan and seeks to defend, not amend, the current Constitution.

 

Billed as the "next appropriate step for the free people of America," planners hope the historic national assembly will inspire the critical mass necessary to restore constitutional governance. 153 citizen-nominated-and-elected Delegates - three from each state and Washington, D.C. -- will convene for two weeks to methodically and factually document constitutional abuses which have taken place over many years, across many administrations, every branch of government and both parties.   Delegates will consider specific non-violent, legal civic actions to stop the wrongs.

Citizens are invited to nominate delegates who have a "proven passion for the Constitution," by visiting www.cc2009.us .  "Perhaps you know a great patriot who is a neighbor, a family member, or associate," says Schulz.  Delegates will make their own way to Illinois, but room and board will be covered by donations.

There is a growing "Constitutional Divide" in America.

On one side there are the "defenders," people who have educated themselves and understand the power of the Constitution as a set of principles to govern the government; a shield between the people and tyrannical despotism; a document the People must defend, as it cannot defend itself, that must be construed in its entirety, its provisions inextricably intertwined. It is therefore not a menu from which elected officials can pick and choose at whim.

Defenders are compelled to take action, as they know every violation of the Constitution further devastates our Nation, our people, and our economy.

On the other side of the Constitutional Divide are the constitutionally illiterate, as well as officials who blatantly ignore its importance.

Davenport NEW Misses Benchmark

July 29 - Editorial - Davenport NEW Meets Old Davenport. Success signs - getting front-line city staff involved.

As the largest department of the city, there is no greater front-line than Public Works. In an election year, it is difficult to evaluate and judge the performance of our mayor and aldermen on their hand-picked choice for Public Works director, when he fails to show up for a First Ward meeting and conveys his loathing to speak to the public, through the elected official. As one who is also old Davenport (old school), I'd like to hear from the man in charge: Do we have enough salt for Winter? Is he thinking about spring flooding, potholes, sewer collapses, road resurfacing? If Davenport NEW is about open and transparent access to government, then meeting the new Public Works director would be a good public-relations start.

Arthur Anderson
Davenport

On May 21st, many leaders of national organizations dedicated to the defense of Liberty and the Constitution are retracing the 1910 travels of the global financiers who quietly gathered at a private resort at Jekyll Island, Georgia to covertly plot the creation of what we know today as the privately-owned (and unconstitutional), "Federal Reserve System."

Next week, Freedom leaders travel by train from New Jersey to that notable location to join their organizations in support of the upcoming historic "Continental Congress 2009" initiative.  CC2009 will be a multi-week, assembly of Delegates from the fifty states to formally document for the nation a century of Constitutional violations and the federal Government's patent refusal to be held accountable to the Law of the nation.  Among the violations are the Treasury and Fed bailouts which use public monies for unlawful expenditures for private benefit. 

The CC2009 Assembly will recommend specific actions the People can take to peacefully restore Constitutional Order.  These actions may well include a nationwide call for the People to (lawfully) withdraw all financial support from the government until the Constitution is fully obeyed.

To learn about the little-known, 900-year history and profound power of the Petition clause, visit www.WeThePeopleCongress.org.

Nancy Brandt, Andover, Illinois

It is more apparent every day that the "change" Obama was elected to bring will not be forthcoming when it comes to the financial sector and foreign policy. Like Bush's former henchman Paulson, Obama Treasury Secretary Geithner advocates the elite global banking interests and is a puppet of the Federal Reserve Bank (which is neither federal nor reserve - remember? RiverCitiesReader.com/commentary/neither-federal-nor-reserve). It is just that simple.