Restore Our Congress, End Elite Rule!

Those following my blog are aware the Republican and Democratic Parties usurped authority in the U.S. Congress around the turn of the 19th and early 20th centuries. They did this by establishing positions such as the Majority and Minority Leaders, Majority and Minority Whips as well as other related positions. We now pay for these unconstitutional positions and the supporting staffs while the reins of power was shifted from the people to these 'titled' positions. This has resulted in an oligarchy rule of the few over the many.

Below are a few important links to further explain the issue as well as a link to an electronic petition you can sign to help send a message to Congress we want the Constitutional structure restored and want this usurpation of power to end!

Article: Restore Our Congress, End Usurped Power
Additional background links are in this article for you to study the issue.

Video: Restore Our Congress, End Elite Rule!

Sign the Petition: Restore Our Congress, End Usurped Power!

I am interested in reading everyone's comments on this issue. Please spread the word to anyone you know who may also want to sign the petition to send a message to the two-party rulers we control Congress. Thanks!

Paul Supporters Crucify Me!

I have now felt the wrath of supporters and it is counter-productive to the importance of the revolution!

read more | digg story

Reclaim Congress: Demand an End to Oligarchy Rule!

by Gary Wood
© January 10, 2008

With an ever increasing number of Independent voters it is time to address a key challenge to our Constitution that grips the U.S. Congress. Newly elected Senators and Representatives cannot take their oath and begin to represent their constituents. Those elected by the people are subjugated in status based on a vial, derisive system we have allowed to grow within the halls of Congress. The practice of the Democratic and Republican Parties selecting majority and minority leaders, whips, and support staffs has become a tradition whose control equates to no more than an oligarchy rule over this country’s legislative branch.

An oligarchy is defined as “a form of government in which all power is vested in a few persons or in a dominant class or clique; government by the few.” At what point did you or your neighbor elect any past majority or minority leader? Why is it those appointed to these roles have a louder, more powerful voice than the Senator or Representative the voters just entrusted their voice to? This ‘clique’ has carefully leveled an extreme amount of power over anyone outside of their inner circle. When the Independent voters begin selecting representation beyond the two major parties this ‘clique’ will be there to silence the voices of voters.

From the United States Senate’s website the definition of party floor leaders (emphasis added) is, “The Majority Leader and Minority Leader are elected by their respective party conferences to serve as the chief Senate spokesmen for their parties and to manage and schedule the legislative and executive business of the Senate. By custom, the Presiding Officer gives the floor leaders priority in obtaining recognition to speak on the floor of the Senate.” The following definition for the position of whip is given. “Assistants to the floor leaders who are also elected by their party conferences. The Majority and Minority Whips (and their assistants) are responsible for mobilizing votes within their parties on major issues. In the absence of a party floor leader, the whip often serves as acting floor leader.”

None of these positions were mandated in the Constitution yet began to emerge around the turn of the 19^th and 20^th century. Today they are merely accepted traditional, customary, and extremely powerful positions. Remember, the Senate was to be overseen by the Vice President and the House by a Speaker of the House. We will hear from the Republican and Democrat Parties alike how important it is to have these ‘key’ leadership positions to help the flow of legislation. There will be cries against ending this ‘time-honored tradition’ and we will, no doubt, be warned of the dangers of ending the practice. No matter what arguments these two parties present it is imperative their grip on the U.S. Congress be brought to an end.

Note very clearly who the floor leaders speak for, their parties with priority in speaking. Nevadans may have elected Harry Reid but it is his job to speak for his party. Kentucky counted on being represented by Mitch McConnell but he is busy speaking not for Kentucky but for the Republican Party. At the same time these ‘leaders’ are given priority there are many Senators and Representatives who must struggle for a voice while facing the wrath of their perspective parties if they dare speak out against the stance embraced by that party. Where, in this scenario, is the voice of the people?

This may well be the fruition of the warnings voiced over 200 years ago regarding the dangerous, tyrannical nature of party politics. In his 1796 Farewell Address George Washington sounded a loud and clear warning;

“All obstructions to the execution of the laws, all combinations and associations, under whatever plausible character, with the real design to direct, control, counteract, or awe the regular deliberation and action of the constituted authorities, are destructive of this fundamental principle, and of fatal tendency. They serve to organize faction, to give it an artificial and extraordinary force; to put, in the place of the delegated will of the nation the will of a party, often a small but artful and enterprising minority of the community; and, according to the alternate triumphs of different parties, to make the public administration the mirror of the ill-concerted and incongruous projects of faction, rather than the organ of consistent and wholesome plans digested by common counsels and modified by mutual interests.

However combinations or associations of the above description may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely, in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion.”

The leadership of the two major parties in the United States successfully usurped the reins of government, just as Washington warned. This subversion of the power of the people is no more clearly evident than within the structure of the U.S. Congress accepted by the people, until now. Any organized political party, including the Republican and Democrat Party, must not be allowed to control the legislative branch and must be allowed only to influence the campaigns leading up to, not beyond, the swearing in of those we the people elect.

The power is shifted back and forth between only two parties, Republicans and Democrats. In the current structure there is no way any person elected from outside the two majority party powerhouses in the United States could ever hope to land one of these power positions. It would be easier to get elected as a third party Presidential candidate rather than win a seat at the inner circle of Congressional power. Anytime there is a shift in the control of Congress the parties merely switch majority and minority hats.

We the people are currently being bombarded with the word ‘change’ during the current campaign. This word will become a part of each of the 469 Congressional races soon to be under way. By January 2009 those elected as our Senators and Representatives must be allowed to stand on equal ground so the people of Rhode Island are equally represented as the people of California and all 50 States.

Third party candidates or true Independent candidates will attempt to gain a voice yet even if elected their voice and the voice of those voting for them will be silenced and no real change effected unless we demand an end to the power structure within the halls of Congress. The oligarchy rule, the usurped power controlling the reigns of our legislative branch must be severed. We must demand a return to the Constitutional structure within both chambers and the change must be swift and immediate.

The Constitution Party Preamble: Historically Inaccurate

by Gary Wood

© January 9, 2008

A growing number of U.S. voters are tired of the two-party strangle hold of the Republican and Democratic Parties. Many are listening to the guidance of Lou Dobbs, CNN Anchor and radio show host, and registering as Independent. Although registering as an Independent may be a good idea there is a need to find candidates which will support the voters’ ideals. Still lacking is a platform for candidates who are in favor of the concepts the United States was founded upon, the Constitutional design for the Federalist Republic.

In my on-going search I grew more aware of a fairly young third-party known as The Constitution Party. The name alone spoke to my desire for a return to our roots. My research into this party began in earnest yet lasted a very short time. My first visit to their website was enough to send a warning when I read;

“The Democrats and Republicans have squandered the Founders' legacy of liberty and justice under the Constitution. Countless government officials in the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government ignore their oath to uphold and defend the Constitution. Join the Constitution Party in its work to restore our government to its Constitutional limits and our law to its Biblical foundations.”

Initially I had a sense of excitement. It is true the Founder’s legacy has been squandered. It is also true countless officials ignore their oath. However, the last two words, “Biblical foundations” sent a minor shock. It is true many of the Founders considered the importance of developing a country which was set in moral convictions based on faith in a creator but to reference the Bible as the foundation is not accurate. This led me to the party’s preamble where I found;

“The Constitution Party gratefully acknowledges the blessing of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as Creator, Preserver and Ruler of the Universe and of these United States. We hereby appeal to Him for mercy, aid, comfort, guidance and the protection of His Providence as we work to restore and preserve these United States.

This great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason peoples of other faiths have been and are afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here.”

Sadly, many of the words which followed throughout the preamble and the rest of the platform have an air of real meaning. Within the context is a desire to limit government, restore the rule of law, promote liberty, and support a more accurate form of governing the United States. However, if a foundation is wrong the entire building is at risk of falling and in the case of The Constitution Party the foundation is wrong. Up front there is the establishment of Jesus Christ as Creator. Everywhere the word Creator is used throughout the rest of the text it goes back to this definition and historically it is inaccurate.

Overall I really wanted to embrace this party. Reading through their entire platform there were so many aspects I embrace due to the focus on restoring Constitutional provisions. Many of the platform’s points are well stated and embrace much of the Founder’s legacy which many of us know has been under direct attack for decades. Yet, intermixed within the platform are theocratic considerations due to the foundational belief Jesus Christ is the Creator and the Christian Bible therefore must be intertwined with policies and concepts.

It is a historical fact many of the Founding Fathers did not embrace any of the revealed religions. Among the most influential of the founders most considered themselves to be deist. That is, they believed in a creator based on science and nature, not revelation. The Enlightened age guided our founders to study such writers as Locke, Voltaire, and Rousseau. There was a significant understanding of the importance of faith in a creator yet there was every attempt to insure the Constitution would not be directly influenced by any set religion based on revelations. Although there were Christians among the 55 men assembled debate raged about revealed religion being intermixed and those believing in a deist philosophy won the debates.

Among those we consider Founding Fathers deism can be associated with George Washington, Thomas Paine, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, James Madison, and Ethan Allen. This is not to say there was no belief within these men’s hearts, it means there was no foundational belief the creator was and is Jesus Christ. To the point, they were not Christian and would not consider themselves to be Christians. As a deist it is likely these and others viewed Jesus Christ as a wonderful teacher but clearly not the Creator. None of them wanted to deny other’s right to follow any religion, revealed or natural, but all of them wanted to insure the Constitution clearly separated church and State. Note there was no desire to separate God and State, merely church or organized religion and State.

It is my hope the members of this new party will see the error in their preamble and in other portions of their platform based on this fundamental, historical mistake. They have come so close to being a party to rally around if a citizen truly wants to restore the Federalist Republic to its Constitutional roots yet foundationally it is a case of being close and at the same time no where near the target. Should this be corrected within the preamble and other areas impacted by this belief within the platform I will gladly look again at joining their party. If it is not corrected I will, with a very careful eye, look uneasily toward any of their candidates. We need to restore our Republic to the Founder’s legacy not implement a theocratic slant upon that very legacy.

Liberty's Success = 471

by Gary Wood
©December 22, 2007

We’re hearing an ever growing number of voices shouting liberty and freedom. In an election year there are many candidates willing to use these words rhetorically hoping to spark trust or patriotic feelings to garner a vote. A vote tells us a lot about those trying to convince us they will help change the way our government is run and they will restore liberty and freedom. Listen to the soundbites bombarding us from all sides and you will hear the use of such emotional splendor as constitution, founding fathers, our foundation, our heritage, and American values connected with their words of promise. Yet most promise these passionate rhetorical guarantees quite often and once elected quickly forget since it was only rhetoric to be used for persuasion, mental invasion, and then to be tucked away for the next reelection campaign.

This approach has worked well for countless state and federal level representatives as well as many campaigning to become our Commander-in-Chief. Year after election year the magic trick of rhetoric is pulled on an audience too busy attempting to live a life filled with daily time pressures and demands. Falling far too often for the political tricks, simply by being entranced by the candidate’s patter, those not helping restore liberty and freedom find themselves returning to governing and entertaining the lobbying clan. However, a magic trick and rhetoric can only be shown to the same audience just so many times before the mystique and belief in magic gives way to the real nature of the slight of hand movements, or in this case the lack of real change. No longer mesmerized and amazed the audience becomes disappointed that there is no real magic, no real magician, just tricks of the trade, the tricks secret now revealed.

So it is this election year, you can find them everywhere spitting the patter of liberty, freedom, and hope. Yet they finally showed their trick to the same audience too many times and now we know there are no real magicians, except maybe one. Watching this one, who’s been performing his brand of magic for decades, he appears to a growing number to be the only skilled magician among the many would be hopefuls. Perhaps there are others yet his skill is creating a mighty stir, his act is becoming the true main attraction. Watching his vote we catch no deceit, following his actions we sense a real feat. Liberty and freedom are not empty words and the foundation of the nation is his passion, our treat.

Yet change in the way our federal government is run, restoring liberty and freedom, really improving the paths for our children’s children takes more than one, even if he becomes President. Would you agree that’s true? With a wise selection for Vice President that’s still only two so is there anything at all the audience can really do? Real magic, beyond a rhetorical parlor trick, takes focus and steady concentration. This election year, if you are one who internally desires the restoration of liberty, help every registered voter you can focus on 471. Do this and this year the U.S. Constitution will have won. Ahhh, the magic in the trick, the secret you wish revealed is what is the power of 471?

Its simple mathematics as magic often is; President Ron Paul and his Vice President are two, add 34 Senators who’re in need of your vote plus 435 Representatives wanting the same and only cast your vote, your focus, on a candidate that wants liberty and freedom as badly as you! How do you know? Track the votes, follow the actions and if there is no feat beat feet. Only focus, only vote for candidates you are confident are on freedom’s true side and now you have power beyond even a most talented Dr. Paul. Now you have the power to get true change done. Help restore our Federal Republic; we need many voters’ focus if we expect real magic.

If you pick a few wrong no need to panic friend, focus on 469 in 2010!

SSDD: Same Stink, Different Day

©by Gary Wood

November 28, 2007

As a young airman, in 1970s Grand Forks, I first heard the reply SSDD. It was a very common response when asking someone how they were doing. Some of you reading this are saying the second ‘S’ does not stand for ‘stink’ yet you can appreciate what substance caused the stink so for this article that is what I’ll use, staying politically correct and away from the word filter police. I was watching more of the news regarding the campaign going on for the POTUS and it sure reminded me of SSDD.

The first Presidential campaign I actively worked on was in 1972. It was a different campaign from today simply due to the fact a sitting President was running for reelection. Looking at modern history there is one way SSDD would not apply. The last time there was no sitting President or Vice President running was 1952. Eisenhower won on a campaign promise to personally end the Korean War while maintaining a strong defense against Communism abroad and sound, honest fiscal policies at home. Aside from the 1952 campaign each of the subsequent races for the White House have had someone running that currently held one of the two highest elected offices. Strangely, the media’s leading candidate for the Democratic nomination does have the full support and backing of a former President, Bill Clinton.

One thing that smacks of SSDD is the idea of a Clinton in the White House. Hillary Clinton, if elected, will join a 28 year tradition of having either a member of the Bush or Clinton family serving as either the President or Vice President. Some speculate after eight years of a Hillary White House perhaps another Bush will get elected and after yet another eight years of another Bush it will be time for Chelsea Clinton to take up residency for her eight years. If this gives you a reason to smile you see the humor in the scenario, if you awake in the middle of the night in a cold sweat you see the disaster in this scenario.

Listening to the debates and stump speeches of the candidates truly does embrace the pure essence of SSDD. The same stink being spewed in today’s campaign promises is similar in aromatic displeasure of campaign promises made in a different day, even a different decade. Remember the promise made in 1988 by George the First, something about “Read my lips...” and then came the taxes and then came Clinton in 1992. Go back a bit further and listen in as Richard Nixon promises to restore law and order while defeating Hubert Humphrey. Have you heard any candidate promise the same type of sentiment today? Here’s a hint, listen closely to Rudy Giuliani!

It was not long ago, especially if you are my age or older, we had a former governor from a small state talk about the advantages of electing a Washington D.C. outsider over corrupt politics within the beltway. Jimmy Carter beat Ford in 1976; Ronald Reagan returned the favor by championing outsider sentiment once again while defeating Carter in 1980. Have you heard anyone picking up the cry of being from outside the beltway this year? There are many, even a couple of small state governors, Richardson and Huckabee. SSDD.

Some will remember a time when religion finally took a back seat to policy discussions, when Kennedy became the first Roman Catholic to win in what was the narrowest popular vote ever. Today there is another trying to be the first to win the Presidency while being a member of a less than popular religion and opponents use the issue to cloud policy discussions. Will the Mormon question be silenced by actual policy? Perhaps not if the policy is not delivered as dynamically as Kennedy was able to deliver it and when one listens to the campaign promises of Mitt Romney one can easily sense SSDD.

If we listen closely we can hear much discussion from many candidates in favor of programs and policies which will create bigger government and higher taxes. This was not very popular throughout recent elections. The SSDD does not seem to be garnering the wrath it has in the past. Perhaps too many have promised, while on the campaign trail, the idea of smaller Federal government and lower taxes while citizens see the size and cost of their Federal government ever-expanding even after voting for the smaller promise.

Those candidates blatantly trumpeting promises that knowingly will enlarge both the size and cost of government seem to be even more popular than those who are not. Are we now so accustomed to the stink it actually smells funny without it? Simply look at the popular polls to find the big government candidates who are either leading or near the lead. There’s Clinton, Obama, Edwards, Giuliani, Romney, and McCain to name a few. As a matter of reflection note the names of candidates proposing smaller government and lower taxes...go ahead...look hard. There’s Paul and, well maybe Huckabee, oh, Hunter and Tancredo...what about Kucinich? Oh, nope, he wants the new Dept. of Peace and more.

Change, there is one SSDD that is everywhere in every election. How many state they represent true change? Perhaps the focus is on small variations rather than truly making things different and we misunderstand their meaning. Change is an extremely ambiguous concept but in the two-party political arena have we seen any major differences over the years or is it all becoming the same stink, different day?

Who’s Whipping up the Power, You?

Oligarchy Rule in the United States
By Gary Wood
© October 18, 2007

An oligarchy is defined as “a form of government in which all power is vested in a few persons or in a dominant class or clique; government by the few.” Some dictionaries define it further as rule by a few persons or families. The first time I heard the United States was very much becoming an oligarchy with a shadow government controlling much of the power, carrying titles and leadership roles none of the people voted on nor could the positions be found in the Constitution I rolled my eyes. Initially, the notion of some shadow government fell on deaf ears as I was nearly too quick to simply label the idea some conspiracy theory with no foundation. Finally, oligarchy stuck with me and I started to research in an effort to determine if there was any such few with power enough to run the government.

There is a level of plutocracy going on, that of the government being ruled by the wealthy as it is nearly impossible to gain access into the system, especially at the Federal and State level, for citizens of less wealth. The entire election process has grown immensely expensive. On a discussion board not long ago a poster, ‘alamo1836,’ came up with the combination of a plutocratic oligarchy being a possible better description of what form of government the U.S. is morphing in to. However, oligarchy still requires finding these few persons or the dominant class or clique.

Listening to some commentary on the Iraq war by Senator Harry Reid, the current Senate Majority Leader, it started to come into a clearer focus on where some of these few may be controlling the government from. He was mentioning what a disastrous foreign policy gaff the Iraq war was yet he did not lead the Senate in fulfilling their responsibility to either declare or not declare war there, which the Congress passed off to the Executive Branch. He was not apologizing for not fulfilling his duty, nor taking any responsibility but pointing blame in other directions. It’s like watching a magician’s shell game or a quick round of three cards Monte.

His title kept coming to my mind, Senate Majority Leader. Is that position on any ballot any of you voted on? The citizens of Nevada elected Harry Reid as one of their Senators but where were the voices of the people in assigning him the powerful title of Senate Majority Leader and where in the Constitution is this position defined? This is not the only position of this nature in the Legislative Branch, there are over 20 extremely powerful positions between the House and the Senate that control much of the Federal government’s Congress. Less than 4% of the elected officials wielding amazing influence complete with whips to keep everyone in line.

Take a look at who a few of these people are this year. In the Senate you have the Majority and Minority Leader titles held by Harry Reid (D-NV) and Mitch McConnell (R-KY) due to the Democrats holding a majority of seats. That’s the tradition, if your party holds the majority of seats your party gets to pick someone to play majority leader and it is a highly coveted and powerful role to play. Then, of course, every good leader needs to wield a skillful whip to keep the beasts of the circus in line. To help with this we have the Majority and Minority Whip held by Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Trent Lott (R-MS) cracking it for their leaders.

From the United States Senate’s website the definition of party floor leaders is, “The Majority Leader and Minority Leader are elected by their respective party conferences to serve as the chief Senate spokesmen for their parties and to manage and schedule the legislative and executive business of the Senate. By custom, the Presiding Officer gives the floor leaders priority in obtaining recognition to speak on the floor of the Senate.” The following definition for the position of whip is given. “Assistants to the floor leaders who are also elected by their party conferences. The Majority and Minority Whips (and their assistants) are responsible for mobilizing votes within their parties on major issues. In the absence of a party floor leader, the whip often serves as acting floor leader.”

Again, none of these positions were mandated in the Constitution yet began to emerge around the turn of the 19^th and 20^th century. Today they are merely accepted traditional and extremely powerful positions. Remember, the Senate was to be presided over by the Vice President and the House by a Speaker of the House. Note very clearly who the floor leaders speak for, their parties with priority in speaking. Nevadans may have elected Harry Reid but it is his job to speak for his party. Kentucky counted on being represented by Mitch McConnell but he is busy speaking not for Kentucky but for the Republican Party.

Look closely at the whips (and their assistants!) job which is to mobilize votes within their parties. In other words they are to insure there is enough of their party’s Congressional delegation in place at each vote to cast that vote not as the people would want but as the party wants. Illinois sent Dick Durbin to represent them and instead he, and his assistant, is charged to make sure there are enough Democrats at every important vote to cast that vote the Democratic Party way. The actual term, whip, comes to us from the position in a fox hunt known as the ‘whipper-in.’ The whipper-in assisted the huntsman in keeping the pack of dogs all together and stop the pack from running riot or chasing something other than the fox.

After the leaders, the whips are considered the second most powerful position in the House and Senate. Stop and think about how these positions have been created as a part of our government legislature through tradition and yet are now considered powerful, highly coveted titles to hold. It reminds me of aristocracy titles of old in many ways. Again, these are only 4 of the more than 20. There is the Conference Secretary and Conference Chair, each party has a Policy Chair, and finally each party has a Senatorial Committee Chair. The Senatorial Committee Chairs are not the same as each party’s National Chairman, that is another powerful position not elected by the people but the person filling the National Chair role is not a sitting elected representative of the people within the legislative branch.

In the House of Representatives you get another Majority and Minority Leader, Whips(one for each of the two parties), a Caucus and Conference Chair, one each Policy Chair, the Steering Chair and finally one each Congressional Committee Chair. Each of the positions again focuses on the issues of the party, the positions are selected by the party conferences and the duties are performed above and beyond any responsibility the person may have to the people who elected them initially with the idea of representing their, not the party, interest.

This may well be the fruition of the warnings voiced over 200 years ago regarding the dangerous, tyrannical nature of party politics. The power is shifted back and forth between only two parties, Republicans and Democrats. In the current structure there is no way any person elected from outside the two majority party powerhouses in the United States could ever hope to land one of these power positions. It would be easier to get elected as a third party Presidential candidate than win a seat at the inner circle of Congressional power. Anytime there is a shift in the control of Congress the parties merely switch majority and minority hats and the hunt continues.

We the people now accept these titles, listen closely when these people speak, follow the drama of who will rise and who will fall in these positions when there is a party shift in control of Congress. They are not mandated by the Constitution and they serve the party first and foremost. This short article has only scratched the surface of the plutocratic oligarchy running the United States. There are others in the Executive and Judicial branches and many of these same traditional positions are mimicked in State level governments across the country. This is the shadow government; cast the light on it and it becomes apparent there are a few, rich and powerful people governing this country. We the people may believe we are in control but that tradition seems to have been brought nearly to an end.

When we wonder why there is less and less difference between the Democrats and Republicans overall this appears to be a very strong reason. There has to be, for a time, a façade maintained the people are getting a choice but the two-party system has a stranglehold on the power of government and over time really care less and less who is in the majority and who is in the minority as long as the shadow positions are selected by the parties and not the people. Who’s whipping up the power? The two-party system is, not you.

Mitt Romney: It's Not Religion, its His Politics

By Gary Wood
© October 15, 2007

Living in the Salt Lake Valley I have had the opportunity to discuss the upcoming primary election with many people. Literally dozens have chided me for not supporting Mitt Romney for President in 2008. Some have actually accused me of being prejudiced against him due to his religion. Only two have been able to discuss, at any length or depth, the political history and platform of Mitt Romney. Most simply expect me to support him due to his active membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It has reached a point I feel it necessary to declare that I have no problem with Romney’s religion, it is his politics I cannot, and will not, support.

If he had the same love of the Constitutional form of government this country was founded on, as the late Ezra Taft Benson held, he would no doubt have earned my vote. Remember these words of wisdom, “The sole function of government is to protect life, liberty, and property and anything more than this is usurpation and oppression.”(Ezra Taft Benson, An Enemy Hath Done This, 1969) Think of that, anything more is usurpation and oppression.

What about Benson’s inspiring words, “There is one and only one legitimate goal of United States foreign policy. It is a narrow goal, a nationalistic goal: the preservation of our national independence. Nothing in the Constitution grants that the president shall have the privilege of offering himself as a world leader. He is our executive; he is on our payroll; he is supposed to put our best interests in front of those of other nations. Nothing in the Constitution nor in logic grants to the president of the United States or to Congress the power to influence the political life of other countries, to ‘uplift' their cultures, to bolster their economies, to feed their people, or even to defend them against their enemies."(The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p. 614; see also p. 682 & 704)

This man, Ezra Taft Benson, would have earned, truly been given freely, my vote for President of the United States. He understood the Constitution and the role of the President of the United States and of the Congress! He is not the only LDS leader that has; there have been many who share his inspired views. Mitt Romney simply is not one of them and does not deserve, nor earn, my vote and it is not his religion, and it is his politics! One only has to listen to his answers in the debates or study his record as Governor of Massachusetts to realize he is in lock step thinking with many of the Bush Administration and major Republican Party leadership positions which are not in step with the Constitution for the United States of America.

There is little research that really needs to be done by anyone within the LDS Church or outside the church to see Romney is not a firm believer in the Constitution. Simply, if you have watched or looked up the transcripts from the latest Republican debates you’ll begin to understand. Do you remember the one key question that Chris Matthews asked of Mitt Romney about the need to go to Congress for military action? If not, let me remind you now, from the transcripts of the debate Matthews’ asked the following, “Governor Romney, that raises the question, if you were president of the United States, would you need to go to Congress to get authorization to take military action against Iran's nuclear facilities?”
The answer by Romney reaffirmed all my beliefs but still sent a shockwave through me as this man may well be the next President. “You sit down with your attorneys and tell you want you have to do, but obviously the president of the United States has to do what's in the best interest of the United States to protect us against a potential threat. The president did that as he was planning on moving into Iraq and received the authorization of Congress...” The Constitution requires the Congress to declare war. What Congress gave to Bush was totally against the supreme law of the land and totally betrayed their obligations by passing to the Executive Branch a power it never, I repeat, never should have!

I agree 100% with the reply of Congressman Ron Paul when he answered the following question by Matthews. He was asked, “Congressman Paul, do you believe the president needs authorization of Congress to attack strategic targets in Iran, nuclear facilities?” His reply, “Absolutely. This idea of going and talking to attorneys totally baffles me. Why don't we just open up the Constitution and read it? You're not allowed to go to war without a declaration of war.” Romney does not either get it or does not agree with the Constitution on it, only Congress can declare war! It is a part of the careful check and balance system those 55 enlightened men debated over some 220 years past and the Bush Administration’s undeclared war on Iraq is proof the founders were right and Romney is wrong.

That is simply a scratch on the surface of the many political stances Mitt Romney has taken over his career to prove he simply doesn’t share the wisdom of Ezra Taft Benson. He wants to continue the same failed, preemptive interventionist foreign policy that has created the disasters we face in the world today. He will not learn from the past nine decades of history showing it is a failed policy that needs to be changed. He wants to continue the IRS and the income tax system started with the 16th Amendment and radicalized by FDR and wants to continue to use it to offer ‘incentives’ to the people for controlling the way we live our lives. His health care plan he signed into law in Massachusetts is very familiar, it is as if Hillary Clinton took his law and fashioned her Health Care Choice proposal after it.

My fellow Utahans, and all others blindly preparing to cast a vote for Romney because of his religion please take pause! Study this man’s politics, not his religion. It is OK to respect the way he has chosen to live his life religiously. It is fine to have a great deal of appreciation of the business sense he exhibited while saving the 2002 Olympics, we know what a great thing he did in that capacity. But, in the primaries we are not voting for his religion, nor are we voting for his business savvy, we are voting for the next President of the United States. Let me simply remind everyone reading this of the oath the person elected to President will take in January 2009.

“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.” The best of his ability does not give us any political expectation that he fully understands the Constitution let alone does it lead us to believe he will defend it. Do not study or vote his religion. Study and vote based on his politics and the next time you see me you will no doubt be supporting a different candidate during the Utah Republican primaries or the primaries of the state in which you reside.

Election 2008 - Get Thee to the Primaries Survey

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The Evil Twins Leading in the Polls Again

by Gary Wood
© October 11, 2007

With the advent of an early election campaign season we have been bombarded with national and local polls showing the default winners for the U.S. Presidency General Elections before the first primary vote is even cast. There may well be a significant change regarding the winner of the Republican side of the equation while the Democratic contest appears to be more a race for Vice President than President, especially if you listen to the mainstream media. In discussing the outcomes there is no loud roar for third-party candidates and the idea of any dark horse from either of the two-party oligarchy rising to victory appears unlikely to most observers right now.

Looking at all the polling data it was interesting to get feedback from some family and friends about the results and what it meant to them. Resoundingly there was the inevitable feeling the choice in the General Election would once again be a choice of the Lesser of two Evils. Some felt Lesser Evil was Democrat while others felt Lesser Evil was Republican. This confusion is easy to understand when you finally realize that More Evil and Lesser Evil are identical twins.

It is necessary to investigate these two twins more closely to improve our understanding of how they seem to dominate the elections each and every year. The Evil twins were reluctant to talk to me initially but I finally convinced More Evil to sit down and answer some basic questions for Hear My Thunder.org (HMT). Here is what we learned before the interview was cut short;

HMT – Thank you, More Evil, for sitting down with us. Can you explain why you’re twin, Lesser, and you seem to always be so popular?

More – It’s really a simple formula. We plan our platforms to be close enough on many issues as to actually blur understanding while keeping enough differences to sway the people toward one of us while convincing them a vote for anyone else is a waste.

HMT – In our research we’ve never uncovered anyone willing to vote for you, the voters always cast their vote for Lesser Evil, how do you deal with such losses every election year?

More – We are very well connected, Lesser and I, so it really doesn’t matter.

HMT – Why doesn’t it matter?

More – I do not use my name due to an impulse toward favoring Lesser, I’ve come to accept the fact nobody likes me. Look, think about 2000 when Lesser beat me out in the courts, remember that?

HMT – Yes, go on...

More – Everyone now knows that Lesser did not really beat me, you see we’re identical twins. All those voting for Lesser thought Lesser moved into the White House but in reality WE moved in. What you get when you vote for Lesser Evil is both More and Less Evil, no matter how it comes out Evil wins. Face it, right now you are talking to More or are you? You really don’t... {More’s phone rings...nods...hangs up} Ummm...seems we aren’t to be talking about this with you, seems...ummm...just forget what I said, we’ll deny it anyway, I gotta go.

HMT – But we have additional questions...

That was the end of the interview, More Evil (if that was More and not Less), quickly left without another word. Once this is published there will also no doubt be denial from one or both of the Evil Twins yet we do have the actual tape recordings of the conversation.

Another discovery is the Evil family is quite large and twins are a common occurrence. We’ve seen Evil members running for office at all levels, Federal, State, and Local. One of the key factors for on-going success is the Evil Family seems to be well-balanced between the two major parties. This has helped both funding and exposure through the media. The Evil Family is very well connected with policy makers, lobbyist, and other public officials.

The most disturbing fact that came out of the brief interview we had was the cavalier attitude evident in the tone of More, if that was indeed More. The other major awakening for me was the blatant disregard for concern over which Evil twin wins. Everyone thinks they are voting for Lesser Evil while nobody thinks they are voting for More Evil. What we are getting however is both, or in other words, Evil wins every time, and its been quite a winning streak.

It would appear the only hope we have for breaking this victory parade is taking a stand against voting for Lesser Evil. If the choice is between the More and Lesser Evil we must look for another candidate to invest our vote with. However, to do this we must be able to come to grips that voting for anyone other than the Lesser of the two Evil is not a waste but a demand for government change, a change that will not come in a government overseen by More and Lesser Evil, as we know all too well.

4th Largest U.S. City is Prison, USA

by Gary Wood
© October 8, 2007

Do you think we’re free? Every day we hear that is the reason for fighting wars, to protect our freedom. Ask 100 people why we are fighting any war and the majority will answer in a single word, freedom. We believe this because our leaders and mainstream media continue to tell us we must fight to protect our freedom and win the freedom of others who desire to be free yet are not strong enough to stand on their own in defense of their freedom. Remember then Mayor Rudy Giuliani, on November 11^th, 2001 telling us why we were attacked. “They attack us because we’re free.” On September 20^th, 2001 President Bush had this impassioned statement before Congress and the country, “Tonight we are a country awakened to danger and called to defend freedom.” It rings well to the ear, we are free, they hate our freedom, we must defend our freedom against the hate so we may continue to remain free and war is a small price to pay in defense of freedom. I will not attempt to deny the importance of defending our land from those attacking us, what I will attempt to do is raise a serious question, are we really free?

I’m not going to tackle, in this brief article, the more illusive ideas of our freedom under attack from the many demands and requirements we face to use the private property we think we own. Nor, will I look into the debate over recent invasions on our personal freedom as a direct result of such heinous acts as ‘The Patriot Act’ or the ‘Military Commissions Act’ which combined place our basic right of habeas corpus in jeopardy. This article will not address the many attacks we face daily on our 4^th Amendment violations, just dare be a veteran entering a VA Hospital for a small sample of this. Among the many directions I could take my focus for now will be on the prison population and the reasons it has reached the levels it has.

With all the wars we’ve entered in defense of freedom it became quite alarming for me to realize the United States of America has more of its population locked away in prisons than any other country in the world today. In the recess of my mind I knew this but to hear it confirmed on Sunday as a part of the promotion for an upcoming documentary by Ted Koppel it raised the reality to my conscious level once again.

I had to do a bit of research and what I found proved amazing. Based on 2005 population figures for both our prisons and U.S. cities the prison population would rank as the 4^th largest city behind New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago while beating Houston out by over 200,000 people. I’ve been to Houston, have family in Houston, Houston is huge! Yet, it would be relegated to fifth place if we considered the population of our prisons.

Not only that, population growth shows the prison population outpacing the top cities’ growth figures which means it will only continue to rise in rankings and within a few years can pass the population of Chicago! Taking the 2005 prison population and comparing it against the 2005 U.S. population figures we see that nearly 1% of the population is locked up! 1 of every 100 citizens, according to our justice system, must be incarcerated. This does not begin to look at the numbers which are arrested, on probation, face charges which result in something other then confinement, this is just those incarcerated.

Well, I said to myself, these are the violent criminal minds among us that deserve to be locked away so they don’t interfere with my family or my personal freedom by harming us. The violent criminals need to be incarcerated, right?

So I further dug into the Bureau of Justice Statistics provided by the U.S. Department of Justice. It was not pretty; the numbers are too large to be comforting but the number of violent criminals’ incarcerated represent 52% of the total population. Just over half are violent criminals that have harmed another of our neighbors in the criminal conduct they pursued which led them to being incarcerated. This would mean the violent population represents the 10^th largest city but it also meant there were enough non-violent criminals incarcerated to also represent the 11^th largest city.

In researching raw numbers of prisoners I noticed an inordinate number of those serving time were non-violent offenders incarcerated for drug violations, property violations, tax violations, and more. Within the drug numbers lie the bulk of those who are categorized by ethnic race. Are Hispanic or African American citizens, by human nature, worse humans than those classified as white? Or are these segments of categorized society merely tempted into the non-violent economic opportunities created by prohibition laws attempting to regulate morality on all citizens.

We know the dangers created by prohibiting acts which violate a majority view of what is and is not moral. History taught us the lessons of prohibiting alcohol as this attempt gave significant rise to underground mobs preying on the desires of all members of society. The temptation was too great, the violation too many, to deny the fact our attempts to police morals simply fails. Yet we as a society continue to attempt to control the lives of citizens through the failed, expensive, and dangerous war on drugs.

No matter what race classification is assigned to humans, there is no race worse or better than any other. We are equal in our propensity toward good and toward what society may deem to be not good. By judicially enacting constraints on human behavior, by attempting to regulate morality, the creation of underground economic gain surpasses the good of a law. Any and every time we enact such moral restriction we fail; whether the restriction is on alcohol, drugs, prostitution, or any other aspect of human behavior desired and sought by humans. The only result is the laying of a trap for those in an economic position willing to risk now illegal activities to satisfy the demands of mankind. Is it a question of nature or is it a question of failed focus in our judicial desires to control the non-violent activities of our neighbors?

In the Koppel report the focus is on the California prison system. It was designed to hold a maximum of 100,000 inmates yet is strained with the overcrowded number of 178,000. The cost per prisoner for one year of incarceration is $43,000.00 (compared to a Harvard education costing $43,200.00) and there is no relief in sight for eliminating this strain. There is no wonder why the criminal justice system and prisons are among the fastest growing segment of our economy today. We are building more prisons to house more non-violent criminals every day.

Let us assume there are 52% of the California prison populations incarcerated for violent crimes, crimes that harm people. The population drops to 92,560, not comforting yet below the threshold of the maximum numbers California prisons are prepared for. By altering the laws to focus on the violent criminals not only does the State of California have the room for the prisoners it would save over $3 billion dollars in direct costs associated with housing those prisoners. Extrapolated out to all 50 States and the savings and benefits become much clearer to the eye.

More important is the question, are we free? Freedom’s definition is easily debated. The fact is we incarcerate more of our citizens than any other country. Is the root cause because our citizens are just worst among world citizenry? Or, rather, is it possible our judicial system and law making system is out of control and busy enacting laws that limit freedom? Are we, as a people, actually less free than the many countries we occupy, defend, and fight today?

We are entering the heart of yet another election year. There are voices on the Federal, State, and local level who understand we are not the free society we claim to be. There are voices of reason among the candidates who understand the root of our problem is not a larger number of bad people but a larger number of bad laws. I encourage each voter to seek out and vote for the candidates who recognize the root causes of our challenges and will work to reverse this assault on the very freedom we are so proud of. We need legislature focused on the needs of society and not focused on the greed of enacting laws which ultimately bind and incarcerate our freedom, which most of us will willingly die to defend.

A Ron Paul Presidency Can Tear the U.S. Apart

by Gary Wood
©October 7, 2007

With his message of liberty and freedom new supporters are joining the Ron Paul Revolution everyday. As his 3^rd quarter fund raising showed, his campaign is building momentum when most campaigns lost momentum during the past quarters fund raising efforts. The average donation was $40.00 according to campaign reports. This means there were 127,000 contributors in this past quarter alone and although it represents less than the number Barack Obama currently has the growth is still phenomenal.

Keep in mind, since 2004 Obama has been getting a great deal of press and during this campaign cycle his exposure, as well as many other media darling candidates from both parties, far exceeds anything Ron Paul receives. His message did reach the grassroots of this country through the Internet, now the fire is ignited and the grassroots are burning, a fire of desire to educate their communities about their candidate of choice. They have passion and there is no waiting for the campaign to organize the revolutionaries, they are self-activating events everywhere. Exposure has significantly increased and is beginning to reach beyond the Internet into the nation’s radio, TV, and newspapers since the fund raising figures have been released.

Ron Paul advocates a significant reduction in the size of the Federal Government, restoring the duties to those enumerated under the U.S. Constitution. He promotes fiscal responsibility and is a strong proponent for State and individual responsibility rather than a national level. His platform also calls for a non-interventionist foreign policy replacing the current Bush Doctrine of preemptive interventionism. With the people being more disenfranchised with their national leaders every day his common sense, straight forward message of restoring the Constitution and restoring true liberty and freedom are driving the campaign to new heights. There is no arguing it is the most staunch, brutally honest stand for the people in decades, especially surprising coming from a major party candidate.

The message of liberty and freedom cuts across race, gender, age, and political affiliations when someone really takes the time to hear the message and then scrutinize the messenger. He stands up to scrutiny better than any current candidate in either the Republican or Democratic Party for 2008. His wave is rising to such a level Las Vegas Odds Makers (often more reliable than public opinion polls this far out) have steadily dropped his chances from 100-1, to 15-1, then 8-1 and now many are carrying him at 4-1 odds. Still not the favorite by any means but with over 80 days until New Hampshire and New York end the timeline for switching parties for primary voting purposes there are a lot more people who can catch the Ron Paul Revolution Express. If, or what many are saying is when, he wins it will be the greatest victory for freedom we could hope for. With that victory those embracing the principles of liberty, those who cling to the hope of true freedom will unite in celebration.

As the victory celebration wanes and the time is at hand for swearing Ron Paul in as the President of the United States on a chilly January, 2009 morning these same revolutionaries need to prepare for the angry cries and protests from those who fear the message. President Ron Paul will have a chance to begin promoting and implementing his agenda and it will be painful, we’ve been feeding at the trough of Federal coddling and care for too many years. States have grown unaccustomed at having so much of the responsibility to care for their citizens it will be a rough transition for many. A large number of people who rely on the Federal bureaucracies, both direct employees and cottage industry workers, will be angry over the loss of their jobs.

Let’s examine just one bureaucratic change to get a feel for why I am sounding this warning to all Ron Paul supporters. Dr. Paul wants to abolish the IRS and replace it with nothing. Now we all know it will be phased out over time, funding will have to cease (the only way to really kill a bureaucracy), final settlements will need to be arranged, and steps will need to be implemented for repealing the 16^th Amendment. However, as this unfolds and the implementation of the planned end reaches its goal there will be a significant impact to many of our neighbors relying on the income tax industry for their livelihood.

Consider there are approximately 115,000 employees of the IRS, the largest of any Federal bureaucracy, with an $11 billion dollar annual budget. Some will be able to use transferable skills and secure other positions but many will reach the status of unemployed before that occurs. Now, consider the cottage industries that have sprung up around income taxation. The next time you are driving look at the number of tax preparation businesses you pass, H&R Block, Liberty (there’s a good name for a tax business), Jackson Hewitt, to name a few. Now, look within the software industry at the number of titles there are for preparing taxes. We’ve only begun however, as a major industry directly impacted by elimination of the IRS and the disastrous Income Tax Code are financial planners. The fact is most are earning our business by the many services associated with guiding our investments through the treacherous waters of the income tax. Remove it and a large number of people will handle their own planning. Now, realize there are employees at all these businesses that will be in jeopardy of losing their jobs.

Initially, these people will be quite upset and chances are good many will yell for ‘justice’ as misguided as they will come to realize that cry is. This is just one industry, we’ve not even discussed those who receive or oversee entitlements, those in the military-industrial complex, those impacted by changes in foreign policy who are currently employed in one of 139 oversees locations, or any of the other ripple effects that will touch lives in a jolting way, initially.

When the smoke clears a decade from now and the nation is operating more in line with the sound principles of the Constitution (as some parts are repealed while others no doubt improved) it will be alright. It is naïve; however, to believe Ron Paul Presidency will not tear the United States apart, sometimes there must be demolition in order to restore beauty. Liberty is not free, it is difficult, yet delivers freedom. The amount of tearing and speed of healing for the United States will depend on the same revolutionary spirits propelling him ever closer to this possibility. Campaign hard, raise a lot of money, hang the banners, continue the rallies but know when you reach victory you must then prepare to help calm the rough times ahead. The rewards for everyone will be worth it. In the movie ‘The Patriot’ Benjamin Martin’s wife use to tell him to “stay the course.”

How do we change the 'Way We Fight?'

by Gary Wood
© October 6, 2007

An acquaintance urged me to watch the Sony Entertainment Documentary “Why We Fight” and I’ve watched it twice now. There was a lot of information concerning the Bush Doctrine and the history behind the rise of what Eisenhower called the ‘Military-Industrial Complex (MIC).’ In his farewell address, in 1961, Eisenhower warned about the dangers this type of standing complex could lead to. “In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.” It’s as if he saw into the future when our Congress would relinquish responsibility for declaring war by passing this power to the Executive Branch. Within six months President Bush used the power to begin Operation Iraqi Freedom, the Iraq War.

When Eisenhower delivered his farewell address I was not quite two years old and since that time I had never read the entire address. As I did this earlier tonight I was amazed at the wisdom and insight found within the text. According to what I can find this was not written for him but was penned by him, a culmination of his many years in military and government service. According to his son and granddaughter he was a military man who did not like the ravages of war and actually attempted to stave off the march toward such a strong standing military. He often equated the cost of the growing MIC to hospitals, power plants, houses, and other areas where the money could have been spent in improving daily lives within the United States.

I have reflected for hours on the following lines from his address. “We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together.” Clearly, he knew it was the duty of the people to remain alert and knowledgeable, yet we have not. Unchecked the MIC is gaining control.

Let me caveat the remaining remarks by stating I have not merely engulfed a single documentary and now believe it is fully true and the government has fully been false. As in all matters the truth usually lies between the two extremes. Many have read my thoughts on the foreign policy of the Bush Doctrine and know I do not support a preemptive strike approach to dealing with the world. Whether we want to admit it or not, the United States has become a militaristic country. We are the bullies on the playground, as my wife put it. Our government is quick to flex the MIC muscle at all signs of concern over the direction of other nations if the direction is not in line with our own. The history of our conflicts the past four and a half decades is easy enough to track. The message we are always given is we fight because we honor freedom, liberty, and strive to promote peace and democracy to those in need. In our desire to promote peace is it wise to always fight? Or do we always seek out reasons for a fight so we can feed the complex?

As my wife and I pondered these questions, and more, a very strong realization came over me. The MIC is a huge part of our economy. The war on terror, or as some call it, the war for terror is the latest raging conflict feeding this economic need. Since Eisenhower bid farewell, however, it is only the next one as there have been wars and insurgencies under every administration since. In 2007 we are spending $12 billion dollars every month in our battle for freedom in Iraq, if that is really what it is all about as many respond when asked why we fight in Iraq. We know Iraq was not because of 9/11; Bush admitted on national television there was no connection between Iraq and 9/11. Eisenhower would truly see many other things this $12 billion monthly could be invested in to help our nation yet this is a tremendous boost for the companies involved with the MIC and those that rely on the complex for jobs.

Increasing demands from the citizens, those whose duty it is to keep this machine in check, are to end the Iraq War. DownsizeDC.org has a drive on their website which states, “U.S. policy has inflamed the Middle East. It has made terrorism more likely rather than less. We seem to be fighting a war for terror, rather than on terror. This policy must stop.” Whether that is true we cannot deny many jobs are directly linked to the war and if we change the policy the ramifications can truly be devastating for many who rely on our military activities for their livelihood. This is the number one realization, why it had not so clearly dawned on me before I cannot say.

I’ve been busy pressing for a change to the policy of preemptive, intervention or what is being referred to as the Bush Doctrine. It is a terrible way to deal with the world, in my opinion. Not only does it send an insightful message, it is leading us down a road where our country no longer resembles a free society where people enjoy true liberty. Let me one last time refer to Eisenhower’s warning, “As we peer into society's future, we – you and I, and our government – must avoid the impulse to live only for today, plundering for, for our own ease and convenience, the precious resources of tomorrow. We cannot mortgage the material assets of our grandchildren without asking the loss also of their political and spiritual heritage. We want democracy to survive for all generations to come, not to become the insolvent phantom of tomorrow.” We are reaching a critical crossroad right now, we are marching toward insolvency and the MIC does not appear to care so we the people must, you and I.

Yet, that leads me to the question which began this article, how do we change the way we fight? If you are reading now thinking I am about to provide my insights and answers I am going to disappoint you, trust me when I say I’m not that smart and need your help. I am asking this question because it needs to be elevated to a serious national discussion among all of us. I have no faith that our leadership, our representatives, our press, or the companies charging us billions to fight the war will have an answer. Their answer seems clear; war is good for business and good for the increase and maintenance of control over the people.

We need to heed the warnings of Dwight D. Eisenhower. However, the MIC is so ingrained in all States, counties, cities, and homes how can we change it now without ruining our economy? How can we change it while insuring the terrorists don’t come to our neighborhoods next? Please either continue the discussion or start one with your friends and family today. We must change or we will be the insolvent phantom of tomorrow. We need a plan, we need an answer, how do we change the way we fight?

No Twisted Tongue

This coming year gives to us our rightful due
Matters not the words compiled by twisted tongue
We listen close for messages ringing true
As we cast our vote, our future has begun.

Dare not play upon a simple, thought less mind
Give not speeches stumping opponent’s loud cry
False impressions of a soul who is not kind
Shall shine bright upon a politicians lie!

It matters not what hearts beat to understand
Shouting stump speeches fall upon deafened ears
There is a focus within our brain’s command
This year’s crowds will only relinquish pure cheers.

Give not the language of false and empty hope,
Know in your heart any lies become your rope!

Can We Support Troops and Not the Iraq War?

by Gary Wood
©October 4, 2007

For many there is a dichotomy surrounding the question of supporting our troops while attempting to maintain a stance against the Iraq War. Someone near to you serving in Iraq will probably least understand the sentiment as their efforts to help stabilize Iraq while attempting to rid the country of the terrorist groups the war invited in is very hard to see. Many families and friends see the support of one being somehow connected to the support of the other. For them there is no split in the two, in order to support our troops one must stay strong in the support of winning in Iraq or the loss of life and limb has gone for not.

At SupportYourTroops.us there is a message board and videos from people across this land. There message is quite simply that of supporting the troops no matter what you may think of the war. A foundation is in place for anyone to share a thought with the troops far away and thanks to the Internet the troops can read and respond to these positive feelings of warmth and hope. There are many helpful links and overall the site has steered clear of the political debate regarding the war itself.

On the ‘Bring Them Home Now’ website there is a copy of ‘An Appeal for Redress from the War in Iraq’ which was sent by over 100 active duty troops to their Representatives and Senators stating their desires to remove all troops and bases from Iraq as, in their view, it is not working nor is it worth continued bloodshed. Again, this group of brave men and women are in Iraq now, serving and risking their life and no doubt support their fellow soldiers while not supporting the war.

Within the military community there are organizations that have come into being which share exactly the message, support the troops and not the war. Visiting the website for ‘Veterans Against the Iraq War’ there is a different way of stating this sentiment. “Support the Troops, Oppose the Policy” is their rallying cry. The statement of purpose for their organization has some interesting insights into their formulation of the stance against the war yet there is no doubt this group of veterans supports the troops.

Are these and others simply non-patriotic, are they merely cowards afraid to face the fact we have terrorists in our world who mean to wipe us off the map as a nation? Can we believe them to be pacifists or isolationists too naïve to understand the importance of the foreign policy which led to this encounter in Iraq? President Bush declared a straight-forward objective in launching the attack as being "to disarm Iraq of weapons of mass destruction, to end Saddam Hussein's support for terrorism, and to free the Iraqi people." That was some four and a half years ago. Now we must stay in Iraq since the Al Qaeda terrorists are there and we have to fight them on that front or we shall fight them on our own soil. The war on terror has expressed needs, the policy must be upheld, and we must keep up the fight in Iraq, right?

There was a clash during the South Carolina Republican Debate between Ron Paul and Rudy Giuliani which was started by the comments of Dr. Paul. In part he stated, “There's a strong tradition of being anti-war in the Republican Party, it is the constitutional position, it is the advice of the founders to follow a non-interventionist foreign policy. Stay out of entangling alliances. Be friends with countries, negotiate and talk with them and trade with them.” He went on to explain even the CIA warns of blowbacks from an interventionist foreign policy and among the blowbacks was the attack on 9/11. Giuliani garnered loud applause when he countered, in part, “I would ask the Congressman to withdraw that comment and tell us he didn't really mean that.” However, there is that word again, policy. Did he mean it, and what is it?

The Iraq War was started nearly a year and a half after the attacks yet clearly the foreign policy of intervention has been practiced in earnest for decades and the results seem consistent, war erupts, both civilian and military lives are lost, debt is piled high, and does anyone ever win? For retaliation against the terrorists who attacked the United States on 9/11 was the front in Iraq or was it in Afghanistan and perhaps Saudi Arabia?

Hussein and bin Laden, the mastermind of the cowardly attack which killed and forever wounded so many souls, did not even get along. The front of the war on terror was clearly not in Iraq at the time yet the foreign policy of intervention led us to toppling a hated dictator thereby opening up a new front, one that is now in Iraq. This policy decision reminds me of a dog trying to chase two rabbits, clearly a hunter knows the confusion and challenge in that and the hunt for bin Laden still goes on today, one rabbit who’s gotten away. He is a much safer man since we attacked Iraq and his terror and influence is still felt around the world.

What was that policy Dr. Paul mentioned in the debate, non-intervention? Is that a pacifist, isolationist approach to foreign policy, one that is more a coward’s course or a course someone would follow who denied a war on terror was a real threat? I believe I’ve heard that on TV, I believe I heard it right after the debates in fact. However, in researching the founders it can be said there was no desire to be passive, or was there a desire to be in isolation. There was a firm belief in a strong defense against any foreign aggression. The insights into the strength of a foreign policy based on the idea of non-intervention was perhaps no where better extolled than in George Washington’s farewell address, delivered in 1796.

“The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nations is in extending our commercial relations, to have with them as little political connection as possible.... If we remain one people under an efficient government. the period is not far off when we may defy material injury from external annoyance; when we may take such an attitude as will cause the neutrality we may at any time resolve upon to be scrupulously respected; when belligerent nations, under the impossibility of making acquisitions upon us, will not lightly hazard the giving us provocation; when we may choose peace or war, as our interest, guided by justice, shall counsel.”

There was a desire to have ‘commercial relations’ or trade with the world. This is not the focus of an isolated nation. Read again the lines about remaining one people under an efficient government, think of the concept he is trying to get across with regards to the strength developed in neutrality. Then read carefully the words regarding belligerent nations and how they will not “lightly hazard the giving of provocation; when we may choose peace or war, as our interest, guided by justice, shall counsel.” This is from the outgoing Commander-in-Chief, General George Washington. It was a policy of non-intervention, not a policy of passive isolationism.

Many of those seeking to lead us today and many of those who have led us over the past several decades had me confused about this for a time. However, what this policy is all about is not provoking attacks, not preemptively striking nations and forcing our systems and beliefs on them, but one in which no external country will attack us without clear knowledge the price they will pay will be quite heavy. When there was a need to declare war it is clear these leaders would not shrink from that need yet it would be done guided by justice. I urge you to read the farewell address in its entirety as well as study the other founders with regard to this idea of a non-interventionist foreign policy. You may find what I found, the bad press is misplaced.

In pondering the meaning behind our present policies and the policies of our founders I have discussed it with many people. One theme I hear often is the policy of non-intervention, of neutrality, promoted by these men so many years ago is not applicable today. Somehow, their reason goes, technology and the shrinking distance between countries has changed all that. This is also what I hear from many of today’s leaders in explaining why we must have a military presence in over 68% of all countries on Earth. This is the reasoning for supporting Saddam, arming him, teaching him how to use weapons of mass destruction against Iran and then changing positions and toppling him for being a ruthless dictator. This is the reasoning behind removing the freely elected leader of Iran in 1953, placing our own choice in the leadership role and then being surprised when the Iranian government’s attitude toward us today is less than open and friendly.

We cannot say if the non-interventionist foreign policy urged by Washington would have greatly altered our world had it been followed these past 211 years. We cannot say since the interventionist foreign policy has been the predominant course our leaders have taken since the Wilson Administration. Modern political leaders, including our current leadership, have turned intervention into a preemptive fine art. When Ron Paul dared to utter the idea the policy may be flawed the misunderstanding of the true nature of what the policy was he attempted to explain allowed Giuliani and others to look superior and somehow more patriotic for they supported our troops and could puff up in pride that our policies had no connection, and gave no reasoning, for terrorist attacks against us. The audience and many around the country cheered, while a few decided to investigate the real idea behind the founders’ foreign policy of non-intervention. Giuliani may deny any connection between policy and attitude toward the United States but the connection is clear when studied, perhaps something he should do.

I support our troops, as a veteran who understands the nature of raising my hand and taking the oath of a soldier. We must defend them and honor them for they are defending us and fighting against an enemy in Iraq that does have terror in their hearts and hatred clearly set. However, it is time to plan for the careful and safe closing of the Iraq front, time to begin bringing them home and bringing home all those who are in foreign lands not due to any failure on their part but due to a failed foreign policy of intervention.

We have created a long enough history now to know interventionism leads to ongoing conflict, wars with no ending (as we have on the Korean Peninsula), death and destruction, and the burden of debt more in the heavy debt owed to the family and loved ones who will not see their beloved soldiers again and to those who will see their soldiers as they invest years and tears nursing the wounds of war.

We can support our troops and we can oppose the foreign policy of intervention. We can demand and receive leaders who will place us on a sounder path using the non-interventionist foreign policy from our founders’ days. We can develop a new history of strength and peace, one our great-grandchildren will study and be thankful for our wisdom. This we can do without cowardice, without being unpatriotic, in fact it may well be the most patriotic and brave thing we the people dare to do.

Americans; Seek Out Root Causes to Problems - Ron Paul Understands

As an Air Force Manpower Management Engineer we were always taught to look for the root cause of any problem. It is often far too easy to see a surface issue and attempt to resolve it and then to see another surface issue and attempt to resolve it while the driver behind all the surface issues goes unidentified and uncorrected.

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