OPINION: Hope for America?

In my previous letter called “Obituary for America,” I laid out the causes, which could, if not corrected, lead to the demise of our great country.

Every great nation or civilization in recorded history, with no exception, has been destroyed internally by the actions of its leaders and the ever-increasing complacency and apathy of its citizens. Nations grow and thrive when their citizens possess a spirit and love of country, and are willing to fight and even die for the principles and values on which it was founded.

As time wears on succeeding generations begin to take their country and liberty for granted and as a result become ever more complacent and apathetic. Without a spiritual revival or an awakening, the death of that nation or civilization becomes inevitable. We Americans are long past the need for a spiritual revival and awakening. If we don’t experience it in the immediate future, it will be too late.

If we look back and examine the conditions that caused our forbearers to fight a war of independence, I am sure we would find an interesting parallel to what is taking place today in our federal government. The American colonists were rigidly governed and regulated by an English parliament and a king with dictatorial powers. They paid taxes to England without any representation in parliament or any voice in how the taxes were spent.

We pay taxes to our government and yet our representation in government is subordinate to that of corporations, businesses and wealthy individuals who are large campaign donors. As an example, polls over decades have consistently shown that an overwhelming number of citizens want tax reform. The majority’s wishes are trumped by wealthy special interest groups who would lose their “special tax breaks” if reform were to take place. The tax system, as it exists, is regularly used by politicians as a mechanism to attract donors to their re-election campaign. The majority of citizens also want term limits, but chances are slim and none that Congress will legislate themselves out of a job.

This president marches to the beat of his own drum, rather than to that of his citizens. For example, his dislike of the fossil fuel industry is widely known. Through the EPA, he creates onerous regulations which are closing down coal-fired power plants, while not complaining about other nations, especially China, which is the largest world polluter by far. He refuses to allow the Keystone pipeline to be built, and vows to veto congressional enabling legislation.  

President Obama refuses to enforce our immigration laws, despite the fact he is the chief executive and is required by law to do so. He has attempted to grant amnesty to millions of illegal aliens by use of executive order despite the fact that the majority of Americans do not wish him to do so. In short this president and others have assumed powers not granted by the Constitution and have flagrantly acted against the wishes of the majority. If President Obama were white, the call for his impeachment would have been invoked long ago. Savvy politicians, however, are aware that the black citizenry would be in open revolt if that were to occur.

The Declaration of Independence clearly states that, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”

Please note the specific language for the obligation and duty of the citizenry to alter or abolish government when it is destructive to the rights and wishes of its citizens. I feel quite certain that our Founding Fathers, who were decent and honorable men, never suspected that the political parties and professional politicians would subvert the political system they devised to this level.

I’m sure they are spinning in their graves seeing the billions of dollars spent on presidential and congressional elections. The huge sums of money needed to run for election make it impossible for ordinary citizens to run for office, unless they prostitute themselves to special interests. It is extremely difficult to unseat an incumbent, who often remains in office for 20 or more years and on departure often a family member replaces him or her and a dynasty is created.

According to the Federal Election Commission, “Besides checks and currency anything of value given to influence a federal election is a contribution.” According to Black’s Law Dictionary, bribery is defined as the offering, giving, receiving or soliciting of any item of value to influence the actions of an official or person in charge of a public function or duty. To me, the distinction between campaign contributions and bribes is very slight, if any.

I can’t, for the life of me, envision an individual or corporation giving away large sums of money or other valuable assets unless they expected something in return. Campaign funding is a legal farce. Jack Abramoff, a highly successful lobbyist until being imprisoned for illegal practices, once said, “Access is vital in lobbying. If you can’t get your foot in the door, you can’t make your case. Here we had a hostile senator, whose staff was hostile and we had to get in. So that’s the lobbyist safe-cracker method: Throw fundraisers, raise money and become a large donor.”

Recently a postal worker landed illegally on the Capitol lawn in a gyrocopter. The purpose of his flight was to deliver a letter for every senator and member of the House of Representatives urging them to enact legislation to curb the abuses in the campaign financing system. Not much chance of them doing that, but if the entire citizenry would get behind this reform movement, it could be accomplished. Is it too much to ask of people to write their congressional representatives and tell them what they want? This postal worker will get prison time unless we rally around him and give his cause active support.

The 2015 Montana Legislature refused to join 25 other states in their quest to hold a constitutional convention for the express purpose of adding an amendment to the Constitution calling for a balanced annual budget. What was startling to me is that it was turned down by a vote of 77-23 with all Republicans in lock-step as a bloc opposing it. They argued that opening a constitutional convention would imperil the Constitution as it could turn into a frenzied wholesale enactment of a whole range of unneeded or unnecessary amendments.

This is fear-mongering at its worst, and the argument is fallacious, naive, and without merit. The Montana Legislature needs a refresher course in Civics 101 as a constitutional convention can only propose amendments; it takes three-fourths of the states (38) to ratify each proposed amendment, so it is highly unlikely that an unacceptable amendment would make it through the process.

I guess most Montana legislators are content to allow the federal government to spend us into bankruptcy. I can only hope the 2016 Legislature awakens and does the right thing and joins the effort to curb runaway federal spending.

I can only surmise that the Montana Legislature would also oppose an amendment to place term limits on the members of Congress. I think the only way to achieve term limits is to only vote for candidates who pledge to actively work for the enactment of an amendment.

Being in my 80s, I will not be around to watch America’s ultimate demise, but it surely will come, unless the citizenry experiences a patriotic revival or awakening and forces the necessary changes required to stop and reverse America’s downward deadly spiral.

Please, folks, let’s all get off our duffs and get involved and work for the changes needed to restore America’s greatness and its promise of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all, not for just the privileged special few.

We owe it to all our forbearers who sacrificed and even died to preserve our nation and its blessings so that we and our offspring could enjoy it. It is now our turn to make sacrifices so that future generations can have liberty and the other blessings guaranteed by our Constitution. It is our duty! Let’s wake up, get involved, and do it!