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Power, Control, and Guarding Our ConstitutionPower and control are magnets for human beings. Anyone "dialed in" to our world today can see the magnetic attraction in industry, education, media, and politics. Our Founders knew this, so they structured our government with horizontal separation of powers (legislative, executive, judicial) and vertical boundaries (local, state, and national government) to keep power from consolidating. They cautioned us that we had to remain a moral people if we wanted to remain free. This is not just a suggestion, but a fundamental requirement for the preservation of our freedom. Power and Control: There's a Process to Keep It In CheckAll of the above begs the question, what if we "go off the rails?" What if we give in to the allure for power and control rather than doing what is right for the citizenry? What if we care more about personal power and control instead of advocating for the nation's general welfare? The answer: lawlessness happens. [Before continuing, please note:Do not name political parties, candidates, or prominent people in the comments. Address the main topic of the article. No additional pictures or links, please. I will delete posts from those who cannot practice intelligent conversation with civility.]When laws are passed, they must go through the constitutional process. For example, a ratification procedure is outlined in Article VII of the Constitution. Before we had a Constitution, the Supreme Law of the Land had to pass legally in nine states (three-fourths of the states at that time). Article V outlines the amendment process. Two-thirds of both Houses can propose amendments, OR two-thirds of the states can call for a Constitutional Convention. In either case, three-fourths of all states must ratify the proposed amendment before it can pass.What If the Process Is Ignored?What if the amendment process looks like it was constitutional, but it was not? What if an amendment was "pushed through?" How could that possibly happen? Here are some examples: -Several states can say they passed an amendment but did not follow the legal procedures. â States report the amendment passed when it actually did not. -What if the amendment passed the state legislature, but the Governor didn't sign it? â A state may have violated its state constitution in the ratification process, thus making the amendment null and void. The violation has to be reported, but if it's not, the amendment "passes," but not legally. â Not even one small change to the amendment can be made at the state level. The amendment must pass without additions or corrections, or else the amendment process must start all over. But what if that tiny change of a preposition or punctuation isn't reported?Power and Control: Americans Need to Be Vigilant All of the above has allegedly happened in the early twentieth century. How could such deviations escape notice? Power and control are addictive, and people will do strange things to obtain them. My point is not to get into the Constitutional Convention issue or stir up emotions. The point is to recognize that we must remain vigilant to guard our Constitution and the process of amending it. It's personal. It is our civic duty to be vigilant. Our Founders never intended that Americans should leave governance to the discretion of officials. It may cost us something. We should count the cost, weigh the evidence, and choose what is morally and legally right.This is Common Sense Civics and Citizenship.đşđ¸
Maximizing Your Tax Returns: A Common-Sense ApproachApril 10, 2024 By Candace Donnelly With all the tax talk going around this week, letâs look at some common-sense tax considerations. Are Tax Refun...
Our Contemporary Protests Have Historical Roots (And Why You Should Care)Are todayâs protests a harbinger of a return to the 1960s unrest, with its simmering anger and youth hostility? The echoes are undeniable. Are young Americans exporting their discontent, potentially destabilizing the world? The signs are alarming. If the answer to these questions is âyes,â why are we tolerating this? Shouldnât we have learned from history?Havenât We Learned Anything from the 1960s?First, given that we went through the struggle by wrestling with social justice issues decades ago, I would think we would have learned to live in peace with one another by now. Perhaps the â60s generation never reconciled their unrest and now brings it to our college campuses and the political arena (among other areas) with a blatant disregard for our constitutional rights. By all accounts, todayâs leaders have not led our children well. It's up to us to change this.[Before continuing: Do not name political parties, candidates, prominent people, or people groups in the comments. Please do not add additional pictures or links. I will delete posts from those who cannot practice reasonable conversation with civility.]Youth Mobilized Against AuthoritySecond, the 1960s and todayâs youth mobilized by using the news and whatever technology was/is available to them. Why does todayâs media patronize anti-American sentiment or spin it to make bad behavior seem justified? Maybe the adult generation of the 1960s didnât do enough within their families to discipline their children. The Silent Generation (born between 1928 and 1945) was obedient and patriotic. Perhaps they spoiled their children and didnât know how to handle radical behavior. Could it be that their âchildrenâ have grown up and perpetuate an unpatriotic, undisciplined culture?Tactics from a Cultural Marxism Playbook?Third, look at todayâs protests. The very people who teach our youth that they are being treated unfairly (e.g., by having a merit-based system) and mistreated (e.g., changes in the weather) grant college students space to threaten and even harm those who do not hold their views. This sounds like a tactic taken out of a cultural Marxism playbook.The Government ResponseFourth, look at the Government Response. In both eras, the government response has been contentious. In the 1960âs, the use of force suppressed dissent to stop it temporarily. Perhaps there is an undercurrent that wants it both ways. On the one hand, Americans want the law enforced, but on the other hand, many donât want law enforcement at all. Likewise, our youth claim the First Amendment right to assemble but conveniently leave out the word âpeacefully.â This is evident in the recent protests where some have turned violent, leading to a debate on the balance between freedom of expression and public safety.The Cultural ImpactUndeniably, the 1960s and todayâs youth protestors have had a cultural impact on the arts, sciences, media, and American political and civil discourse. Both groups are now affecting the youngest generation among us, and not for the better, I would say. Think about the impact of the rise of identity politics, the normalization of radical ideologies, and the erosion of traditional values.Draw Comparisons, Gain Insights, Avoid History Repeating ItselfWhen we recognize the similarities between the 1960s and today, we can avoid being content with history repeating itself. We can speak up in our circles of influence and persuade others that these forms of protest are not leading us to a good place. We can vote differently. We must withdraw our support of colleges, rallies, organizations, and institutions that promote unrest in an un-American, unconstitutional way. These are meaningful ways to make an impact for good in the historical life of our nation. This is Common Sense Civics and Citizenship.đşđ¸ #protest #historical
Maximizing Your Tax Returns: A Common-Sense ApproachApril 10, 2024 By Candace Donnelly With all the tax talk going around this week, letâs look at some common-sense tax considerations. Are Tax Refun...
Understanding Your Rights: Bill of Rights, First and Second AmendmentsHow well do you know your rights?It's common sense to know your rights as an American. Yet, how many Americans know the number of rights in the First Amendment? Could you recite your freedoms in the Bill of Rights? Plenty of "man-on-the-street" videos show Americans' apologetic ignorance, particularly those under 35. Let's learn or renew our acquaintance with a few fundamental foundational rights as Americans.Bill of Rights or Bill of Suggestions?First, our Bill of Rights is part of the U.S. Constitution, specifically the first ten amendments. It is not a separate document. Next, the Bill of Rights tells the government our individual rights. These rights belong to us. The Bill of Rights is not a bill of suggestions or permissions.A Common Sense Review of Our Rights in the First Amendment: Can You Name Your Rights?[Before continuing :Do not name political parties, candidates, or prominent people in the comments. Address the main topic of the article without using names. No additional pictures or links, please. I will delete posts from those who cannot practice intelligent conversation with civility.]Let's look at the First Amendment, which names five of our freedoms: Freedom of Religion- is not freedom from religion. You can freely attend the house of worship you choose or not attend one at all; Congress cannot create a national denomination.Freedom of SpeechâYou can speak, write, or share ideas or opinions without government interference. Freedom of speech does not protect obscenity, child pornography, indecency, defamation, certain forms of incitement, or fighting words.Freedom of the Press- to report the news without government censorship or reprisalsFreedom to PEACEABLY assemble (i.e., in a group)âThis is NOT the right to protest by laying down in the street, stopping traffic on a bridge for an undetermined time, kicking someone's car, disturbing the peace (i.e., singing protests at 2 a.m., threatening the lives of people with whom you disagree or don't like, causing property damage, etc. It is the right of Americans to assemble PEACEABLY. Freedom to petition our government for redress of grievancesâYou have the right to inform the government of ideas, laws, policies, etc., that you question or would like to be changed. It is not the right to threaten life, limb, or property to get your voice heard. A redress of grievances is not calling up some young intern at your elected official's office and cussing them out because you are unhappy with the status quo. Instead, vote differently or run against them in the next election.It is common sense civics and citizenship to memorize these First Amendment rights and know how to interpret them legally, not emotionally. Doing so helps all of us live peacefully and vote intelligently.About the Second AmendmentIf you ask anyone about the Second Amendment, you usually will hear something like, "It's the right to own a gun." Immediately, emotional arguments among Americans ensue over gun ownership, gun laws, animal rights, and more. Stop right there. The Second Amendment guarantees your right to own a gun. It is a fact. You do not have to own a gun, but you can own a gun. This article is not about your arguments for or against gun ownership. Consider the following:A short time ago, a young person in my vicinity decided to visit a friend. This young person allegedly killed his friend, his friend's mother, the mailman, and about six other people by going on a neighborhood house-to-house murder spree. He used a baseball bat to kill a teenage girl who was enjoying time on spring break with her sister and a friend. This teen shielded her sister and her friend from certain death. The alleged murderer took a vehicle and ran over some of his victims. No guns were involved. A knife, a baseball bat, and a truck were the weapons used to kill eleven innocent people. I'll leave that right there for your common sense consideration. The Second Amendment says what it says. My question to you is: Can you name your constitutional rights? We will continue reviewing the Bill of Rights in future articles.This is Common Sense Civics and Citizenship đşđ¸Photo credit: Paul Weaver
Maximizing Your Tax Returns: A Common-Sense ApproachApril 10, 2024 By Candace Donnelly With all the tax talk going around this week, letâs look at some common-sense tax considerations. Are Tax Refun...