Watching the cars go by

From the Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
Definition of COEXIST

1

: to exist together or at the same time

2

: to live in peace with each other especially as a matter of policy 

Driving around for the past few years, I have been amazed at the number of vehicles I see with bumper stickers with a stylized version of the word coexist on it.  The inference, of course, is that we should all join hands, sing Kumbaya, and get along, or at the very least just get along with one another.  While an entirely laudable idea I would like to point out that both definitions require the other party(ies) to be in agreement with the concept, hence the "co" in coexist.  

If someone, or a group of someone's, chooses to not willingly go along with the idea one must then decide how to handle the situation.  If the other party or parties says; "I do not wish to coexist with you but I will leave you alone as long as you leave me alone," you can readily proceed with your life and things should be fine.  However there are times, unfortunately with humans too many, in which the other person or persons say; "I do not wish to coexist with you AND you have something that I want," or "I do not wish to coexist with you AND I disagree with the way you act," "and I will therefore do whatever I have to do to either get what I want or force you to act as I see appropriate."  In that type of situation the person wanting to coexist with the other has a decision to make; do I go along with my life hoping upon hope that they others will leave me alone or do I stand up, make a fist, and say come and take it?  Some people, by their nature, will just turn the other cheek and hope that it all goes away.  Some people will allow the other group to come and take what they will, or to force their will upon them, thinking that there is safety in giving up a little of what they already had.

 

There are others who are in agreement with Benjamin Franklin when he said;

“They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.”

He also told us; “It is the first responsibility of every citizen to question authority.”

Dr. Franklin gave us many fine quotes, he was one of the most prolific writers of the founding fathers.  He, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and James Madison all gave us instructions about our nation and how to keep it strong and healthy, unfortunately it looks like the vast majority of our citizens have forgotten those lessons.  I'm sure that all of these great men would be appalled at how this nation operates today.  They would ask why we couldn't follow simple instructions and the answer, most often would be that we were too damn lazy.  It absolutely shames me to say that but it is none the less true.  Before we end up in a situation where we are not able to defend ourselves out of a coexistence situation I beg you to please go back and read the founders.  They all wrote instructions for us not the least of which is the following by Thomas Jefferson;

 

“On every question of construction (of the Constitution) let us carry ourselves back to the time when the Constitution was adopted, recollect the spirit of the debates, and instead of trying what meaning may be squeezed out of the text, or invented against it, conform to the probable one in which it was passed.”

 

Never forget.  God Bless America! 

I'm concerned about the fiscal stability of this nation

     Some people will call this sour milk, I call it informing others of some of the fiscal changes that have occurred over the past several years.  Some people will ignore these numbers, "it's the Republican's fault for not working with the President" will be the charge.  To those people I say have an open mind.  All of the information that I will present is available from multiple sources on the web and as such is very verifiable for anyone who so desires.

     The national debt in this country has almost tripled since September of 2000, the year before George W. Bush took office.  At that time the national debt was at $5,674,178,209,886.86, that's correct over Five Trillion dollars.  Eight years later in September of his last year in office the number had almost doubled to $10,024,724,896,912.49, a total increase of $4,350,546,687,025.63.  Astounding in it's size.  At that time we had just entered into a recession caused by the housing market bubble bursting, two wars, and an attack on our financial center seven years prior.
     In round numbers the current national debt is $16,299,195,433,000.00 over Sixteen and a Quarter Trillion dollars.  That is $6,274,470,536,087.51 dollars more than the end of the Bush presidency.  In four years the current administration has generated $1,923,923,849,061.88 more dollars of debt than was generated in the eight years of the Bush administration. 
    There are those that will say that much, if not all, of that is based on the wars that President Bush got us involved in and to an extent that is true, however this administration, including the 2 years when they had complete control of both the House and the Senate has never passed a budget.  For the past four years we have been moving forward, as a country, on continuing resolutions.  Now is when we hear the argument that it's because the Republicans have been standing in the way.  During the first two years of this administration they were able to push multiple bills, not the least of which is the Affordable Care Act, through both houses of Congress with nominal Republican support yet they could not pass a budget with their own people leading the charge.

     It is this type of fiscal performance that makes me worry for our nation.  If we, as a nation, do not get our spending under control, stop borrowing (especially from countries that have sworn to take us down) and start living according to our means this nation will be the former United States within a decade.  If only one of our bond holders were to call in their bonds it would be the end of the United States that day.  The Federal Reserve would have to print the money to pay the debt thereby reducing the value of any dollars already in circulation, this would cause massive inflation bringing the nation to it's knees in short order.

     I wish the administration good luck going forward but I will be watching.  I will raise my voice from the mountains should I find reason.  Inflation is already with us to some extent.  Just looking at the prices of fuel one can see it.  In November of 2008 gasoline was $1.72 per gallon on average nationwide, over the road diesel at $3.10.  The current averages for those fuels are $3.56, an increase of $1.84 and 4.01 an increase of $0.91 respectively.  This is causing the prices for most commodities to rise as diesel is the number 1 fuel for the transport of the items we use daily.  Keep your eyes open people, promises are nice but they won't pay the bills.

One last item for my "friendly" Obama supporting friends.  Please feel free to attempt to refute this list of lies from the current Commander-In-Chief.

My Economic Concerns

     Many people that I know think that I have completely lost my mind because I am supporting Mitt Romney in the current election cycle.  They tell me that he is going to defund Medicare/Medicaid/Social Security/etc. which he can NOT possibly do but somehow they are convinced that this will happen.  Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid are all off the books programs and are not part of the national budget though they do count toward the national debt.  They tell me that he will defund programs for women, children, the elderly, etc. which he can NOT do.  The majority of these programs that garner their concern are part of Medicare or Medicaid and thus are part of the unfunded mandate pool.  Let me address the reasons that I feel we must remove the current occupant of the oval office which is the major reason that I support Mr. Romney.

     At this moment our current national debt is roughly 16.04 Trillion dollars.  That is $16,040,000,000,000.00, an astronomical number to say the least.  That currently means that each citizen of this nation is $51,018 dollars in debt at this moment.  Yes, I did mean citizen, which means that each child born as I write this is Fifty-One Thousand and Eighteen dollars in debt at birth.  Breaking this number down to something more realistic, each American taxpayer owes $140,255.00 right now.  The reason that I am stating the timeline here is that the debt is increasing moment by moment.
     Current federal spending is at $3,500,000,000,000.00 per annum.  Current federal revenue is $2,300,000,000,000.00 per annum.  That leaves a difference of negative $1,200,000,000,000.00 per anuum.

     Both parties are at fault for this current situation.  One must remember that Constitutionally speaking ALL government spending must start in the House of Representatives.  The Republicans under Denny Hastert went nuts.  It was exacerbated under Nancy Pelosi.  Some will say all of the spending grew much more under President Bush than at any other time.  When President Bush took office the debt was at roughly $6,000,000,000,000.00 and it grew to $11,000,000,000,000.00 during his 8 years in office.  Under President Obama it has grown further to 16,000,000,000,000.00 in less than 4 years.  To say that government spending, regardless of leader, is out of control is an astounding understatement.
   
     Numerous articles have been written by various economists the world over regarding the impending American debt crisis.  The general consensus is that should the debt reach between 18 and 20 Trillion dollars, especially with the way that the various credit agencies are downgrading the country's credit rating, America will start to see a crisis on par with Spain and if it is allowed to grow further than that on par with Greece.  Essentially our debt will take us down to second or even third tier country level.  Many of these experts expect this to start taking effect within the next four years unless spending is brought under control.

     Part of the Fed's plan to get the economy growing again is to buy more mortgage backed securities to bolster the economy and get people buying property once more.  They plan to spend $40,000,000,000.00 per month to boost this sector.  In order to do this the Fed will increase the amount of money that it is printing on a monthly basis.  Does any of this sound familiar?  You might remember that just a few years ago banks were trading mortgage backed securities in an effort to increase the value of this sector.  It gave us the housing bubble that burst and sent the economy into a nose dive.
   
      Virtually every major organization from Forbes, to Bloomberg, to Investors Business Daily, to the New York Times, to the London Financial Times and many other worldwide financial reporters see this as a sure way of increasing inflation to levels that few living have seen.  Some are saying that it could create a situation that would make 1929 look like a walk in the park.

     Now I am not saying that Romney can save us from this.  I am not saying that he can definitely slow this down.  What I am saying is that we know that the current administration thinks that what they are doing is helping, with no evidence to support their statements.  I don't believe that my daughter, my nieces, my nephews, nor any of my relatives children or grand-children can afford four more years of Obama-nomics.

     Addendum:  So to clarify, while you may be interested in specific programs, I'm interested in ensuring that there is an America for the next generation to enjoy.

Thus we end this series with the last seventeen amendments to the Constitution.


"Government is not reason; it is not eloquence. It is force. And force, like fire, is a dangerous servant and a fearful master." George Washington



Amendment XI.*

*The Eleventh Amendment was ratified February 7, 1795.

The Judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States by Citizens of another State, or by Citizens or Subjects of any Foreign State.


Amendment XII.*

*The Twelfth Amendment was ratified June 15, 1804.

The Electors shall meet in their respective states, and vote by ballot for President and Vice President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves; they shall name in their ballots the person voted for as President, and in distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice President, and they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted for as President, and of all persons voted for as Vice President, and of the number of votes for each, which lists they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of the government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate;--The President of the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the certificates and the votes shall then be counted;--The person having the greatest number of votes for President, shall be the President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed, and if no person have such majority, then from the persons having the highest numbers not exceeding three on the list of those voted for as President, the House of Representatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, the President. But in choosing
the President, the votes shall be taken by states, the representation from each state having one vote; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two-thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be necessary to a choice. [And if the House of Representatives shall not choose a President whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon them, before the fourth PA day of March next following, then the Vice President shall act as President, as in the case of the death or other constitutional disability of the President--]* The person having the greatest number of votes as Vice President, shall be the Vice President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed, and if no person have a majority, then from the two highest numbers on the list, the Senate shall choose the Vice President; a quorum for the purpose shall consist of two thirds of the whole number of Senators, and a majority of the whole number shall be necessary to a choice. But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice President of the United States.


*Superseded by section 3 of the Twentieth Amendment.


Amendment XIII.**

**The Thirteenth Amendment was ratified December 6, 1865.

Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.


Section 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Amendment XIV.***

***The Fourteenth Amendment was ratified July 9, 1868.

Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are izens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
Section 2. Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the
right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the Executive and Judicial officers of a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State.

Section 3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having
previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.

Section 4. The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void.

Section 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.

Amendment XV.*

Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.


Amendment XVI.**


The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration.

Amendment XVII.***


The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislatures.


*The Fifteenth Amendment was ratified February 3, 1870.

**The Sixteenth Amendment was ratified February 3, 1913.

***The Seventeenth Amendment was ratified April 8, 1913.


When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate, the executive authority of such State shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, That the legislature of any State may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct.


This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect the election or term of any Senator chosen before it becomes valid as part of the Constitution.


Amendment XVIII.*

[Section 1. After one year from the ratification of this article the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited.

Section 2. The Congress and the several States shall have concurrent power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Section 3. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the constitution by the legislatures of the several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission here of to the States by the Congress.]


*The Eighteenth Amendment was ratified January 16, 1914. It was repealed by the Twenty-First Amendment, December 5, 1933.



Amendment XIX.*


The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.



Amendment XX.**


Section 1. The terms of the President and Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of Senators and Representatives at noon on the 3d day of January, of the years in which such terms would have ended if this article had not been ratified; and the terms of their successors shall then begin.


Section 2. The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such meeting shall begin at noon on the 3d day of January, unless they shall by law appoint a different day.

Section 3. If, at the time fixed for the beginning of the term of the President, the President elect shall have died, the Vice President elect shall become President. If a President shall not have been chosen before the time fixed for the beginning of his term, or if the President elect shall have failed to qualify, then the Vice President elect shall act as President until a President shall have qualified; and the Congress may by law provide for the case wherein neither a President elect nor a Vice President elect shall have qualified, declaring who shall then act as President, or the manner in which one who is to act shall be selected, and such person shall act accordingly until a President or Vice President shall have qualified.


*The Nineteenth Amendment was ratified August 18, 1920.


The Twentieth Amendment was ratified January 23, 1933.

Section 4. The Congress may by law provide for the case of the death of any of the persons from whom the House of Representatives may choose a President whenever the right of choice shall have devolved upon them, and for the case of the death of any of the persons from whom the Senate may choose a Vice President whenever the right of choice shall have devolved upon them.


Section 5. Sections 1 and 2 shall take effect on the 15th day of October following the ratification of this article.

Section 6. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years from the date of its submission.


Amendment XXI.*


Section 1. The eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed.


Section 2. The transportation or importation into any State, Territory, or possession of the United States for delivery or use therein of intoxicating liquors, in violation of the laws thereof, is hereby prohibited.


Section 3. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the constitution by conventions in the several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the States by the Congress.



*The Twenty-First Amendment was ratified December 5, 1933.


Amendment XXII*


Section 1. No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once. But this Article shall not apply to any person holding the office of President when this Article was proposed by the Congress, and shall not prevent any person who may be holding the office of President, or acting as President, during the term within which this Article becomes operative from holding the office of President or acting as President during the remainder of such term.


Section 2. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the constitution by the legislatures of threefourths of the several States within seven years from the date
of its submission to the States by the Congress.


Amendment XXIII.**


Section 1. The District constituting the seat of Government of the United States shall appoint in such manner as the Congress may direct:

A number of electors of President and Vice President equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives in Congress to which the District would be entitled if it were a State, but in no event more than the least populous State; they shall be in addition to those appointed by the States, but they shall be considered, for the purposes of the election of President and Vice President, to be electors appointed by a State; and they shall meet in the District and perform such duties as provided by the twelfth article of amendment.


*The Twenty-Second Amendment was ratified February 27, 1951.

**The Twenty-Third Amendment was ratified March 29, 1961.


Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.


Amendment XXIV.*


Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay any poll tax
or other tax.


Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Amendment XXV.**


Section 1. In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President.

Section 2. Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress.


Section 3. Whenever the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, and until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary, such powers and duties shall be discharged by the Vice President as Acting President.


*The Twenty-Fourth Amendment was ratified January 23, 1964.

**The Twenty-Fifth Amendment was ratified February 10, 1967.


Section 4. Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore
of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.

Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that no inability exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of his office unless the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive department or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit within four days to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office.

Thereupon Congress shall decide the issue, assembling within forty-eight hours for that purpose if not in session. If the Congress, within twenty-one days after receipt of the latter written declaration, or, if Congress is not in session, within twenty-one days after Congress is required to assemble, determines by two-thirds vote of both Houses that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall continue to discharge the same as Acting President; otherwise, the President shall resume the powers and duties of his office.


Amendment XXVI*


Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age.

Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Amendment XXVII**


No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened.

*The Twenty-Sixth Amendment was ratified July 1, 1971.

**Congress submitted the text of the Twenty-Seventh Amendment to the States as part of the proposed Bill of Rights on September 25, 1789. The Amendment was not ratified together with the first ten Amendments,
which became effective on December 15, 1791. The Twenty-Seventh Amendment was ratified on May 7, 1992, by the vote of Michigan.

Since It's an Election Year - Part 7

For some reason every time I get to this point of the Constituion I end up having to apologize to anyone who may have been following this blog for the length of time since my last post.  I seem to get ill and then have to will myself not to post anything political for several days so that I can fulfill my promise that I wouldn't until the entirety of the Constitution was covered. To that end today I will post the Bill of Rights. The first ten amendments to the Constitution that were proposed and approved by the founders.




"The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government." Patrick Henry




AMENDMENTS
TO THE CONSTITUTION
OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA


Amendment I.*

*The first ten Amendments (Bill of Rights) were ratified effective

December 15, 1791.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,
or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom
of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably
to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.


Amendment II.

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free
State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be
infringed.


Amendment III.

No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house,
without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner
to be prescribed by law.


Amendment IV.

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses,
papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures,
shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable
cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing
the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.


Amendment V.

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise
infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand
Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the
Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor
shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in
jeopardy of life or limb, nor shall be compelled in any criminal case
to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or
property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be
taken for public use without just compensation.


Amendment VI.

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to
a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and
district wherein the crime shall have been committed; which district
shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of
the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the
witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining
witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for
his defence.


Amendment VII.

In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed
twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and
no fact tried by a jury shall be otherwise reexamined in any Court
of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.


Amendment VIII.

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed,
nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.


Amendment IX.

The enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights shall not be
construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.


Amendment X.

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution,
nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States
respectively, or to the people.

Since it is an election year - part 6

Today we cover the final three articles of the Constitution; Article V - Amendments, 

Article VI - Covering debts created before ratification, and 

Article VII - The ratification process.

"Among the features peculiar to the political system of the United States, is the perfect equality of rights which it secures to every religious sect."
James Madison, letter to Jacob de la Motta, August 1820

Article. V.  

  The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it 
necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on 
the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several 
States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, 
in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as 
Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of 
three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three 
fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may 
be proposed by the Congress; Provided that no Amendment which may 
be made prior to the Year One thousand eight hundred and eight shall
in any Manner affect the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth 
Section of the first Article; and that no State, without its 
Consent, shall be deprived of it's equal Suffrage in the Senate. 

                          Article. VI. 

  All Debts contracted and Engagements entered into, before the 
Adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the United 
States under this Constitution, as under the Confederation. 
  This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be 
made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be 
made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme 
Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, 
any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary 
notwithstanding. 
  The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members 
of the several State Legislatures and all executive and judicial 
Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall 
be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but 
no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any 
Office or public Trust under the United States. 

                         Article. VII. 

  The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States, shall be 
sufficient for the Establishment of this Constitution between the 
States so ratifying the Same. 
  done in Convention by the Unanimous Consent of the States present 
the Seventeenth Day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousand 
seven hundred and Eighty seven and of the Independence of the United 
States of America the Twelfth In Witness whereof We have hereunto 
subscribed our Names,

Tomorrow - The Bill of Rights

Since it is an election year - Part 5

Article 4 - The full faith and credit clause as well as certain rights guaranteed to the states, several of which have been superceded in the past century.

"A wise and frugal government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, which shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government, and this is necessary to close the circle of our felicity."  Thomas Jefferson, First Inaugural Address

Article. IV.

  Section. 1. Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to 
the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other 
State; And the Congress may by general Laws prescribe the Manner 
in which such Acts, Records and Proceedings shall be proved, and 
the Effect thereof. 
  Section. 2. The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all 
Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. 
  A Person charged in any State with Treason, Felony, or other Crime, 
who shall flee from Justice, and be found in another State, shall on 
Demand of the executive Authority of the State from which he fled, 
be delivered up, to be removed to the State having Jurisdiction of 
the Crime.  
  [No Person held to Service or Labour in one State, under the Laws 
thereof, escaping into another, shall, in Consequence of any Law or 
Regulation therein, be discharged from such Service or Labour, but 
shall be delivered up on Claim of the Party to whom such Service or 
Labour may be due.]* 

*Changed by the Thirteenth Amendment.

  Section. 3. New States may be admitted by the Congress into this 
Union; but no new State shall be formed or erected within the 
Jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed by the 
Junction of two or more States, or Parts of States, without the 
Consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of 
the Congress. 
  The Congress shall have Power to dispose of and make all needful 
Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory or other Property 
belonging to the United States; and nothing in this Constitution 
shall be so construed as to Prejudice any Claims of the United 
States, or of any particular State. 
  Section. 4. The United States shall guarantee to every State in 
this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each 
of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, 
or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) 
against domestic Violence. 

Since it is an election year - part 4

We now got to article 3 regarding the Supreme Court.

"Can the liberties of a nation be sure when we remove their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people, that these liberties are a gift from God?" - Thomas Jefferson

Article. III. 

  Section. 1. The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested 
in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may 
from time to time ordain and establish. The Judges, both of the supreme 
and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour, 
and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services, a Compensation, 
which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office. 
  Section. 2. The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and 
Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws of the United States, 
and Treaties made, or which shall be made, under their Authority;--to 
all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls;--to 
all Cases of admiralty and maritime Jurisdiction;--to Controversies to 
which the United States shall be a Party;--to Controversies between two 
or more States;--[between a State and Citizens of another State;--]* 
between Citizens of different States,-- between Citizens of the same 
State claiming Lands under Grants of different States, [and between 
a State, or the Citizens thereof, and foreign States, Citizens or 
Subjects.]* 

*Changed by the Eleventh Amendment. 
  
  In all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and 
Consuls, and those in which a State shall be Party, the supreme Court 
shall have original Jurisdiction. In all the other Cases before 
mentioned, the supreme Court shall have appellate Jurisdiction, 
both as to Law and Fact, with such Exceptions, and under such 
Regulations as the Congress shall make. 
  The Trial of all Crimes, except in Cases of Impeachment; shall be 
by Jury; and such Trial shall be held in the State where the said 
Crimes shall have been committed; but when not committed within any 
State, the Trial shall be at such Place or Places as the Congress may 
by Law have directed. 
  Section. 3. Treason against the United States, shall consist only in 
levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them 
Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on 
the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession 
in open Court. 
  The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, 
but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or 
Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted. 

Since it is an election year - Part 3.

We now start on Article 2 of the Constitution.  Presidential powers and duties.  This also includes information regarding impeachment.  Very interesting reading.

"The language of the Constitution cannot be interpreted safely except by reference to the common law and to British institutions as they were when the instrument was framed and adopted." --- William Howard Taft President of the United States and Chief Justice SCotUS.

Article. II.
                                                                                                                     
  Section. 1. The executive Power shall be vested in a President of 
the United States of America. He shall hold his Office during the 
Term of four Years, and, together with the Vice President, chosen 
for the same Term, be elected, as follows 
  Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof 
may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of 
Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in 
the Congress: but no Senator or Representative, or Person holding an 
Office of Trust or Profit under the United States, shall be appointed 
an Elector. 
  [The Electors shall meet in their respective States, and vote by 
Ballot for two Persons, of whom one at least shall not be an 
Inhabitant of the same State with themselves. And they shall make a 
List of all the Persons voted for, and of the Number of Votes for 
each; which List they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to 
the Seat of the Government of the United States, directed to the 
President of the Senate. The President of the Senate shall, in the 
Presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the Certificates, and the Votes shall then be counted. The Person having 
the greatest Number of Votes shall be the President, if such Number 
be a Majority of the whole Number of Electors appointed; and if 
there be more than one who have such Majority, and have an equal 
Number of Votes, then the House of Representatives shall immediately 
chuse by Ballot one of them for President; and if no Person have a 
Majority, then from the five highest on the List the said House 
shall in like Manner chuse the President. But in chusing the 
President, the Votes shall be taken by States, the Representation 
from each State having one Vote; A quorum for this Purpose shall 
consist of a Member or Members from two thirds of the States, 
and a Majority of all the States shall be necessary to a Choice. 
In every Case, after the Choice of the President, the Person 
having the greatest Number of Votes of the Electors shall be the 
Vice President. But if there should remain two or more who have equal 
Votes, the Senate shall chuse from them by Ballot the Vice President.]*

*Changed lay the Twelfth Amendment. 

  The Congress may determine the Time of chusing the Electors, and 
the Day on which they shall give their Votes; which Day shall be the 
same throughout the United States. 
  No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United 
States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be 
eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any person be 
eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of 
thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the 
United States. 
  [In Case of the Removal of the President from Office, or of his 
Death, Resignation, or Inability to discharge the Powers and Duties 
of the said Office, the Same shall devolve on the Vice President, and 
the Congress may by Law provide for the Case of Removal, Death, 
Resignation or Inability, both of the President and Vice President, 
declaring what Officer shall then act as President, and such Officer 
shall act accordingly, until the Disability be removed, or a President 
shall be elected.]*

*Changed by the Twenty-Fifth Amendment. 

  The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his Services, a 
Compensation, which shall neither be increased nor diminished during 
the Period for which he shall have been elected, and he shall not 
receive within that Period any other Emolument from the United States, 
or any of them. 
  Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take 
the following Oath or Affirmation:--``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.'' 
  Section. 2. The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army 
and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several 
States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; 
he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in 
each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the 
Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to grant 
Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States, except 
in Cases of Impeachment. 
  He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the 
Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present 
concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent 
of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and 
Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the 
United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, 
and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest 
the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the 
President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments. 
  The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may 
happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which 
shall expire at the End of their next Session. 
  Section. 3. He shall from time to time give to the Congress 
Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their 
Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; 
he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of
them, and in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the 
Time of Adjoumment, he may adjourn them to such Time as he shall 
think proper; he shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; 
he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall 
Commission all the Officers of the United States. 
  Section. 4. The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of 
the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, 
and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and 
Misdemeanors. 

Since it is an election year - part 2

"Do not separate text from historical background. If you do, you will have perverted and subverted the Constitution, which can only end in a distorted, bastardized form of illegitimate government."
— James Madison

Article 1, Sections 4 - 10

Section. 4. The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for 
Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by 
the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make 
or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of chusing Senators. 
  The Congress shall assemble at least once in every Year, and such 
Meeting shall be [on the first Monday in December,]* unless they shall 
by Law appoint a different Day. 

*Changed by section 2 of the Twentieth Amendment. 

  Section. 5. Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns 
and Qualifications of its own Members, and a Majority of each shall 
constitute a Quorum to do Business; but a smaller Number may adjourn 
from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the Attendance of 
absent Members, in such Manner, and under such Penalties as each House 
may provide. 
  Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its 
Members for disorderly Behaviour, and, with the Concurrence of two 
thirds, expel a Member. 
  Each House shall keep a Journal of its Proceedings, and from time to 
time publish the same, excepting such Parts as may in their Judgment 
require Secrecy; and the Yeas and Nays of the Members of either House 
on any question shall, at the Desire of one fifth of those Present, be 
entered on the Journal. 
  Neither House, during the Session of Congress, shall, without the 
Consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any 
other Place than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting. 
  Section. 6. The Senators and Representatives shall receive a 
Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid 
out of the Treasury of the United States. They shall in all Cases, 
except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from 
Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their respective 
Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any 
Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any 
other Place. 
  No Senator or Representative shall, during the Time for which he was 
elected, be appointed to any civil Office under the Authority of the 
United States, which shall have been created, or the Emoluments whereof 
shall have been encreased during such time; and no Person holding any 
Office under the United States, shall be a Member of either House during 
his Continuance in Office. 
  Section. 7. All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House 
of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments 
as on other Bills. 
  Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and 
the Senate, shall, before it becomes a Law, be presented to the 
President of the United States; If he approve he shall sign it, but if 
not he shall return it, with his Objections to that House in which it 
shall have originated, who shall enter the Objections at large on their 
Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such Reconsideration 
two thirds of that House shall agree to pass the Bill, it shall be sent, together with the Objections, to the other House, by which it shall 
likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that House, 
it shall become a Law. But in all such Cases the Votes of both Houses 
shall be determined by yeas and Nays, and the Names of the Persons 
voting for and against the Bill shall be entered on the Journal of each 
House respectively. If any Bill shall not be returned by the President 
within ten Days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented 
to him, the Same shall be a Law, in like Manner as if he had signed it, 
unless the Congress by their Adjournment prevent its Return, in which 
Case it shall not be a Law. 
  Every Order, Resolution, or Vote to which the Concurrence of the 
Senate and House of Representatives may be necessary (except on a 
question of Adjournment) shall be presented to the President of the 
United States; and before the Same shall take Effect, shall be approved 
by him, or being disapproved by him, shall be repassed by two thirds of 
the Senate and House of Representatives, according to the Rules and 
Limitations prescribed in the Case of a Bill. 
  Section. 8. The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, 
Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the 
common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all 
Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United 
States; 
  To borrow Money on the credit of the United States; 
  To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several 
States, and with the Indian Tribes;
  To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization,  and uniform Laws 
on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;
  To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and 
fix the Standard of Weights and Measures; 
  To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and 
current Coin of the United States; 
  To establish Post Offices and post Roads; 
  To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for 
limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their 
respective Writings and Discoveries; 
  To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;  
  To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, 
and Offenses against the Law of Nations; 
  To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules 
concerning Captures on Land and Water;
  To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that 
Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years; 
  To provide and maintain a Navy; 
  To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval 
Forces; 
  To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the 
Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions; 
  To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, 
and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service 
of the  United States, reserving to the States respectively, the 
Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia 
according to the discipline prescribed by Congress; 
  To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such 
District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of 
particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of 
the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority 
over an Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State 
in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, 
Arsenals, dockYards and other needful Buildings;--And 
  To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying 
into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by 
this Constitution in the Government of the United States or in any 
Department or Officer thereof. 
  Section. 9. The Migration or Importation of such Persons as any of 
the States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be 
prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year one thousand eight 
hundred and eight, but a Tax or duty may be imposed on such 
Importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each Person.  
  The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, 
unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may 
require it. 
  No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed. 
  No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in 
Proportion to the Census or Enumeration herein before directed to 
be taken.*  

*See Sixteenth Amendment. 

  No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from any State. 
  No Preference shall be given by any Regulation of Commerce or 
Revenue to the Ports of one State over those of another: nor shall 
Vessels bound to, or from, one State, be obliged to enter, clear, 
or pay Duties in another. 
  No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of 
Appropriations made by Law, and a regular Statement and Account of 
the Receipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be published 
from time to time. 
  No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no 
Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without 
the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, 
or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State. 
  Section. 10. No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or 
Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin Money; emit 
Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in 
Payment of Debts; pass any Bill of Attainder, ex post facto Law, or 
Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts, or grant any Title of 
Nobility.  
  No State shall, without the Consent of the Congress, lay any 
Imposts or Duties on Imports or Exports, except what may be absolutely 
necessary for executing it's inspection Laws: and the net Produce of 
all Duties and Imposts, laid by any State  on Imports or Exports, shall 
be for the Use of the Treasury of the United States; and all such Laws 
shall be subject to the Revision and Controul of the Congress. 
  No State shall, without the Consent of Congress, lay any Duty of 
Tonnage, keep Troops, or Ships of War in time of Peace, enter into any 
Agreement or Compact with another State, or with a foreign Power, or 
engage in War, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent Danger as 
will not admit of delay. 

IMHO These six sections are those that Congress wants us to understand the least.

Since it is an election year

I thought that it might be helpful to some people to remind everyone what this whole thing is about. So let's start with a quote from Thomas Jefferson on the Constitution and the document itself.

 "On every question of construction let us carry ourselves back to the time when the Constitution was adopted, recollect the spirit manifested in the debates, and instead of trying what meaning can be squeezed out of the text, or invented against it, conform to the probable one which was passed." --- Thomas Jefferson, third President of the United States

 The Constitution of the United States of America Preamble: We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

 Article 1; Sections 1 - 3 Article. I.

Section. 1. All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.

Section. 2. The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several States, and the Electors in each State shall have the Qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous Branch of the State Legislature. No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of twenty five Years, and been seven Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen. [Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which maybe included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons.]* The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct. The number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty Thousand, but each State shall have at Least one Representative; and until such enumeration shall be made, the State of New Hampshire shall be entitled to chuse three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations one, Connecticut five, New York six, New Jersey four, Pennsylvania eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten, North Carolina five, South Carolina five, and Georgia three.

 *Changed by section 2 of the Fourteenth Amendment.

When vacancies happen in the Representation from any State, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies. The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment. Section. 3. The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, [chosen by the Legislature thereof,]* for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote.


*Changed by the Seventeenth Amendment. Immediately after they shall be assembled in Consequence of the first Election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into three Classes. The Seats of the Senators of the first Class shall be vacated at the Expiration of the second Year, of the second Class at the Expiration of the fourth Year, and of the third Class at the Expiration of the sixth Year, so that one third may be chosen every second Year; [and if Vacancies happen by Resignation, or otherwise, during the Recess of the Legislature of any State, the Executive thereof may make temporary Appointments until the next Meeting of the Legislature, which shall then fill such Vacancies.]*

*Changed by the Seventeenth Amendment.

 No Person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen. The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided. The Senate shall chuse their other Officers, and also a President pro tempore, in the Absence of the Vice President, or when he shall exercise the Office of President of the United States. The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present. Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the United States: but the Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment, according to Law.

Continued - next issue, the remainder of Article 1