In recent news, I found three major issues substantiating my current claim that our Constitution, our democracy, and our capitalist society are either being ignored, or worse, under direct attack. Our personal freedoms are at stake; civil rights protesters might actually have a substantial point to make here, if they weren’t high.
First is the ban on bottled water in San Francisco city and departmental offices due to a mayoral executive order, effective July 1st. This is supposed to alleviate global warming, considering the production of the bottles and the number of bottles that end up in land fills. It’s not bottled crack; it’s bottled water we’re talking about here. Next is Senator Chris Dodd’s proposal for mandatory community service for high school students, which seems like a good idea, but is in direct violation of the 13th Amendment (“Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted…” see US Constitution for details.) Concerning such proposals should be some thought given towards the role of government. Finally are the comments made by Senator Dianne Feinstein regarding the Fairness Doctrine to regulate the freedom of speech on conservative radio, arguing “I think there ought to be an opportunity to present the other side” (See Fox News Sunday Transcript with Chris Wallace, 24 June). This began with the displacement of “illegal alien” with the words “undocumented worker.” Such might be desirable in media, but to federally regulate words in media tramples the First Amendment and reminds me of Orwell’s “1984.” Is Ms. Feinstein really trying to argue that liberal media is weak against conservative talk radio? Even when a recent UCLA study found that, “Of the 20 major media outlets studied, 18 scored left of center, with CBS’ “Evening News,” The New York Times and the Los Angeles Times ranking second, third and fourth most liberal behind the news pages of The Wall Street Journal. Only Fox News’ “Special Report With Brit Hume” and The Washington Times scored right of the average U.S. voter.”
If we fail to focus on the potential of such proposals, executive orders, and bills and their ability to constrain this society, we will lose it. Furthermore, the mere creation of legislation does not justify the existence of government. It is time to refocus our efforts and maintain a constant strain with regards to the function and role of government.
When we have 11,000 FEMA trailers intended for Katrina victims still sitting in Arkansas due to a bureaucratic nightmare (and an argument over where they should go), we should all be embarrassed. The fact that now, 94% of these trailers have toxic levels of formaldehyde should make all of us want to cry. Why did this happen? I believe the root cause to be the fact that legislation has displaced leadership in our federal, state, and local governments. We should expect more, especially from the federal government. I would expect the 535 chief legislators of this country to exercise some degree of foresight in their decision-making process.
I picture a good Congressman walking about his office, pontificating over proposed legislation and the direction in which it would move the country. Sadly, I believe most are more concerned with the status of their caucus and the next election than with the status of their constituency or their own moral clarity. We can’t get there all at once, but a move back to the founders’ intent would benefit us all.
“Well Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?”
“A republic, if you can keep it.” – Benjamin Franklin, 1787
“If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.”
- Thomas Jefferson, 1810