mirror of
https://github.com/nhammer514/textfiles-politics.git
synced 2024-12-18 04:04:34 -05:00
309 lines
19 KiB
Plaintext
309 lines
19 KiB
Plaintext
|
||
FEDERAL PARKS
|
||
|
||
|
||
This had been a very long winter and spring for the
|
||
entire family. Our reservations to spend a month sight-
|
||
seeing in Egypt have been confirmed since last October.
|
||
We often talked about special sites we wanted to visit.
|
||
Would we see the Great Pyramid at Cheops or the Aswan Dam?
|
||
Maybe we would go farther down the Nile to visit some of the
|
||
lesser known pyramids at Karnack. We've had discussions on
|
||
what it will be like to ride on a camel. We'd heard that
|
||
camels smell badly and wondered about that. And we were
|
||
looking forward to finding out if Egypt was all sand.
|
||
This trip was the talk of the school which my two
|
||
children attended. Not only were their classmates inter-
|
||
ested, their teachers had became involved.
|
||
One day, my son asked if we were going to visit King
|
||
Tut's Tomb. I replied, "Yes, it's on our list."
|
||
"What about the curse of his tomb? Will we be cursed?"
|
||
"I doubt it Billy." I answered. "That was only a
|
||
story."
|
||
"No it's not!" retorted Susie. "Miss Slone brought a
|
||
special book of Egypt from the library. She read us the
|
||
part about when they opened the tomb and all the people who
|
||
died strangely."
|
||
"I don't believe it." I replied. "People were much
|
||
more superstitious in those days. It was probably a
|
||
coincidence that they all died so soon after they opened the
|
||
tomb."
|
||
"I wouldn't be too sure of that." my wife joined in.
|
||
"Do you remember when the artifacts from his tomb were
|
||
displayed in Los Angeles? I saw one of the curators on TV.
|
||
When asked that very question, he said they didn't know if
|
||
the curse was the reason they died."
|
||
"Weird!" said Billy as he looked at his sister. "Do
|
||
you think it will hurt us if we go in there?"
|
||
Susie shivered a bit as she said, "Wow, I hope not."
|
||
During the past few months, strange happenings began to
|
||
make the headlines. Terrorists shot and killed people at a
|
||
couple of airports we would be going through . . . planes
|
||
had been hijacked . . . hostages were taken. Would it be
|
||
safe for my family to make the trip?
|
||
We finally decided the curse of King Tut didn't scare
|
||
us but the possibility of running into terrorists did bother
|
||
us. We cancelled our trip and decided to visit a national
|
||
park in the northwestern United States. After all, these
|
||
were run by our government so we could feel safe there.
|
||
Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park,
|
||
Grand Canyon National Park, millions of acres of public
|
||
range land, national sea shores, and on and on and on . . .
|
||
Beautiful parks, scenery, wildlife, hiking trails,
|
||
camping sites . . . Just look at all the beautiful places
|
||
our federal government is giving to the people. An ideal
|
||
|
||
place to spend an extended summer vacation with the family.
|
||
Let's set the record right now . . . The United States
|
||
government is breaking the law. They have NO power to own
|
||
those lands. It's illegal as hell!
|
||
The ONLY permission for the national government to own
|
||
land is spelled out in Art I, Sect 8, cl 17. It specific-
|
||
ally limits ownership to 10 square miles for the seat of the
|
||
government (Washington, D.C.) and . . .
|
||
". . . over all places purchased by the consent of the
|
||
legislatures of the state in which the same shall be, for
|
||
the erection of forts, magazines, arsenals, dock-yards, and
|
||
other needful buildings."
|
||
That's it. Not one word about range land, national
|
||
parks, presidential or other official hideaways.
|
||
The only other place in our Constitution where the word
|
||
property appears is in Article IV, Section 3, clause 2.
|
||
This permission to "dispose of and make all needful rules
|
||
and regulations respecting the territory or other property
|
||
belonging to the United States; . . . "
|
||
This gives them the right to sell property which
|
||
lawfully belongs to the government. It allows them to
|
||
exercise control over territories which may be awarded to
|
||
the national government as a result of peace treaties, etc.
|
||
Not a word about public lands or parks. In 1891, they
|
||
passed the first act establishing National Forests. This
|
||
came about because people were careless when they went into
|
||
forested areas. They cut down trees and then vacated the
|
||
areas. No attempt was made to plant new trees and rain
|
||
runoff was ruining the lands. Commendable? No argument.
|
||
By act of Congress dated Aug. 25, 1916, they es-
|
||
tablished The National Park Service as a bureau of the
|
||
United States Department of Interior. Purpose was to
|
||
"promote and regulate the use of the federal areas known as
|
||
national parks, monuments, and reservations . . . by such
|
||
means and measures as conform to the fundamental purpose of
|
||
said parks, monuments, and reservations, which purpose is to
|
||
conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects
|
||
and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment
|
||
of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave
|
||
them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations."
|
||
(Encyclopedia Americana) This was a laudable undertaking on
|
||
the part of the Congress. Makes no matter, it's without
|
||
authority in the Constitution.
|
||
Ownership by the individual states involved, if
|
||
permitted by the state constitution concerned, would be
|
||
another story. For the federales to assume such an
|
||
undertaking without specific permission from or by an amend-
|
||
ment to our Constitution is unlawful.
|
||
Back to the naughty word again . . . Deficits! All
|
||
monies spent operating the National Park Service is illegal.
|
||
Some are really disastrous. They will admit that all the
|
||
money collected from overnight lodging does not pay the cost
|
||
of maintaining the buildings. Another chunk to move the
|
||
figures into the red. After all, it's not their money, it's
|
||
|
||
YOUR MONEY!
|
||
Reports are that the United States government owns half
|
||
the territory west of the Mississippi. How come? The
|
||
Constitution is specific on land ownership, ". . . for the
|
||
erection of forts, magazines, arsenals, dockyards, and other
|
||
needful buildings." Nothing else!
|
||
Alaska has been in a running battle with Congress over
|
||
the past decade to decide who owns the property in the
|
||
state. How can Congress tell the people of Alaska the
|
||
federal government owns anything other than a military base
|
||
or dockyard, etc.? Even then, the legislature of Alaska is
|
||
mandated to give their permission to purchase the property.
|
||
And to compound the problem, you are subject to jail if
|
||
you go on the property without permission. The charge is
|
||
trespassing. What kind of garbage is this?
|
||
The Founding Fathers knew they couldn't foresee the
|
||
future. They had no idea what problems would arise, so we
|
||
know they included the amendment process. We should never
|
||
look the other way when the government assumes a power for
|
||
which we have not specifically given our permission. It's
|
||
that simple.
|
||
The powers we agreed to convey for government are
|
||
spelled out in no uncertain terms. The way for the govern-
|
||
ment to receive new powers from we the people is also plain.
|
||
We have to make them use the proper and legal means to
|
||
receive justification for any act they intend to undertake.
|
||
Parks, wildlife and historical preserves are desirable.
|
||
They are places of beauty and fun to visit. Many serve the
|
||
purpose of sustaining the heritage of our country. Yet
|
||
allowing politicians to seize power which we have specifi-
|
||
cally denied them is far more dangerous to the survival of
|
||
our country.
|
||
If we are so foolish to allow even the slightest step
|
||
past what we have allowed, the next step is simple. Without
|
||
looking too intently, we can see the result of permitting
|
||
the first step to go unchallenged.
|
||
This is an old and favorite trick of the politicos.
|
||
When they are hell bent on accomplishing a specified goal,
|
||
they take at least two steps toward the goal. If they are
|
||
earnestly challenged, they will take one step backwards to
|
||
disarm the dispute. Then they are one step ahead in
|
||
achieving their intended goal.
|
||
The scenario goes this: "When we passed the National
|
||
Forest Act, we convinced the people it was for their own
|
||
good. They were happy we took the initiative. No one
|
||
checked the constitution or challenged us. Now we can do
|
||
whatever we want. And as long as we convince them it's for
|
||
their own good, they'll thank us." Easy, isn't it?
|
||
As George Washington pointed out, ". . . the constitu-
|
||
tion which at any time exists till changed by an explicit
|
||
and authentic act of the whole people is sacredly obligatory
|
||
upon all."
|
||
Again it is pointed out that we demanded every official
|
||
of government take an oath or affirmation to support the
|
||
|
||
supremacy of the Constitution. They cannot exceed what we
|
||
have allowed. We all must obey the Constitution and this
|
||
includes all who work for government at any level!
|
||
A thorough search of The Federalist Papers, shows only
|
||
No. 43 by James Madison speaking of the ownership of
|
||
property by the federal government. One section deals with
|
||
the ownership of the property for the seat of the national
|
||
government.
|
||
Madison says: "The necessity of a like authority over
|
||
forts, magazines, etc., established by the general govern-
|
||
ment, is not less evident. The public money expended on
|
||
such places, and the public property deposited in them,
|
||
require that they should be exempt from the authority of the
|
||
particular State. Nor would it be proper for the places on
|
||
which the security of the entire Union may depend to be in
|
||
any degree dependent on a particular member of it. All
|
||
objections and scruples are here also obviated by requiring
|
||
the concurrence of the States concerned in every such
|
||
establishment."
|
||
That's certainly clear enough. We did not say it was
|
||
okay to own any property other than what was specified.
|
||
Now I'm certain many will say the last clause of Art I,
|
||
Sect 8 conveys special jurisdiction to the government. They
|
||
can own any property they feel necessary, whatever its
|
||
classification. This clause is called the "necessary and
|
||
proper" clause.
|
||
This argument runs into a stone wall immediately. Two
|
||
facts in our Constitution kill that reasoning. One is the
|
||
supremacy clause.
|
||
The other is the "necessary and proper" clause only
|
||
authorizes the exercise of listed powers. This includes
|
||
other powers vested by this Constitution in the government
|
||
of the United States. The document has to show the power.
|
||
NOT whatever THEY think necessary and proper.
|
||
The ownership of property is specific and limited.
|
||
Nowhere in our Constitution can anyone point to as permis-
|
||
sion for ownership of other types of property. This
|
||
includes Camp David and a high official hideout on Jekyll
|
||
Island off the coast of Georgia.
|
||
Have you ever checked to see what these clowns are
|
||
required to pay for a stay at Jekyll Island? There are many
|
||
others, some set aside in 'public parks', exclusive for high
|
||
ranking bureaucrats, members of congress and the justices of
|
||
the Supreme Court. Though they might think otherwise, there
|
||
are no kings or potentiates in our government. They are
|
||
responsible to you and me.
|
||
The Federalist Papers are crystal clear on this aspect.
|
||
In paper No. 34, Hamilton is emphatic that the necessary and
|
||
proper clause pertains only to powers specifically granted.
|
||
He addresses the points in particular we are making.
|
||
"If the federal government should overpass the just
|
||
bounds of its authority and make a tyrannical use of its
|
||
powers, the people, whose creature it is, must appeal to the
|
||
standard they have formed, and take such measures to redress
|
||
|
||
the injury done to the Constitution as the exigency may
|
||
suggest and prudence justify. The propriety of a law, in a
|
||
constitutional light, must always be determined by the
|
||
nature of the powers upon which it is founded."
|
||
Madison in paper No. 44 puts it this way: "If it be
|
||
asked what is to be the consequence, in case the Congress
|
||
shall misconstrue this part of the Constitution and exercise
|
||
powers not warranted by its true meaning, I answer the same
|
||
as if they should misconstrue or enlarge any other power
|
||
vested in them; as if the general power had been reduced to
|
||
particulars, and any one of these were to be violated; the
|
||
same, in short, as if the State legislatures should violate
|
||
their respective constitutional authorities. In the first
|
||
instance, the success of the usurpation will depend on the
|
||
executive and judiciary departments, which are to expound
|
||
and give effect to the legislative acts; and in the last
|
||
resort a remedy must be obtained from the people, who can,
|
||
by the election of more faithful representatives, annul the
|
||
acts of the usurpers."
|
||
Usurpers are those who seize and hold a power or
|
||
position without a legal right. This is exactly what we are
|
||
facing in our country today. And how could this occur
|
||
except with the acquiescence and, as Madison said, collusion
|
||
between the executive and judicial branches?
|
||
Remember the Tenth Amendment absolutely prohibits the
|
||
federal government from assuming ANY power which we did not
|
||
delegate. There are no exceptions.
|
||
So how do we straighten out this mess? James Madison
|
||
had the answer when he said the remedy must come from the
|
||
people.
|
||
Hamilton also pointed out the people must take whatever
|
||
measures necessary to redress the injury to the Constitu-
|
||
tion. Call the local office of your Senator or Congressman.
|
||
Ask where they find the authorization to own property beyond
|
||
what is specified in our Constitution.
|
||
A couple more questions would be pertinent. One, have
|
||
you taken an oath to support our Constitution? Second, ask
|
||
where Congress finds the specific justification to establish
|
||
the National Park Service.
|
||
Do not to take their answer at face value. Check their
|
||
answer against the Constitution. Ask them for specifics.
|
||
Point out the two areas in the Constitution which have to do
|
||
with property. You will hear a lot of silence at the other
|
||
end of the phone. They have never had a question before
|
||
like you're asking them now.
|
||
Tell them you are unhappy with the government spending
|
||
money on items which are beyond the lawmaking and spending
|
||
powers of Congress. Ask further what he/she expects to do
|
||
about the problem. Then ask your friends to do the same.
|
||
Letters to the Editor of your local newspapers would alert
|
||
other people of your area.
|
||
Another way to stir the pot would be to send members of
|
||
Congress who represent you a "Petition For Redress of
|
||
Grievances." To refresh our memory, this was a right
|
||
|
||
included in the 1st Amendment. It is NOT a privilege as the
|
||
hot shots in government keep insisting.
|
||
The colonists had a great deal of trouble with the King
|
||
of England. They filed these petitions to ask the King to
|
||
correct the wrongs and injustices which had occurred. This
|
||
was the main reason they included this right in the First
|
||
Amendment.
|
||
I strongly suggest you write out the complaint in your
|
||
own words. It shouldn't sound as though you are following
|
||
something out of a book. You don't need a degree in english
|
||
to make your demand understood. Write it as though you were
|
||
talking to a member of your family and those in Congress
|
||
will understand it also.
|
||
There has been no form prescribed for a petition for
|
||
redress. Nor did our Founding Fathers specify which branch
|
||
of government these petitions were restricted to. Any
|
||
branch can be petitioned and I recommend ALL branches
|
||
receive these petitions! This right has fallen into nearly
|
||
complete disuse over the past years. There is an ASCII file
|
||
at the end of this book containing a Petition for Redress of
|
||
Grievances. It can be printed on any printer, filled out
|
||
and mailed.
|
||
A wise man once said, "The more corrupt the state, the
|
||
more numerous the laws." (Cornelius Tacitus, Roman senator
|
||
and historian. A.D. c.56-c.115) It's our sacred duty to
|
||
curb this illegal abuse of our Constitution. We must make
|
||
the government again responsible to WE THE PEOPLE.
|
||
They are making fools of you and me.
|
||
|
||
|
||
PLEASE READ THE 'SALES PITCH' CHAPTER.
|
||
|
||
REGISTER WITH THE AUTHOR.
|