Some facts:

• The phrase is not contained in the Constitution (although the average person may think it is).
• The phrase comes from a letter written by Thomas Jefferson to Rev. Roger Williams (of the Danbury Baptists), where Jefferson was borrowing “a wall of Separation” which were words used by Rev. Williams.
• The purpose and context of the letter was to assure the Danbury Baptists that the federal government would not establish a single denomination of Christianity as the national denomination.
• The phrase/letter was not about divorcing “church and state” as it is understood or referred to today.

The biggest misunderstanding is not even the concept of the “Separation of Church and State” itself, but a misunderstanding of:

• federalism
• the construction of the US Constitution
• the first 10 Amendments (i.e. the Bill of Rights)

The US Constitution documented the powers/authority delegated to the newly formed federal government (i.e. what the federal government could do). The Bill of Rights documented specifically what the federal government was not allowed to do (i.e. power/authority it didn’t have). The key piece being federal government – not state or municipal governments.  State governments ratified their own state constitutions (most included Declaration/Bill of Rights), which was the authority delegated to the state government by its citizens (along with the limitations on the state government). This gives way to why states retained the authority to enact blue laws or have official state religions. On a related note, this is also why states can limit the gun rights of its citizens, where the Federal government cannot constitutionally do so (there are some caveats to this of course).

So, someone who asserts that the concept of the “Separation of Church and State” is a myth…isn’t necessarily taking the position that they support national a religion or a theocracy. In fact, the constitutionalist position is that the federal government (i.e. US Congress) simply cannot make a law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibit the free exercise thereof (i.e. no federal laws establishing a religion and no federal prohibition of citizens exercising their religion).

It’s also the position of a constitutionalist that the people of a state have the sovereign authority to create laws that support inalienable rights or (unfortunately) trample upon them. An example of religious liberty bumping up against religious tyranny within a state’s realm of authority, is Thomas Jefferson’s attempts to eradicate Virginia’s law forcing Virginia citizens to pay a tax that supported the official state church (even if it was against a person’s conscience). This was a state matter, outside of the federal purview. When tyranny occurs in a state (related to an issue where authority is retained by the state/people), it’s the responsibility of the citizens of that state to stamp out such tyranny, not the responsibility of the federal government.

To summarize, the constitutionalist position is that the federal government is restricted from enacting laws establishing a religion and prohibiting citizens of exercising their religion, but that state governments are not (unless restricted by the state constitution). Further, this position does not support theocracy, nor does it support the idea that the government can or should force people to exercise their faith/religion in a certain way (or even at all).

Over the past couple of years, I have desperately attempted to inform friends, family, and even strangers about the form of government our founders designed. Understanding our form of government (and its underlying principles) is vitally important to the survival of freedom and liberty.

This excerpt in Mr. Hultberg’s commentary addresses the confusion most citizens seem to have around our democratic process:

“The democratic process, in its republican form, was meant to be mainly the ability to remove politicians from office peacefully. It was meant to be a method to transfer power, not a method to define the scope and size of government.”

Before we form our opinions of “how things should be,” I caution my fellow citizens to first grasp the scope of the federal government (which is defined in the Constitution) coupled with federalism (i.e. a system of governance where two governmental bodies have jurisdiction over their respective inhabitants). Otherwise, those opinions may continue to lead us down the path of happy-faced tyranny.

On February 17th, 2010, citizens from counties all around Maryland met in Annapolis to support SJ1: Maryland Sovereignty Under the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, introduced by Sen. Alex Mooney. Del. Michael Smigiel has introduced a similar resolution (HJ2) in the MD House of Delegates.

Maryland joins the growing number of States that have introduced non-partisan State Sovereignty resolutions. While a resolution doesn’t carry the force law, it nevertheless delivers a message; A message that firmly supports what the framers intended.

There was standing room only while a panel of six citizens provided testimony and more than 50 citizens filled the Budget and Taxation committee hearing room.

The panel consisted of:

Blaine Young – Newly appointed Frederick County Commissioner and radio talk show host
Scott Guenthner – Outspoken supporter of State Sovereignty and citizen statesmen running for MD State Delegate seat
Michael Hough – Representative of Americal Legislative Exchange Council
Kathy Afzali – Frederick County resident and running for MD State Delegate seat
Mark Kreslins – Co-host of ‘The Forgotten Men’ radio show and co-founder of WST Frederick
Joshua Lyons – Co-host of ‘The Forgotten Men’ radio show and co-founder of WST Frederick

Click HERE for a map showing what states have introduced State Sovereignty resolutions.

For the transcript of the Monologue, contact us at ForgottenMen.com.

Excerpt:
its important to understand the nature of how we have gotten here. We as a people, our educational system, the court system, and our elected officials have all justified extra-constitutional legislation little by little over the years and in many cases weve outright redefined the meaning and purpose of sections of the Constitution and even the document as a whole.

“It is our responsibility to demand that our elected officials stay true to the oath taken in which they solemnly swore to support and defend the Constitution regardless of the situation.”

Sen. Mooney publically announced his intent to introduce this legislation on “The Forgotten Men” radio show on December 19, 2009. Coincidentally, the special guests on the show that day were TN State Representative Susan Lynn and Michael Boldin, Director of The Tenth Amendment Center.

Upon receiving notice of the legislation’s planned introduction on Friday, January 15, 2010, Boldin stated, “Nearly a century of constant federal overreach into the affairs of the state and the people have left this country on the brink of tyranny.  While non-binding, resolutions such as this are an essential first step towards pushing the federal government into its constitutional box.  Not only do they bring a discussion of the proper role of government into the public sphere, but if passed, they create fertile ground for the essential next step in state-level resistance: nullification and interposition.”

I tip my hat to Sen. Mooney and the bill’s co-sponsors and thank them for taking an important step on behalf of the people of Maryland. Press on my fellow Marylanders – because for us and our posterity…there WILL be LIBERTY!!

EDITOR’S NOTE: Also being introduced is a sovereignty resolution in the House of Delegates.

CLICK HERE to view the Tenth Amendment Center’s 10th amendment resolution tracking page

CLICK HERE to view the Tenth Amendment Center’s model 10th Amendment Resolution, which you can send to your representatives when urging them to introduce one in your state.

• Tennessee State Rep. Susan Lynn
• Michael Boldin – Director of the Tenth Amendment Center

Rep. Lynn in a member of the Tennessee General Assembly and is the Chairman of the Committee on State Sovereignty. Because of the work of the committee, the General Assembly passed a State Sovereignty Resolution that includes:

• Seeking repeal of the assumption of powers and the imposed mandates [by the federal government]
• Calling for a joint working group between the states to enumerate the abuses of authority by the federal government

The Tenth Amendment Center works to preserve and protect Tenth Amendment freedoms through information and education. The center serves as a forum for the study and exploration of state and individual sovereignty issues, focusing primarily on the decentralization of federal government power.

This topic is a vital part of the battle plan for We The People to take back control of a bloated federal government. We have incumbents and candidates in our states who need to hear from us about starting this process.  You won’t want to miss this show as The Forgotten Men will ask Rep. Lynn and Michael Boldin how we get started!

Listen live on AM930 WFMD in the Frederick, MD (Balt/Wash) area or online at www.WFMD.com. The program is from 12-1pm Eastern on Saturday, December 19, 2009. Visit us at www.ForgottenMen.com for more information.

Much of this is our fault as we have been one issue voters and beholden to our beloved parties for so long.  If we’re honest, we’ve left it to the politicians and think tanks to come up with the solutions to our ills; most of which include an ever- swelling federal bureaucracy.

This brings us to a defining moment: Do we stay predictable and keep fighting the battle on their terms or do we choose a battlefield that is more favorable to us? At our core, we know the latter is the only viable option. Our understandable hesitation rests on being brought up to believe that communicating our position to our representatives is patriotic and doing so is an essential part of our democratic process. While this is accurate if our elected officials adhere to our Constitution, it is entirely irrelevant and ineffective in our current political landscape at the federal level.

So the question begs, “how do we adapt?”

We must identify the problem (done) and consciously choose to take a new approach that offers not only true hope, but successful historical precedence.  Enter Step 1 – “The Paradigm Shift.”

Part 1 – Notifying our Federal Representatives that:

• they no longer represent us
• they will not hear from us again until we deliver our ultimatum in early 2010 (i.e. Step 2 – “The Gamechanger…more on this below)

Part 2 – Spend our time and resources focusing on things better within our control (i.e. state governments), such as:

• State representatives
• 10th Amendment and Nullification legislation
• Finding and supporting citizen statesmen

As for the next step, “The Gamechanger” will be announced and implemented in early 2010. It’s a three point plan focused Federal candidates and incumbents, State candidates and incumbents, and us the citizenry.  This accountability tool will enable us to not only guarantee our adherence to the founder’s system of governance, but to find truly principled citizen statesmen to support.

Until we shed the skin of predictability and focus on the only entity that will successfully limit the overreach of the federal government, we will continue to lose our freedoms and liberties at breakneck speed. Become part of the growing liberty movement that is breaking the cycle of predictability and join us in executing the “The Paradigm Shift.”

• How many dozens of letters and emails have you sent your federal representatives in the past year? How many ridiculous form letters (that didn’t even address your concerns) have you received in return and how long did it take? The federal reps don’t care.
• How many calls have you placed to them just to have a patronizing staffer thank you for your call and say they’ll pass on your opinion to Sen. INSERT THEIR NAME? The federal reps don’t care.
• How many polls are available where the people are against any recent INSERT EXTRA-CONSTITUTIONAL LEGISLATION? The federal reps don’t care.
• How many of us told them “no”, “slow down”, “stop”, and “you are out of line” at town hall events this summer to be told that they know better than us little citizens? The federal reps don’t care.
• How many of us citizens participated in multiple tea parties around the country to try and make our voices heard only to be ridiculed as extremists by those elected to represent us at the federal level? The federal reps don’t care.
• How many of us citizens sent a message on September 12, 2009 only to be marginalized by our federal representatives and most media outlets?  Pssst…The federal reps don’t care.

How many times have you said to yourself, “it’s like they don’t care!”

Well, that’s because THEY DON’T CARE!

They know what we are going to do when they push us a little too hard (see the six bullets above). Can you say, “predictable?” They know that they can maneuver around enough and then over time the proverbial giant will go back to sleep. This is where we have failed more times than not.

More specifically, our federal elected officials continue to cater to our emotions and buy our vote with promises of dollars for INSERT PORK PROJECT OR ENTITLEMENT PROGRAM HERE. They then tell us it’s going to be ok with them at the helm, you can trust them to take care of the big-boy business in Washington, DC.  On top of that, they know we’ll keep bickering over wedge issues which lead to the “our guy is not that bad” or “at least he’s not as bad as the other guy” approaches that simply perpetuate the status quo for fear that we’ll be doomed for eternity!

Let me ask you one last question: We know they’re not adhering to the Constitution, but are they really even representing us?

About 99% (ok, maybe 100%) of the individuals in the current US Congress are either in favor of BIG government or they lack the testicular fortitude to stand up to their party’s aversion to reducing the Federal Government.  Hello McFly…This is an enormous problem for We The People!

We all would agree that insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. It is time to stop being predictable.  It’s time that We The People change our tactics.

This coming Saturday (12-1pm Eastern), Mark Kreslins and I will roll out the first of two major steps for We The People to take back control of an out of control Federal Government. Join us on AM930 WFMD in the Washington, DC area or listen live online at www.WFMD.com. Studio number is (301) 694-9363.

The WSJ article states:

Mr. Cassidy is more honest than the politicians whose dishonesty he supports. “The U.S. government is making a costly and open-ended commitment,” he writes. “Let’s not pretend that it isn’t a big deal, or that it will be self-financing, or that it will work out exactly as planned. It won’t. What is really unfolding, I suspect, is the scenario that many conservatives feared. The Obama Administration . . . is creating a new entitlement program, which, once established, will be virtually impossible to rescind.”

Why are they doing it? Because, according to Mr. Cassidy, ObamaCare serves the twin goals of “making the United States a more equitable country” and furthering the Democrats’ “political calculus.” In other words, the purpose is to further redistribute income by putting health care further under government control, and in the process making the middle class more dependent on government. As the party of government, Democrats will benefit over the long run.

This reminds me of another recent article by Judge Andrew Napolitano, were the he closes with the following:

America, this is not an academic issue. If this health care bill becomes law, life as you have known it, freedom as you have exercised it, privacy as you have enjoyed it, will cease to be.

When Congress takes away our freedoms, they will be gone forever. What will you do to prevent this from happening?

So how about you my fellow lovers of liberty – what will you do?

I promise you that I will not be inactive. I will not stay silent.

I will stand up! I will speak up!

Because for me and my posterity…there WILL be LIBERTY!!

They knew that whenever power is centrally concentrated, the individual is made to suffer by gradually losing rights and liberties to an oppressive, power-hungry few.

Once our Republic gave way to Social Democracy, our representatives couldn’t sell away our liberties fast enough for a multitude of reasons (certainly including placating various interest groups for their reelection votes).

This was done while most of us were asleep at the wheel. But now that we’re at a full sprint toward ruler’s law being propagated by both political parties, the population has begun to wake up and notice that their house is on fire!

It is imperative that we take our eyes off the specifics of the proposed healthcare legislation (i.e. death panels, etc.) and focus on the authority granted to our federal representatives by the people (see the enumerated powers given to congress found in Article 1 Section 8 of the constitution).  From Pelosi to Cardin, Congress has continued to repeat the talking point of being granted “broad powers” related to the General Welfare, Commerce, and Necessary and Proper clauses.

As I and others did at the August Cardin Town Hall, we must continue to press this issue of authority or lack thereof, because authority is only ours to give – not the government’s to take!  We the People did not grant the Federal government the authority in our Constitution to involve itself in these domestic issues.

Unless we unify around properly granted authority, unalienable rights, and self-evident truths – we’ll continue a losing back-and-forth game of arguing the issues where the ball keeps getting pushed down the field a few more inches toward the Nanny State end zone.

As for results from what occurred at the Cardin Town Hall event, it simply afforded me the opportunity to reach a nationwide audience with this message of authority (Click here for the short video clip).  Will you join me and others to keep the message of authority in the national conversation?