Tag Archives | Activism

VIDEO: A Rousing Defense of the Constitution and Nullification

By on December 7, 2012 in Activism, Constitution, Education, Founding Fathers, Founding Principles, Government, Liberty, Nullification, State Sovereignty

At a time when the Republican establishment is doing everything they can to alienate their constituents, and nullification measures are getting introduced around the country, it becomes more important than ever to step up and put our best foot forward when presenting our ideas to citizens desperately looking for a way to fight back against unjust federal power. Luckily, we have a shining example to follow in constitutional attorney KrisAnne Hall who gave an eloquent defense of ObamaCare nullification at the Florida Senate Select Committee on Monday, December 3rd.

WATCH IT:

“Some claim that [ObamaCare] must be submitted to as law of the land since the Supreme Court made its declaration from on high. This admits that we are not a Republic of sovereign states, but a monarchy. The supremacy clause declares the Constitution to be supreme, not the federal government,” Hall said in her stirring repudiation of the bill. Continue Reading →

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Baby Boomers: From Selfish to Selfless

By on December 28, 2011 in Activism, Commentary

A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they know they shall never sit. -Greek proverb

One thing that’s certain about this movement to save the republic from our own centralized state, is that the fruits of our labor are far, far off.  You cannot reverse decades of centralization in one election cycle or even a dozen- the things we are all working towards are likely to only be fully enjoyed by those future generations- our children and grandchildren.

In that respect, I find it greatly encouraging that there are so many patriots out there who conduct their activism accepting the likelihood that they will not experience true liberty in their lifetime.  These defenders of the Constitution push on nonetheless, and do their best to attract youthful comrades who’s future is what’s at stake.

It is easy enough to dismiss those who are older- who’s generation largely turned away from what the founders so carefully designed.  What is more difficult, is to grasp the unspoken truth contained in that Greek Proverb.  It would be wise, perceptive and indicative of progress for young people to appreciate these elder patriots for the true selflessness of their dedication.

To all of the younger generations reading this: the next time you see an older activist at a meeting, event or rally, thank them.  It’s not their lifetime that is at stake anymore- it’s YOURS.

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Is Nullification a Waste of Time?

By on July 12, 2010 in Nullification

Stephan Kinsella’s recent blog entry over at LewRockwell.com had so many good points and principles that….well…just read it….you’ll see. Make sure to click through some of the links for background info as well.

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On Napolitano’s Freedom Watch, Professor Randy Barnett says he favors the constitutional amendment allowing two-thirds of the States to veto federal law (he also commented on Volokh). This would be good, but it is is not enough. Two-thirds of the States should not have to agree (as I noted in “Taking the Ninth Amendment Seriously: Review of Calvin R. Massey, Silent Rights: The Ninth Amendment and the Constitution’s Unenumerated Rights,”a better amendment would be that proposed by Marshall DeRosa in The Ninth Amendment and the Politics of Creative Jurisprudence: “When a national majority of each State’s chief judicial official declares a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to be inconsistent with the U.S. Constitution, the said decision shall thereby be negated and precedent restored. The States’ designated chief judicial officers shall convey their declarations to the U.S. Solicitor General, who in turn will notify the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court to take appropriate measures consistent with this amendment.”; I survey other possible structural limitations on federal law in this review and in “Legislation and the Discovery of Law in a Free Society”).

But any State should be free to refuse to enforce unconstitutional laws—or, in my view, any federal law it doesn’t like—for any reason—even a constitutional law. If the Feds or the other States don’t like it that, say, California refuses to enforce federal drug law (or to permit federal agents to enforce it), or even to enforce “constitutional” federal laws, they are free to boot California out of the union. (Please, please, kick Texas out. Call us names, spit at us, hate us. Kick us out.)

The Constitution and the federal judicial appeal process is not the end-all be-all, or the only way to challenge the leviathan’s evil laws. A political argument need not be merely a legal one. The Fourteenth Amendment was illegally ratified but now is de facto part of the Constitution. The Constitution itself arose out of an illegal Constitutional Convention; it was a coup d’etat (see Rockwell on Hoppe on the Constitution as Expansion of Government Power). The nation’s size owes to the illegal Louisiana Purchase. Sometimes political reality becomes legal reality. And so here. Why can’t nullification be used to appeal to people’s moral and political sensibilities? If you persuade people the states should have the right to nullify—they will.

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Nullification of Federal Laws

By on December 28, 2009 in Nullification
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Resist DC: A Step-by-Step Plan for Freedom

By on November 29, 2009 in Nullification, Sovereignty Movement, State Sovereignty

Writes WA State Rep. Matthew Shea: “Nullification is based on the simple principle that the federal government cannot be the final arbiter of the extent and boundaries of its own power.”

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Nullification: Another Line of Defense Against D.C.

By on November 8, 2009 in Nullification

Those of you who visit this site regularly already know that the health care vote yesterday is far from the end of things – and also know that even when it passes the Senate (which I assume some version will), it’s still not the end of the road for freedom.

changeThe real way to resist DC is not by begging politicians and judges in Washington to allow us to exercise our rights…it’s to exercise our rights whether they want to give us “permission” to or not.

Nullification – state-level resistance to unconstitutional federal laws – is the way forward.  It’s peaceful, effective, and has a long history in the American tradition.

Better yet, we expect to see 20-25 states considering legislation to effectively ban national health care in their state in the 2010 legislative session.  That same number of states has been able to effectively prevent the Real ID Act of 2005 from being implemented without ever being repealed or challenged in court.

The bottom line?  If you want to make real change; if you want to really do something for liberty and for the Constitution…focus on local activism and your state governments.

No more marches on Washington – they don’t work.

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Marijuana Legalization as the Blueprint

By on September 14, 2009 in Activism, Federalism

A recent Fortune Magazine article, “How Marijuana Became Legal” should give Constitutional activists some great ideas on how to approach other issues where the federal government is outside the scope of their constitutionally-delegated powers.  Here’s an excerpt:

Over the years the government’s position has become progressively more embattled, if not untenable.

Thirteen states now have laws that let residents use marijuana medicinally, typically to alleviate chronic pain (particularly nerve pain caused by diabetes, AIDS, and hepatitis); manage movement disorders and muscle spasticity (especially for multiple sclerosis patients); as an anti-nausea and anti-vomiting agent (for those, say, undergoing chemotherapy); and as an appetite stimulant (yes, as in “the munchies”) for those with wasting diseases like AIDS and cancer.

Another 15 states are weighing legislation or ballot initiatives that could turn them into medical marijuana states by next year.

My view of this is less about marijuana in particular, and more about the method it’s becoming de-facto legalized in America.  This is not happening because a bunch of activists are marching on D.C. or calling federal legislators, or lobbying the federal government in any way.

The moral of the story?  Ignore the federal government.  You can be far more effective when you do.

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Natural Progression: From 9/12 to the 10th

By on September 9, 2009 in Activism, Sovereignty Movement

Passion is the backbone of political activism, a backbone that has proved considerable in recent months.

Let’s face it- political struggles have never been about material gain for those on the front lines.  What motivates millions of politically active Americans?  A passionate belief that what they are doing will benefit their children and grandchildren.  It’s why I do what I do in my TAC efforts and it’s what whipped up the first signs of a a formidable opposition to Obama in the 912 movement, tea partiers and the like.

These groups have massed in short order to become one of the most visible forces in the current political spectrum, so why are so many of them moving on?

In a word, direction.

In one conversation with a former 912 organizer, I asked him why he thought the 10th Amendment was the best thing for him to rally behind and his answer was telling. Continue Reading →

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Strong 10th Amendment Support in FL

By on August 20, 2009 in Activism, Commentary

by Cheryl Couture/SWFL 9.12 Project

Support for the Tenth Amendment was strong  in Naples, FL the evening of Aug. 17th.  Matt  Hudson, Representative for Florida’s 101st  District,   informed a packed room of citizens  about House Memorial 19.  HM19 urges Congress to honor the provisions of the Constitution of  the United States and the United States Supreme  Court case law which limit the scope and  exercise of federal power.

Rep. Hudson went on  to explain that HM19 serves as a notice and a  demand by the people of the state of Florida as  expressed through their legislature to the  Federal Government to cease and desist from  going beyond the scope of and issuing mandates   beyond  it’s constitutionally delegated powers. It also reasserts Florida’s sovereignty under the  10th Amendment to the Constitution of the   United States.  Continue Reading →

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Tenth Movements: We Can Stop the Pendulum

By on August 10, 2009 in Activism, Commentary

by Thomas Grady

We all know how life’s (and music’s) pendulum swings.  Methodically, left then to right, back to left – and back and forth and back and forth.  Tick tock.  Politics is no different.  Since America is recognized generally as a center-right country the fulcrum of our pendulum doesn’t hang over the center but over a notch or two to the right of the center.

Today the pendulum has swung so far to left that the folks occupying center-right have become abruptly terrified and have hit the streets in tea parties, organized into Glenn Beck 9-12 groups and 10th amendment movements.  They’re frantically grasping at the pendulum and will surely take possession and haul it back toward them.  With effect. Continue Reading →

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