We the People: What happened, Why, How to fix it.

By Allen L. Phillips

“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.” Preamble to the U. S. Constitution, www.usconstitution.net .

So what happened?

We the People have elected representatives to Congress, both Democrat & Republican,
that, once elected, have stopped working for us and began working for the special
interests which fund their next election. They become part of a private club insulated
from the outside world and begin “governing” according to a different agenda, largely
ignoring their constituency and, in many cases, the U. S. Constitution.

To see a true example of this, go to www.icaucus.org and click on “Article II, A Tale of
Two Congressmen” in the middle of the page. This provides what amounts to a power
point presentation of how two congressmen from the same state, one a democrat, the
other a Republican, accept donations from the same big money interests and are,
essentially, bought and paid for regardless of party affiliation.

We, then, are being treated as though we don’t know what’s good for us; as though they
know better what we need. In other words, they are not listening to We the People.

Why has this happened?

In many respects, the framers of the Constitution saw this coming. They knew that man
was basically selfish, and, left to his own devices, would pursue his own self interest.
They called it “faction”; minority groups bent on pursuing a course of action contrary to
the best interests of the majority.

The Federalist Papers, www.foundingfathers.info , were a series of 85 articles written in

1787 and 1788 for publication in New York newspapers for the purpose of convincing
voters to ratify the new Constitution. The writers were, in order of their contributions,
Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay.

The Federalist Papers give a fascinating insight into the thinking, and the research, that
went into the Constitution. The term “faction” comes up many times the as the framers
sought to create a Constitution that would give “factions” voice but not power.

The resulting Constitution is a thing of beauty and simplicity. However, 2 things they
counted on, it can be argued, did not occur.
1) Thomas Jefferson said “No government ought to be without sensors, and where the
press is free, no one (government) ever will”. We could have a lively argument as to
whether today’s press is free and impartial.

2) They also assumed that elected representatives would be businessmen and gentlemen
farmers who would serve a term or two and then return to their businesses and farms.
Today’s representatives look at it as a career and, as a result, immediately start building a
war chest for their next election and thus become beholden to the interests that fund it.
The Founders would be appalled at the power now in the hands of lobbyists.

Jefferson again: “I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but
the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their
control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them but to inform
their discretion.”

Irish philosopher Edmund Burke said “All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for
good men to do nothing”.

Jefferson was more direct saying “All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of
good conscience to remain silent”.

Perhaps Walt Kelly’s cartoon character Pogo said it best back in 1970, “We has met
the enemy and he is us”.

Yes, he is us! We the people did it! You and I let this happen! We have all been
taught to take responsibility for our lives but we have totally abdicated this responsibility.
We haven’t been paying attention.

So how do we fix it?

Voting is not just a right, it is a responsibility. And that responsibility includes voting
rationally & intelligently. Jefferson’s opinion aside, this government is not going to
“inform our discretion”, we have to inform ourselves. We have to do our own
homework.

I’m sorry folks but this is going to take some work. We have to replace the people in
Congress who work for the lobbyists with people who will work for us. Unfortunately, I
fear, that means most members of Congress will need to be replaced over the next 2
election cycles.

After that we must remain vigilant to make sure they make good on their promises and if
not they must be replaced again. That means a long term commitment from us.

Term limits is not the answer. With term limits the baby gets thrown out with the
bath water and congressional staffers just perpetuate the scam (California has term
limits – I rest my case). What’s needed is for us, We the People, to get off our ass
and fulfill our responsibility.

I know, it’s not what I want to be doing either. But if we can return the power to We the
People, it will be worth the effort. Remember, there are only 536 elected
representatives of We the People (100 senators, 435 congressmen and 1 president).
There are 300 million of us. We the People can do this!

For those of you who don’t think you have the time to do anything meaningful I offer
another Edmund Burke quote: “No one could make a greater mistake than he who
did nothing because he could do only a little.”

First, ignore the campaign advertising. It’s totally out of whack because the incumbents
have campaign funds at least ten times the size of their challengers (see “A Tale of Two
Congressmen” above.). We have to do our homework, look at their records and decide
who we want to represent us.

There are resources available which I will review below. The internet is a huge tool at
our disposal. There are organizations that are looking at candidates and their research
can be tapped.

And, yes, we will also have to open our wallets. I have given more to candidates this
year than I have in the last five years. Notice that I said “candidates”. I have stopped
donating to political parties at any level. Instead I find a candidate that has the right
credentials and I contribute directly to him or her.

They all have web sites. Google candidates by name to find out how to contribute. It
doesn’t have to be a lot. If enough of us send just $10 to a favorite candidate it can put
them over the top. Note that this may include a candidate in another state where there is
a critical need for change.

Resources

I am a member of Independence Caucus, www.icaucus.org , a non-partisan

organization dedicated to identifying candidates or incumbents that will pledge to pursue
a conservative fiscal policy and strict adherence to the U. S. Constitution. The
Organization then endorses them and encourages members to support them. They have
an 80 question questionnaire that they ask candidates to fill out and return so that the
organization can decide whether to endorse them. The yes or no questions can be viewed
on their website.

If the candidate scores high enough his resume is submitted to the voting members for a
vote to endorse. Once endorsed, members are notified by e-mail and encouraged to work
on the candidates behalf in a grass roots effort. This may mean talking to friends and
neighbors about the candidate or speaking before service clubs, etc. They will also notify
members of Independence Caucus meetings in their area where candidates may speak and
plans are laid to assist them in the election.

Reviewing the questionnaire is an education in constitutional government and sent me

scurrying for my copy of the Constitution for answers. I am better off for it.
You can also find a list of endorsed candidates on their website. It costs nothing to join
Independence Caucus. Joining will get you on their e-mail list for news and meeting info
in your area. It costs $25 to become a voting “delegate”

I am also a member of The Heritage Foundation, www.Heritage.org . Founded in

1973, The Heritage Foundation is a research and educational institution, a think tank if
you will, whose mission is to formulate and promote conservative public policies based
on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional
American values and a strong national defense. They pursue this mission by performing
timely, accurate research on key policy issues and effectively marketing these findings to
members of Congress, key congressional staff members, policymakers in the executive
branch, the news media and academia.

American Majority, www.AmericanMajority.org. offers Activist Training classes. I

have attended one and found it quite worthwhile. You will find a list of classes on their
web site. They don’t operate in all states at this time.

Eagle Forum, www.eagleforum.org , is another resource. While I am not a member of

Eagle Forum, they share many of the same goals as Independence Caucus.

A year ago I thought “activist” was a dirty word. But there is no other word to describe
what I have become. I am so convinced that we are headed down the wrong road that I
have written this appeal, something I would have never done such a short time ago. If
you agree with me, I would be honored if you would forward this to others.

Al Phillips