Let’s start with the present
facts concerning the operation of our Congress.
It has been called “dysfunctional”, “gridlocked” or even “useless”. While some or more of such adjectives might
apply at various times, they ignore some basic facts.
Congress has not abided by
the Constitution for quite a few years.
Had they been paying attention and responding positively to their oath
of office, they would have refused to allow the passage of a number of laws
over the past century – not just the past decade or two. To be specific, had they been “awake” in
1913, they never would have passed the Federal Reserve Act. Nor would they have passed the “income tax
law.” (XVI Amendment) Or, they might
have recognized the fundamental change in the structure of our government and
discarded the XVII Amendment which turned the Senate into an elite House of
Representatives.
All of which is to say that
our elected representatives (whether House or Senate) have their own axes to
grind and so long as they get re-elected each time, they ignore the wishes of
their constituents. After all, who are
the voters but numbers with precious little influence for the most part. All elected representatives excel in the area
of counting – votes that is. Perhaps
Stalin was right when he said, “it matters not who votes. It’s only important as to who counts the
votes!”
Facing the facts, it does not
appear that congress really pays much attention to the Constitution or even
what they vote on, many acknowledging that they have not read the legislation
before voting on it. Thus, we must ask
the question, “why does anyone honestly believe that a Balanced Budget
Amendment” will result in a balanced budget?
It will be as easy to ignore such an amendment as it is the other
limitations the Constitution imposes on the federal government. Balancing the budget is something you do for
your own family because you cannot live beyond your means for very long.
That said, the average
citizen today, if we are to believe the regularly printed statements
considering their financial condition, has already stretched his or her
indebtedness beyond recovery. Individual
bankruptcies are on the incline. Has the
citizen fallen under the belief that if government can “live by debt” then why
can’t he or she?
Perhaps it is a result of the
new math and the educators have found a way to make 2 + 2 equal 5 (when selling
– it only equals 3 when buying). In
reality, that is exactly what has been happening as we print more and more fiat
money. With inflation, it deteriorates
immediately after issuance and when “repaid” is done so with even cheaper
money.
Balancing the budget doesn’t
require a Constitutional Amendment. It
does, however, require some basic honesty and integrity on the
part of our elected representatives and senators. All that is required is a faithful adherence
to the fundamental principles enshrined in the Constitution. For example, let’s start with foreign
aid. Nowhere is it authorized so how can
any congressman or woman in good conscience vote for foreign aid knowing that
the US has to borrow the money in order to distribute it? Going into debt in order to “give it away”
borders on insanity. It certainly is
indicative of mental depravity.
That’s my view. What’s yours?
Reach me at constititonviews@gmail.com ©Copyright 2015 Hillard W.
Welch.
