Executive Order has crossed the line - Consider Acting on this please...

Last night I wrote the following letter to my representative, emailed it and will be snail mailing a copy and calling his office today. If you care about retaining a constitutional government for at least for your kids, please read and understand this and do the same and let others know. I will paste the actual text of the Executive Order in question after the text of my letter to Congressman Howard Coble.

Understand, this has nothing to do with your support or lack of it for the war. Look at it this way if you believe that President Bush would not actually use the power he has written for himself, many are predicting a Hillary Clinton win next year... she would have this same Executive Order to operate under, thanks to Bush. (Executive orders were originally intended for the President to help direct operation of his officers within the administration and is mentioned nowhere in the Constitution. They are now used as out of control lawmaking instruments.)

This is even worse than it sounds when you read it because of the other Executive orders and IEEPA it references. You can read them all using Google, feel free. But make no mistake, this one is worse than any I've seen.

Prayerfully, Troy

---

My letter (feel free to copy and edit for your own):

July 26, 2007

Howard Coble

2468 Rayburn House Office Building

Washington, DC 20515-3306

Dear Mr. Coble,

Thank you again for your continued service in the House of Representatives. I am sharing this information with a large constituency.

Thomas Jefferson once said "Dissent is the highest form of patriotism." I am writing to you because I just learned that last week, on July 17, 2007, President George W. Bush issued an Executive order titled "Blocking Property of Certain Persons Who Threaten Stabilization Efforts in Iraq". The text of this executive order can be found at the Internet address: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/07/20070717-3.html

This Executive order attempts to give the President the authority to seize any and all property of any American who publicly disagrees with his Middle East foreign policy and to do so without any recourse or due process. I believe this to be a violation of at least the First, Fourth and Fifth Amendments to the Constitution of the United States. This is the President of the United States of America issuing edict with no regard for God-given and constitutionally guaranteed rights.

Congressman Ron Paul wrote back in June of 2004 that "If the president claims extraordinary wartime powers, and we fight undeclared wars with no beginning and no end, when if ever will those extraordinary powers lapse? Since terrorism will never be eliminated completely, should all future presidents be able to act without regard to Congress or the Constitution simply by asserting, 'we're at war'?"

James Madison said at the constitutional convention "A President is impeachable if he attempts to subvert the Constitution".

Please introduce and/or support fast-track legislation to rescind this Executive order issued on July 17, 2007 relating to blocking property of those who disagree with President Bush's policy in Iraq. I believe this and other Executive orders and initiatives the President has undertaken rise to the level of at least high Crimes and Misdemeanors. He has attempted "to subvert the Constitution" therefore I believe you must consider impeachment proceedings for the President and reverse the destructive trend of the executive branch.

Sincerely with great concern,

Troy Perkins

---

The Actual Executive Order:

..>..>

..

.

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
July 17, 2007

Executive Order: Blocking Property of Certain Persons Who Threaten Stabilization Efforts in Iraq

..[if gte vml 1]> ..[endif]-->..[if !vml]-->..[endif]--> Message to the Congress of the United States Regarding International Emergency Economic Powers Act

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, as amended (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.)(IEEPA), the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.)(NEA), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code,

I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, find that, due to the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States posed by acts of violence threatening the peace and stability of Iraq and undermining efforts to promote economic reconstruction and political reform in Iraq and to provide humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi people, it is in the interests of the United States to take additional steps with respect to the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13303 of May 22, 2003, and expanded in Executive Order 13315 of August 28, 2003, and relied upon for additional steps taken in Executive Order 13350 of July 29, 2004, and Executive Order 13364 of November 29, 2004. I hereby order:

Section 1. (a) Except to the extent provided in section 203(b)(1), (3), and (4) of IEEPA (50 U.S.C. 1702(b)(1), (3), and (4)), or in regulations, orders, directives, or licenses that may be issued pursuant to this order, and notwithstanding any contract entered into or any license or permit granted prior to the date of this order, all property and interests in property of the following persons, that are in the United States, that hereafter come within the United States, or that are or hereafter come within the possession or control of United States persons, are blocked and may not be transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn, or otherwise dealt in: any person determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense,

(i) to have committed, or to pose a significant risk of committing, an act or acts of violence that have the purpose or effect of:

(A) threatening the peace or stability of Iraq or the Government of Iraq; or

(B) undermining efforts to promote economic reconstruction and political reform in Iraq or to provide humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi people;

(ii) to have materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, logistical, or technical support for, or goods or services in support of, such an act or acts of violence or any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order; or

(iii) to be owned or controlled by, or to have acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order.

(b) The prohibitions in subsection (a) of this section include, but are not limited to, (i) the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order, and (ii) the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.

Sec. 2. (a) Any transaction by a United States person or within the United States that evades or avoids, has the purpose of evading or avoiding, or attempts to violate any of the prohibitions set forth in this order is prohibited.

(b) Any conspiracy formed to violate any of the prohibitions set forth in this order is prohibited.

Sec. 3. For purposes of this order:

(a) the term "person" means an individual or entity;

(b) the term "entity" means a partnership, association, trust, joint venture, corporation, group, subgroup, or other organization; and

(c) the term "United States person" means any United States citizen, permanent resident alien, entity organized under the laws of the United States or any jurisdiction within the United States (including foreign branches), or any person in the United States.

Sec. 4. I hereby determine that the making of donations of the type specified in section 203(b)(2) of IEEPA (50 U.S.C. 1702(b)(2)) by, to, or for the benefit of, any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order would seriously impair my ability to deal with the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13303 and expanded in Executive Order 13315, and I hereby prohibit such donations as provided by section 1 of this order.

Sec. 5. For those persons whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order who might have a constitutional presence in the United States, I find that, because of the ability to transfer funds or other assets instantaneously, prior notice to such persons of measures to be taken pursuant to this order would render these measures ineffectual. I therefore determine that for these measures to be effective in addressing the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13303 and expanded in Executive Order 13315, there need be no prior notice of a listing or determination made pursuant to section 1(a) of this order.

Sec. 6. The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense, is hereby authorized to take such actions, including the promulgation of rules and regulations, and to employ all powers granted to the President by IEEPA as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this order. The Secretary of the Treasury may redelegate any of these functions to other officers and agencies of the United States Government, consistent with applicable law. All agencies of the United States Government are hereby directed to take all appropriate measures within their authority to carry out the provisions of this order and, where appropriate, to advise the Secretary of the Treasury in a timely manner of the measures taken.

Sec. 7. Nothing in this order is intended to affect the continued effectiveness of any rules, regulations, orders, licenses, or other forms of administrative action issued, taken, or continued in effect heretofore or hereafter under 31 C.F.R. chapter V, except as expressly terminated, modified, or suspended by or pursuant to this order.

Sec. 8. This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right, benefit, or privilege, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, instrumentalities, or entities, its officers or employees, or any other person.

GEORGE W. BUSH

THE WHITE HOUSE,

July 17, 2007.

---

Return to this article at:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/07/20070717-3.html

->..->

WHY DO EVANGELICALS IGNORE RON PAUL?

By Pastor Chuck Baldwin

February 27, 2007

NewsWithViews.com

Evangelical Christians are already beginning the process of selecting the Republican presidential candidate whom they can anoint as their successor to George W. Bush. Somehow, evangelicals have this deluded idea that President Bush is one of them. How they came to this delusion both fascinates and escapes me. Bush is anything but one of them. However, most evangelicals believe he is, and today it seems that illusion is greater than reality, anyway. Bush proves that more than anyone I have ever known. But enough about Bush.

The question burning in the minds of evangelicals today is: Which Republican candidate for president will we anoint? There are several possibilities, but apparently Congressman Ron Paul is not one of them.

For example, Jerry Falwell's widely distributed National Liberty Journal, in its March 2007 edition, had a major section entitled "Campaign 2008-Identifying the Republican Presidential Candidates." A total of ten Republicans made the Journal's list. The ten listed were Sen. Sam Brownback, Newt Gingrich, Rudy Giuliani, Sen. Chuck Hagel, Gov. Mike Huckabee, Rep. Duncan Hunter, Sen. John McCain, Gov. George Pataki, Gov. Mitt Romney, and Rep. Tom Tancredo.

However, even though Rep. Ron Paul has also formed a presidential exploratory committee (something Gingrich has not even done yet), his name was conspicuously absent from Falwell's list. Why is this? Why do evangelicals ignore Ron Paul?

Ron Paul received his Bachelor's degree from Gettysburg College. He received his MD from Duke University. He began his OB/GYN career in 1968. He was also an Air Force Captain and a member of the Air National Guard.

Ron Paul has served as a conservative congressman from Texas for over 16 years. He currently has a 100% rating from The Conservative Index, which is probably the most relevant and accurate reflection of a congressman's true conservative record out there.

Furthermore, unlike most Republicans, Paul's commitment to the life issue is more than rhetoric. For example, during the 2005 congressional session, Rep. Paul introduced H.R. 776, entitled the "Sanctity of Life Act of 2005."

Had it passed, H.R. 776 would have recognized the personhood of all unborn babies by declaring, "human life shall be deemed to exist from conception." The bill also recognized the authority of each State to protect the lives of unborn children. In addition, H.R. 776 would have removed abortion from the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, thereby nullifying the Roe v Wade decision, and would have denied funding for abortion providers. In plain language, H.R. 776 would have ended abortion on demand. (It is more than interesting to me that none of the evangelicals' pet politicians, including George W. Bush, even bothered to support Paul's pro-life bill.)

In addition, Ron Paul has been the most outspoken defender of constitutional government in the entire congress-bar none. He has often stood virtually alone against federal abuse of power, corruption, and big government.

Currently, Ron Paul is one of only a handful of congressmen that dares speak out against the emerging North American Union, NAFTA superhighway, and the Security and Prosperity Partnership agreement, all of which are being promoted by the White House in concert with the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR).

Speaking of the CFR, two of the U.S. senators listed as presidential candidates in Jerry Falwell's Liberty Journal, Chuck Hagel and John McCain, are current members of the CFR.

For his entire political career, Ron Paul has served foursquare upon the principles of constitutional (limited) government, less taxation, right to life, and personal liberty. Ron Paul is a conservative's conservative, a principled constitutionalist of the finest order. How is it, then, that Jerry Falwell and other evangelicals ignore him?

The answer to the above question is not easy to determine. Maybe today's evangelicals are more concerned about being accepted by the GOP establishment than they are supporting principled, conservative candidates. After all, Paul's willingness to openly oppose his own party has caused him to be blacklisted by party loyalists and apologists. Therefore, it might be that our illustrious evangelical leaders are unwilling to be identified with Paul lest they share the same ostracism.

Another reason might be that today's evangelicals are extremely shallow in their discernment. They seem to love Republican candidates who wear religion on their sleeve. Whether the candidate walks the walk does not seem to matter near as much as whether he talks the talk.

Hence, evangelicals are already warming up to John McCain, Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney, and even to Rudy Giuliani. Falwell's National Liberty Journal (NLJ) calls Gingrich "a true American statesman." McCain is called "pro-life." Already, McCain has spoken for Dr. Falwell at his Liberty University. (Don't be surprised if Falwell becomes one of McCain's strongest proponents.) The NLJ quotes Evangelicals for Mitt as saying, "Gov. Romney . . . shares our values." Of Giuliani, NLJ states, "On issues such as national security, battling terrorism and combating crime, Mr. Giuliani is very popular with conservatives."

However, the truth is, neither Gingrich, Giuliani, Romney, nor McCain deserves the support of principled conservatives. Each of these men has numerous examples of failure and compromise of essential conservative values.

Another trap evangelicals seem to fall into is the puerile desire to "pick a winner." Wanting to be sure that they are seen dancing with the last man on the floor, evangelicals are trying to figure out who that man will be so as to be ready to receive their invitation to the dance. And since they don't expect to see Ron Paul issuing dance invitations, they have already written him off.

However, rather than letting themselves be used as dupes by the GOP machine, if America's evangelicals would determine to stand on principle by supporting only those candidates who most courageously champion our principles (regardless of their popularity, or lack thereof, with the Republican hierarchy), they might actually be able to bring real change to American politics.

As it is, evangelicals continue to call George W. Bush "one of us," they continue to drink Kool Aid from the faucet of Republican propaganda, and they continue to ignore Ron Paul.

OUR NATION'S PLIGHT: SUCH A SIMPLE SOLUTION

By Greg Evensen - July 5, 2007

NewsWithViews.com

The simple solutions are sometimes so elusive. In our day of computer created answers, the most difficult and complex issues in all of history are coming to within moments of our grasp. If we could just cut through all of the rotted timber that lies in our road. You see, without the use of a computer or a committee of Congressional experts to tell me what to do, I have naively arrived at the answers to this nation's most critical problems. All but one…..

It involves just a pinch of hypocrisy, however. You see, it involves some decisive and unilateral action. Inadvertently, I have made this REALLY difficult. Honestly, I just cannot stand the thought of one more executive order or presidential directive from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. These dictatorial decrees have nearly ruined any future this nation has left to it. But, in this exceptional case, I have asked the President to consider the following list of executive orders to be implemented as quickly as he can find his way back to the White House from his suite at the Mexican embassy.

I am serious about this request. I am confident that these "final executive orders" could and should be issued for the survival of our nation. The list is as follows:

I. Effective immediately, the Federal Reserve Act is repealed. All currency in the United States will be issued directly from the Treasury and will be in conformity with the US Constitution's mandate regarding the coining and value of the currency. The Federal Reserve, as a private bank, is to be closed immediately upon payment of the national debt.

II. The "debt" of the United States is to be paid in full with the minting of one gold coin stamped eight trillion US dollars and deposited in the US Treasury paying the Federal Reserve in full. No more debt, no more interest to pay. The US will use money and assets instead of debt and interest controlled by private bankers as a way of doing government business.

III. The 14th, 16th, and 17th amendments are suspended pending state votes that will repeal them.

IV. Eliminate all laws, mandates, programs, expenditures and taxes that have been implemented that are unconstitutional or have been put in place since the 17th amendment of 1913. Senators are returned to appointment from their state legislatures rather than elected.

V. No wars or policing actions are to be undertaken without a Congressional Declaration of War and ALL US troops returned to America from anywhere in the world. The world may deal with their problems as they see fit.

VI. All foreign aid or assistance repealed and immediately unfunded. On a case by case basis, humanitarian aid may be granted by Congress.

VII. All US borders sealed and illegal alien border jumping criminals to be deported. All immigration halted until the situation concerning entry is settled. No exceptions. All illegals remaining in the US without documentation are ineligible for ANY assistance of ANY kind ANYWHERE in the US. Without a voluntary return to their country of origin, illegals are subject to 20 years in a southern internment camp without parole. Several million incarcerated US prisoners may pick strawberries.

VIII. The United Nations organization is given six months to vacate the US. The United States will withdraw its membership and dues from the UN effective immediately and permanently. It is now a treasonous act to negotiate a North American Union type "secretive" treaty, by-pass Congress in sending troops outside the US other than to rescue US citizens held by a foreign power, or to contrive with business and banking cartels to deprive the US worker of a job opportunity sent overseas to avoid taxes or offering US citizens employment within the United States.

IX. The CIA. FBI, BATFE, IRS, DEA, Homeland Security, DIA, NSA, will all be eliminated and replaced with one organization charged with total intelligence management. All other investigative functions will be the responsibility of the states according to the needs and legality assured within the US Constitution for citizens of the various states.

X. All states will have exclusive control over their state guard units. Defense of the US will consist of one military command using ground, sea air, space, and missile assets termed the United States Defense Command.

There will be no Defense Command role within a state's jurisdiction unless attacked by hostile forces. The Pentagon would become the largest US mall.

XI. All states will maintain police forces assigned to crime prevention and safety roles in local communities without connection to or use by any national policing units controlled or created by the military.

XII. All Federal level courts/tribunals/administrative law courts are to be eliminated with the exception of the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court. It is an impeachable offense to legislate from the bench or deny ANY accused individual of a fully informed jury that retains full, final, and total authority to judge both the facts and the constitutionality of the law in the jury room and render an untouchable verdict to the court as the jury demands with no exceptions.

XIII. All schools of any description and at any level shall be free from any governmental intrusion whatsoever. Local levies and tuitions shall pay for the schooling of the student's choice. School records, student privacy, non-mandated inoculations, dress, attendance, testing, grading, policy and procedures shall be the exclusive jurisdiction of the duly elected local governing board. Factual history, mathematics, language, fine arts and science shall be taught without any form of political intervention or propaganda from any source.

XIV. Taxes, tariffs, and budgetary expenditures will be implemented and appropriated with strict adherence to the US Constitution's decree concerning apportionment and the reach of taxing jurisdictions.

XV. Medicine, health care, hospital and medical certification will not exclude the use of natural medicines, therapies, procedures and research.

The FDA/Center for Disease Control is limited to non-biased research and recommendations based on the scientific method. No one connected to a pharmaceutical company may have any relationship with any medical facility or researcher except through a written chain of command that keeps a shatter proof barrier between the business aspect and medical worthiness of a proven protocol of treatment approved by a healing arts board. They are positioned only to accept or reject the viability of a regimen for patient use. Pharmaceutical companies may NOT patent natural cures.

XVI. An inventor's discovery of any energy related product may be protected and rewarded by government to provide the certainty that the discovery will in fact be used by all who choose to use it and prohibit discovery theft or non-use by industries threatened by its production. The inventor or discoverer of revolutionary materials will be awarded with its profits and rights to distribute for the good of mankind.

XVII. From this moment forward, no new executive orders or presidential directives will be issued for any reason and to do so would be grounds for immediate removal from office. The exception would be to use them as originally intended within the executive branch for the smooth operation of that branch only.

Now, there it is. Without a doubt, this would bring the United States into a position of strength and prosperity promised countless times by thousands of politicians over the past 100 years. I know the hypocrisy reeks as I told you it would. However, sometimes back-burning a forest fire is the one good way to stop it. I said at the start, I could virtually eliminate all of the most disastrous aspects of this nation's lethal present course. All but one…… The only thing I cannot recommend change for is you. Are you willing to fight for these issues and many others? Are you willing to try to bring a new approach before you no longer can even speak of it?

I have sent my letter to the President. I pray to God that he will devise something close to this and become the greatest president in the history of our nation. I hope that he has not been so far removed from what is right and best for us, that he can summon the courage to take these 17 simple orders and change history. I have also sent these to Congress in the belief that honest men and women of courage and loyalty will take up their cause as well. Could it be that Congress would beat the president to the decrees and implement law, REAL law for the sake of our children? That is where it SHOULD happen. There is not a single word here that the courts, honest and fair courts could reject.

In 1500 words, you my precious fellow citizens, have the beginning of a brand new America. Can we do it? Absolutely, yes. Will it happen? Only if you demand it, God wills it, and all who have a chance to become first class heroes face the enemy's fire and prevail. .

Independence Now And Forever - Pastor Chuck Baldwin

by Chuck Baldwin
July 3, 2007

On this Independence Day, it behooves us to recall the principles of America's founding, especially in light of the ongoing attempt by today's political and commercial leaders to merge the United States into a hemispheric government. In fact, the clarion call for independence is just as fundamental, just as revolutionary as it was 230 years ago.

Regarding the signing of the Declaration of Independence John Adams said, "[Independence Day] will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the Day of Deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forevermore."

Adams went on to say, "You will think me transported with enthusiasm, but I am not. I am well aware of the toil and blood and treasure that it will cost us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet through all the gloom I can see the rays of ravishing light and glory; I can see that the end is more than worth all the means, that posterity will triumph in that day's transaction, even though we should rue it, which I trust in God we shall not."

Indeed, the signers of America's Declaration of Independence endured the sacrifice of toil and blood. Pertaining to the lives of the signers, David Limbaugh writes, "Of those 56 who signed the Declaration of Independence, nine died of wounds or hardships during the war. Five were captured and imprisoned, in each case with brutal treatment. Several lost wives, sons or entire families. One lost his thirteen children. Two wives were brutally treated. All were at one time or another the victims of manhunts and driven from their homes. Twelve signers had their homes completely burned. Seventeen lost everything they owned."

Yes, America's Declaration of Independence, which is our nation's birth certificate, was purchased at a very high price. Rightly did its primary author, Thomas Jefferson, invoke God's name no less than four times in the Declaration. Without God, our struggle for independence and freedom would have surely failed!

Jefferson, along with the vast majority of America's founders, knew that freedom was first the gift of God, not the accomplishment of men. He further understood that man's law must be subordinate to the natural laws of God.

Therefore, with an appeal to Heaven for the "rectitude of [their] intentions," America's Founding Fathers courageously forged a document that would put their own lives at risk, but would also change the course of history.

The question now is, "How long can we maintain our nation's independence?" The forces of global government seem to dominate both major parties in Washington, D.C., most corporate boardrooms, and most newsrooms (including the Fox News Channel).

In fact, hemispheric or regional government never had a more powerful and committed ally than President George W. Bush. Mark my words, if and when America loses its independence, it will have been G.W. Bush that led the way in making it happen. I will even be so bold as to say that G.W. Bush is the worst enemy American independence has had since old King George III of England!

Even as I write, Bush is pushing forward with his intentions to merge the United States into a trilateral government with Mexico and Canada. This is why he lobbied so intently for the just-defeated amnesty bill for illegal aliens. To George W. Bush, there is no such thing as an illegal alien, because he has already agreed to unite the three countries into one.

If the United States is going to maintain its independence and freedom much beyond the year 2010 (the year Bush's new North American Union is scheduled to be in place), it will only be because millions of freedom-loving Americans are willing to fight for it.

Both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died on July 4, 1826. Daniel Webster gave the eulogy for both men on August 2. Included in his remarks on that notable day were these words: "It [the Declaration of Independence] is my living sentiment, and by the blessing of God, it shall be my dying sentiment. Independence now, and independence forever."

To Webster's words, I say a hearty AMEN! I promise no loyalty to the North American Union, to the United Nations, or to any other brand of global government. When the day comes that I am required to submit to any form of global authority, I will be an outlaw! There is no freedom without independence, and there is no independence without eternal vigilance. To my dying breath I will say with Daniel Webster, "Independence now, and independence forever!"

(End note: we are still shipping FREEDOM DOCUMENTS, a compilation of 50 of America's finest historical documents in one volume. Our supply is dwindling fast, so order your copy today! See http://www.chuckbaldwinlive.com/products.html)

© Chuck Baldwin

This column is archived as http://www.chuckbaldwinlive.com/c2007/cbarchive_20070703.html

Recapturing the Spirit of Independence - Ron Paul

---

Recapturing the Spirit of Independence

July 2, 2007

This week Americans will gather around the grill, attend parades and watch fireworks displays, all in the celebration of the signing of our Declaration of Independence. At the same time, we will have thousands of bureaucrats, troops and agents stationed in countries across the globe being paid by American tax dollars.

On the anniversary of our declaring our own independence from the British, it is certainly appropriate that we reflect on the nature and spirit of independent nationhood. While our founding fathers were individual men in a historically unique situation, they posited that the principles upon which they rested our national independence were timeless.

If we truly honor the men who brought about Independence Day, we would do well to spend at least as much time reflecting on the Declaration of Independence, and the principles upon which it is based, as we spend at the cookouts, parades, and fireworks displays. With the trend toward globalism that has been with us for the past century, we should be specifically thoughtful about how our celebration of independence can be made consistent with the policies that have been advocated by the American government -- as well as many of the nation’s elite— or what we used to call the Eastern Establishment.

I believe there is no way to square our nation’s traditions and reverence for independence with the globalist policies these elites are currently pursuing. The American concept of independent nationhood inscribed in our Declaration cannot be maintained if we are going to pursue a policy that undermines the independence of other nations. National independence is an idea, and the erosion of the independence of other nations only serves to erode that idea.

At the same time, if we allow the erosion of that idea, by ignoring it in certain instances, we will be contributing to its erosion in all times and nations, even our own. In this way our nation’s independence is linked with the independence of all nations. The sooner we realize this truth, and enact a foreign policy that is consistent with it, the sooner we will be able to recapture the spirit of independence.

In addition, as our founding fathers understood, the idea of national independence is inseparable from that of constitutional republicanism. Only the safe-guards and limitations that are enshrined in a constitutionally-limited republic can prohibit a nation from lurching toward empire. Recognizing these same protections is also the very best way to eliminate the need for civil wars and the violence of civil strife.

Moreover, this constitutional republicanism is essential to protecting the individual rights and self-determination that is at the heart of our Declaration. As we celebrate the 231ist anniversary of our nation’s birth, I hope every person who reads or hears this will take the time to go back and read the Declaration of Independence. Only by recapturing the spirit of independence can we ensure our government never resembles the one from which the American States declared their separation.