by Ken King

Two hundred and twenty four years ago our forefathers determined our destiny and declared independence from the tyranny of British rule.  The people were fed up with the manner in which they were being treated, taxed, excluded from being represented, and having no response to their grievances against the crown.  This “Declaration of Independence” was not well received and plunged the floundering nation into war.  The ensuing battles lasted for 11 years until they beat the British from our shores and the new country became the United States of America.  Immediately following the battle the surviving leaders of the revolt set out to create a new form of government.  The form of government that was selected was a republican democracy of the people, by the people, and for the people.  These enlightened individuals decided that the government would be made up of elected representatives from the states to execute the will of the people in determining the specific structure of the government.  It was determined that the government would be divided into three distinct groupings: The Legislature, The Executive, and The Judicial.  This created a built in system of checks and balances that is unmatched by any other form of government.  Selling the concept to the public was extremely difficult and it took a little over two years to get the Constitution ratified by nine of the states.  Ratification came with demands that certain changes be made to the Constitution that were implemented through the use of Article V that allows for amendments.  It was by consensus that the states determined that to prevent the government from becoming too powerful and avoiding abuses that certain declaratory and restrictive clauses needed to be added.  This initial Congress developed twelve amendments for submission of which ten were ratified thus becoming the “Bill of Rights”.   One of the remaining two amendments was finally ratified in 1992, which deals with compensation for the Congress.

As these were declaratory and restrictive clauses, are they absolute?  One would think so as this was the will of the people, but the Congress (through laws), the Executive Branch (through their application of the laws), and the Supreme Court (through their decisions) have ruled that there can be restrictions to these rights.  Are they right?  I wonder and while wondering I am drawn to a fragment of the “Declaration of Independence” that says; “…and accordingly all experience hath shown, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.”  Is this where we are today?  Are we becoming use to the abuses of our government and are we willing to accept more of the same?  If we don’t halt or redirect the trend will we eventually become the pawns that our forefathers fought to free from oppressive forms of governing?  Where are those with the fortitude to stand against the new tyrannies that we face?  When will we call for changes to the continued taxation and suppression of thought, feeling, and freedom?  Why do we continuously pump billions and billions of our dollars to corrupt nations who do little or nothing to help their people while we have people in our own nation that cannot get help when it is truly needed?

As you can probably tell I am becoming more and more cynical of those governing the nation that I love so dearly.  I see more and more professional politicians playing the game for their benefit while we, the little people, suffer at their will.  I am believing more and more that it is time for better representation. In today’s system where each elected official in the House represents an average of 620,000 people our voice has lost power.  When, if ever, have you been included in any of these polls that they seem to rely upon when making a decision?  I want to be heard when I have a concern.  I want action instead of grandstanding and following party lines.  I want representation from the person that we send to office and not someone who ignores those of us that placed them there.  The only way I see that happening is by having representatives that are more closely tied to the people they represent.  Having smaller and more Congressional districts might make the act of getting legislation passed more difficult but it will allow for a better opportunity for us to know our representative and know when they are or aren’t doing their job.  After all I don’t think the job should be easy when it impacts so many.  Maybe if we had more representation our rights wouldn’t be stripped away in the slow meticulous process that we see today.  I believe it is time for a change, what do you think?