And their elected “representatives” have ignored them, and have done what they planned to do all along.
Today, the congress passed the massive bailout bill, the biggest ripoff in American history next to its causal predecessor, the Federal Reserve Act of 1913. Last week, a reluctant House of Representatives voted down the bailout bill after a tsunami of calls, letters, and emails in opposition. There was a brief ray of hope, in that the roaches had been sent scurrying out of fear for losing their jobs. Paul Ryan (R-Wis) said: “We’re all worried about losing our jobs…Most of us say, ‘I want this thing to pass, but I want you to vote for it – not me.'”
One may have been encouraged by the failure of the first bailout bill. One may have believed that this is, in fact, representative government because, ultimately, the people can “throw the rascals out” if they do not do their bidding. One may counsel one’s self that if enough people can be motivated to take action, the system works – the threat of removal from office would enforce the will of the people.
One would have been disappointed.
The Senate took the responsibility to correct the failure of the House of Representatives, repackaging the bailout in a swift and unconstitutional manner, originating a bill of revenue in the Senate (against the requirements in Article 1, Section 7: All bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives.) They passed their bill 74-25 and handed it down to the House. Emboldened by Senate action, pacified with more welfare and promises, House passage of the bill was a formality.
The first version of the bailout bill was three pages in length. The second version was over 400 pages. The bill went from $700 billion to $810 billion. Another $110 billion in pork was added to win over the support of those congressmen who could be persuaded with goodies for their district, or more accurately, welfare and subsidies for those who stuff their campaign coffers. To this end, we paid for:
- Sales tax exemption for certain wooden arrows designed for use by children: $2 million over the next 10 years
- Tax breaks for a motor sports racing facility: $100 million
- Tax breaks for rum importers: $192 million.
- Corporate welfare for research and development: $19 billion
The list goes on and on. Taxpayers for Common Sense gives an overview here.
This act of government intervention was always about one thing and one thing only: Preservation of government power and corporatism. You did not factor in to the decision. Your outpouring of objection was a minor annoyance to be overcome.
In the end, it matters not what you think. The government will go ahead and do what it wishes, because you are not as important as the State. These “elected officials” are not representatives – they have assumed the role of the ruling class. You are not a constituent, you are a subject to their rule.
It is time to face the cold reality: You are not represented by this government. The sooner you free yourself of this myth, the sooner you can begin to reclaim your liberty. The constitution failed long ago to bind government down with chains, as Thomas Jefferson suggested. There is no chance for reform, we are well beyond that point. Our only path to restore liberty is to tear this government down, learn from our mistakes, and start anew.
Follow-up: The People Have Spoken II – The Futility of Politics