Demanding Accountability
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THE CASE FOR CHANGE
"In the beginning of change, the patriot is a scarce man, and brave, and hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, the timid join him, for it then costs nothing to be a patriot. "
- Mark TwainAll of us need to understand that change is coming for the United States of America, and the world. Change is inevitable for our country as well as the global community. There is an important question we need to ask ourselves. Do we allow this change to be forced upon us, or do we make a change by our own power as the people of a democracy? To long have we allowed others to dictate to us inane regulations and laws. To long have we allowed others to manipulate our monetary policies. To long have we allowed ourselves to be misled by silver tongued career politicians. To long have we allowed ourselves to be ignorant and fooled by the actions and intent of the ones we elect as government. To long have we allowed powerful rich men to influence those we choose to lead us. It is our responsibility to change this madness we have allowed. It is our responsibility to act as our forefathers did when succeeding from England as their ruler. Our constitution gives us this ability without a revolution. We must hold elected officials accountable for mismanagement. We must hold them accountable for actions that do not concur with the constitution of the USA. The United States was created as a Republic. A sovereignty governed by the people. We could now be considered an Oligarchy, governed by the rich and powerful. A two party system that is influenced heavily by a few very wealthy and powerful men and or corporations.
In order for us to change the system as it stands now takes action on our part. We should all examine the politicians running for public office, whether it is local, state, or federal positions. Are they “Career Politicians”? Where do they stand on issues concerning your civil liberties and the constitution? Most importantly are they there to serve the public and their constituents? Look into other political parties. There are many good people in these other parties that wish to serve the public honestly. There are many good officials in both the Democratic and Republican parties, but it is too easy for them to get caught up in the status quo operations of our system as it stands. Hold them accountable for their decisions. The choice and change is up to us.
Eric Gilmore
Selma, OR
County Payments Betrayal
Oregonian editor’s 12/15 commentary called those of us in rural timber dependent counties “sucker-punched” by a federal government repudiating the obligation to compensate Western states, and thereby their County subdivisions, for the vast reaches of untaxed federally controlled acreage.
To you and me the question needs to be: how are us “sucker's” gonna punch back.
When presidents, starting with Teddy Roosevelt, began setting aside chunks of the 11 Western states, by executive decree, as national parks or forest reserves the intention seemed honorable enough that “we the people” allowed that intrusion even though it is in direct violation of the Constitutional caveat limiting federal ownership of land within the several states. Things were made more palatable by a Federal promise to compensate counties with 25% of the receipts from the sale of resources harvested on the reserved lands.
Things went tolerably well until the advent of the environmental movement, which brought about a drastic reduction in timber harvest and a corresponding reduction in County payments. Our politicians advanced an alternative, Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILT), which still acknowledged the Federal commitment, however, in the face of escalating government insolvency they want to cut us off; our roads, our schools, library’s, our police and our jails.
I say, no way! It is past time for a Constitutional confrontation. Grousing, whining and bellyaching by supplicating politicians isn’t going to save the day. We need to get them off their compromising backsides to tackle this betrayal head on. Any Western governor could do it except for the fact that they're nearly all Democrats (Arnold not withstanding) of staunchly socialist (green) inclinations.
No, I think a better 1st step approach in “throwing down the glove”, since the Fed has welched, comes in encouraging locally elected county assessors and tax collectors to apply the same formula of appraisal and tax assessment to federally managed lands that they apply to private holdings. Better yet, a coalition of assessors from all across the Western states but any one could get the ball rolling.
If the Fed doesn't pay the bill, Counties should just foreclose and use the proceeds of sale to fund services. What do you think a Crater Lake National Park would bring on the auction block; a Yellowstone or a Yosemite? Then think of the continuing revenue stream if that real estate and tourist magnate were taxed as private business. We could probably substantially reduce property taxes on farms and homes and still have much more total revenue to fund local services.
Know an assessor with some guts who wants a place in history books?
Get ‘em on board!
C. H. McMillan III
Klamath Falls, OR
Civil Disobedience
Is It Scriptural?Romans chapter 13: 1-2 states, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
The average Christian who reads this text and also the majority of Church leaders believe that this scripture and versus 3 thru 7 are teaching that we are always to obey those in authority over us as Christians. Space will not permit a thorough diagnosis of these scriptures but the following examples may help give a better understanding of their true meaning.
To begin with, God has plainly stated in the Bible that He is the supreme and final authority over the Earth and all the institutions of man. There are three basic institutions that God has ordained; the family, the Church and the state. Each of these has its own legal area of authority, as ordained by God in His word. Each of these only has legal and scriptural authority within the confines of their own jurisdiction, or area of authority.
One example of this is the Constitution of the United States, which grants the following three legal branches of government, Executive, Legislative and Judicial. Each one was to be sovereign within its own sphere of authority, possessing no authority whatsoever outside of its own area of authority.
What type of government should a Christian nation have? The laws and principles of the United Stated were founded upon the Holy Bible. Any honest study of the history, foundation and laws regarding the American Constitution and the men who were inspired to write it will prove this beyond any doubt.
The Constitution is a contract, a covenant between “We the People” and those we elect to represent us – they are our servants according to the Constitution and they are sworn to keep this contract.
The basic principle that God established in the Bible is found in Deuteronomy chapter 28. God enumerates the blessings He will bestow on Israel if they keep their promises to obey Him. If they do not keep their part of the covenant and go into idolatry or violate His laws and statutes, then He (God) is no longer bound by the covenant to fulfill His promises and instead will punish them. In the same way, if a person violates his documented oath to fulfill a legal contract on an agreement between himself and another party he can be held accountable in a court of law.
At the “Last Supper” Jesus established a new covenant for He had perfectly fulfilled the demands of God under the first or old covenant. Jesus has promised eternal life in Heaven as His part of the covenant, if a person obeys the gospel (believes in and receives Jesus Christ as Savior), but is not bound to fulfill His promises to anyone who will not enter into the covenant with Him.
God has ordained the institution of government and has decreed that it should be Godly and lawful in obedience to His instructions contained in the Holy Bible. God’s instructions for a civil ruler or president are found in Deuteronomy, 17: 14-20. A nation under God is to choose a king or president from “among the brethren.” In early America you could not hold office unless you were a Christian. Under this system God was allowed a choice in the elected officials thru the prayers for guidance of His people and the inspiration He gave to them.
When our nation began to choose ungodly men as leaders, they removed God from His position of guidance and violated His order and instructions of maintaining a Godly form of government. God does not choose evil or ungodly tyrants to lead His people. He has, however, allowed the people to either obey or disobey His instructions. God is not the author of evil and He cannot, nor will not deliberately choose evil rulers, but will allow these kinds of rulers to gain power in order to punish those nations that rebel against Him.
The preceding information as well as the following is necessary in order to properly understand Romans chapter 13, versus 1-7.
The Greek word for “powers” in Romans 13 is “Exousia,” that is speaking of Gods power. In verse 2 the government is called a power and also an ordinance of God! The Greek for ordinance is “Diatage.” This means a disposition or arrangement. In verse 3 the government is referred to as rulers – the Greek translation being “Arcontez,” which means the chief ones or leaders. Now in verse 4 we find the words, “minister of God to thee for good.” The Greek word for minister is “Diakonos.” The English translation is “Deacon.” The translation or meaning in English for Deacon is servant. In verse 4 the Apostle Paul is saying that the government has been ordained by God to be His servant. Government is supposed to obey Gods laws and be a servant of God to the people. In verse 4 government is called a revenger. The Greek being, “Ekdikos” – which in common terms means “an exacter of righteousness.” In other words government is supposed to be the minister of justice for the people.
In verse 6 the word minister comes from the Greek word “Leitourgos,” from which we get the word liturgy. A liturgy is a type of public worship – fascinating! Government is a type of worship leadership. This is exactly why for many years after the founding of our nation, Christian services were held in the political buildings of congress.
The Declaration of Independence clearly states the political philosophy of the founding fathers of our Republic, so let’s quote one portion; “But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new guards for their future security.
There are many instances in the Bible of Godly men and women who disobeyed their king or rulers. The prophet Elijah would not obey King Ahab. He also destroyed 100 of King Ahaziah’s soldiers and their two captains.
The King of Egypt told the Hebrew midwives to kill all the male babies. They refused and disobeyed the King’s order. When the midwives would not murder the male Hebrew babies, he ordered the Mothers to murder their own children. They disobeyed him and God blessed them and multiplied them and from that disobedience the world was blessed with the great lawgiver Moses.
Perhaps the clearest example of the failure of a nation to exercise their duty of civil disobedience is the rise of Hitler. After Hitler had destroyed many nations and killed millions of people, his own military, realizing the war was lost, tried to assassinate him. But it was too late, Germany was in ruins. What was the defense the Nazi’s used at the Nuremburg trials? Well, it was none other than Romans chapter 13! “I was just obeying orders. I was obeying my government!”
It would take a book to properly explain all the ramifications and issues regarding Romans chapter 13, however the fact is that we are always to obey those in authority over us as long as they obey the Constitution and laws established by “We the People,” who gave them the right to rule. Blind, blanket obedience to a government that is in violation of its covenant with God and “We the People” is a sure road to tyranny and dictatorship – and America is without question heading down this road at great speed. Thomas Jefferson said, “Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God.”
The bottom line is this – Romans 13 is all about obeying government that rewards good and punishes evil. In other words we are to obey a godly government. The Apostle Paul, who wrote Romans 13 spent much time in prison under Rome’s government. Why?
Carl Pierce
Guardians of InjusticeDear US~Observer,
Thank you for your concern ... I appreciate you for reviewing my previous message and taking the time to fully understand what is happening.
I am certainly impressed by what I saw on your website ... and I am certain with your caliber of investigative skills, this will become an award-winning story for you... imagine ... Headline: "Multi-million Dollar Nationwide Racket Targeting the Disabled Lands Convictions for State, County, City Officials and Accomplices. US~Observer exposes a closely knit and elaborate multi-million dollar ring of corruption, scandle, and insider deals which target the most vulnerable of our society: the disabled..."
That is what this is about. This cannot continue.I want to see JUSTICE! These people need to be cleaned up and held accountable for their corrupt behavior. These "Guardians" [A type of State approved organization], and others similar to them nationwide, rake in over a billion dollars annually from their racket ... and the people that suffer are the very people they claim to be there to "help".
I appreciate you for your attention in this matter.
Anonymous
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