by Tim & Patt Hancock, Stevensville
I am writing this follow-up to my letter last week, which is sure to generate a letter of contrary opinion at least from Helen Sabin. So I will address Helen directly and start by saying that I totally agree with you that the government of the USA is totally out of control and has been for several decades, at least. It doesn’t seem to matter whether a Democrat or Republican is in the White House or who controls either one or both Houses of Congress, they are equally bad and pretty much do what they please. So the question is how to rein in these professional politicians and make them follow the Constitution they swore an oath to. I disagree wholeheartedly with the COS, but I agree with Helen that something needs to be done.
The question at hand is then: enforce or amend the Constitution?
There are some citizens as well as two local politicians, Wayne Rusk and Jason Ellsworth, who are proponents of the Convention of States as put forth by the organization Convention of States. There are then regular citizens who are frustrated by the lack of adherence to the Constitution by the U.S. Government and then there are those frustrated citizens that decided to research what the root cause is and look for a solution. If a COS is such a good deal why have they spent millions of dollars promoting it including donating lots of money to politicians here in MT including Rusk and Ellsworth? I would think COS would stand on its own and not need to buy support.
Some like to malign and criticize the John Birch Society (JBS) because they oppose the Convention of States. Years ago, long before there was a local chapter of JBS in the Bitterroot, my wife and I started to do research and came upon JBS and the platform on which they stand: A non-partisan organization with the motto, “Less Government, More Responsibility, and – with God’s Help – a Better World” and “That Freedom Shall Not Perish.” Do your own research at JBS.org. You will find that JBS has grown and flourished since 1958 and got its start fighting communism in the U.S., and does so through education.
Some say JBS doesn’t offer a solution to the out of control government. I beg to differ in the fact that there is nothing wrong with the Constitution and it does not need changed/amended to deal with the problem of out of control government. In fact, the Constitution is the Solution and contains ARTICLE VI and AMENDMENTs IX and X are the solution. And if you need an example look at Florida and Texas and what they have done to push back on the out of control U.S. Government. Montana needs to stand up also.
Our concern has to do with an actual Convention of States in that if you read ARTICLE V, nowhere does it have language or address the verbiage touted by the COS organization about State Control and etc., not one word of it. ARTICLE V clearly states Congress will call the Convention and set the rules, not the States. I for one do not trust Congress in the current political atmosphere. Think about it…self proclaimed socialists like Bernie Sanders, AOC and rest of The Squad or how about Chuck Schumer as Senate Majority Leader? We had a runaway Convention in 1787 where the delegates didn’t follow the rules set forth and generated a whole new Constitution replacing the Articles of Confederation. The outcome there was excellent, but one had to remember these men who wrote the new Constitution were God fearing men who had lived under the tyranny of English autocracy and had just fought a war for freedom and liberated a country. Or do you trust the 12 GOP Senators who voted for the 2.7 trillion dollar Omnibus Bill? Again, do you think we have many members of Congress that you trust with your future and your freedom? Remember they are the problem now! The solution is vote for legislators both Federal and local that will adhere and uphold the Constitution. Accountability is the solution…Accountability to the Constitution and the oath they took.
Helen Sabin says
More follow up to answer TIMS concerns: Who funds Robert Brown? the JBS. Who funds the JBS – you, other members, contributions, donations, corporate sponsors etc. So aren’t you calling the kettle black? Hmmmm?
IF Robert Brown is an expert in the Constitution how come he has never testified, been quoted, appeared before the Supreme Court of the US or any ohter federal judge to offer his knowledge and why do they NOT consult him like the do Natelson, Farris, and others of their knowledge and ability?Hmmmm?
Do you know the case law concerning all the amendments you state above?
you certainly do not or you wouldn’t write what you did.
You say the Constitution is fine the way it is. OK then does that mean it can’t be changed by Scotus in the future? Is it static? Please explain why the Constitution today is a three pound document of thousands of words now but when written was only 4 pages long?
Why did the founders want the constitution changed to meet the needs of future generations? can you explain their thinking?
Start with those questions tim and let’s have a debate some time at the Pachyderms – shall we? Terri sys she hs studied the Constitution – but the question is which one? The robert Brown version or that of the founders that has been changed and interpreted it is no longer the same as when written in 1787.
Please answer.
Helen Sabin says
TIM WHY DO YOU DISAGREE WITH THE COS? Why did the founders put it into the constitution? They knew the Constitution was not perfect and would need to be changed for future generations – so why do YOU think they did it originally. I would LOVE to know your thinking on the matter. Do you know why the Founding fathers didn’t just give the congress alone the right to amend the Constitution? Why did they want the citizens through their legislature to be able to do so? Have you read any of the history of the constitution and why it was written the way it was? I know you didn’t as you repeat the same old tired questions that all birchers are taught to repeat. Please answer when you read this. Or if you like, would you care to come to a pachyderm meeting and discuss with those of us who have studied the Constitution the correct answers to my questions? I quote Rob Natelson from the Article V Information Center, MIke Farris who is head of the homseschool legal defense, and both of whom are SCOTUS experts on history and the law of the founders, and David Baton from Wall builders. Who do YOU use as your expert?
helen sabin says
TIM – I will issue the same challenge to you and your wife that I jsut issued to Terri -Terri – You repeat the talking points from the JBS without checking them out and YOU and I BOTH KNOW they send out disinformation – not misinformation or just plain information. Wanna bet? I will bet you that you must tell folks in an advertisement in the bitterroot star and at a meeting in VICTOR after it is advertised that the JBS lies in its magazine, videos, etc. And I will show you how they do that using their own disinformation in their magazines and webpages. WANNA BET? Otherwise you and your wife and Terri and alan – you make yourselves look ridiculous when you THINK write about the “truth.”
OR…If you want to come over for dinner and discussion, I will show you how plain information is changed into DISINFORMATION – fradulent information used to deliberately deceive others. the choice is yours – which is it? let me know!
Terri M Lackey says
Excellent words Tim; without calling names or degrading anyone! You are a true patriot and I am pleased to say, a fellow Bircher. Anyone can research for themselves, (if they want to find the truth) and see that the John Birch Society is a wonderful organization. Thank you TIm!
God Bless America!
Helen Sabin says
Terri – You repeat the talking points from the JBS without checking them out and YOU and I BOTH KNOW they send out disinformation – not misinformation or just plain information. Wanna bet? I will bet you that you must shut down the JBS, deny it, tell folks in an advertisement in the bitterroot star and at a meeting in VICTOR after it is advertised that the JBS lies in its magazine, videos, etc. And I will show you how they do that using their own disinformation in their magazines and webpages. WANNA BET? Otherwise Terri – you make yourself and Alan look ridiculous when you write about the “truth.”
OR…If you want to come over for dinner and discussion, I will show you how plain information is changed into DISINFORMATION – fradulent information used to deliberately deceive others. the choice is yours – which is it? You can bring TIM and his wife too!