November 16, 2009

It’s Time to Hold All U.S. Government Officials Accountable

Maj. Gen. Paul E. Vallely, US Army (Ret)

The Declaration of Independence states, in part: ".That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to affect their Safety and Happiness..."

The arrogance of power in the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government has reached epic and intolerable proportions across the nation. The U.S. President, Vice-President, cabinet members and senior appointed officials, members of Congress, and members of the Supreme Court take the following sacred oath of office:

"I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God."

Sadly, we have seen most of them violate their oath.

Fraud, lying and corruption are rampant in the institutions of government and some have engaged in treasonous activities. They know who they are, as do the people.

The Articles of Confederation were replaced with the Constitution which granted the federal government enough authority to cultivate, promote and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our posterity but not enough authority to destroy it. The balance between governmental authority and individual liberty was understood and accepted. Federal power was confined to that which was specifically enumerated in the Constitution and no more. And that power was further limited as it was spread among three federal branches – the legislative, executive and judicial. Beyond that, the power remained with the States and, ultimately, the people. In 1789, Thomas Jefferson was overheard saying to James Madison, "Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves therefore are its only safe depositories."

In 1861, Abraham Lincoln's issued this warning in his inaugural address:

"Any people anywhere, being inclined and having the power, have the right to rise up and shake off the existing government and form a new one. This is a most valuable and sacred right - a right which we hope and believe is to liberate the world."

The U.S. Constitution, Article One, Section Five, Clause II and the 10th Amendment to the Constitution provide the constitutional authority for the President, Vice-President, cabinet appointees, members of Congress and members of the Supreme Court to be removed from office for failure to properly discharge their constitutional duties and responsibilities.

The U.S. Constitution allows the citizens of their country to freely elect their government leaders. Americans elect the president and vice-president every four years, members of the House of Representatives every two years, members of the Senate every six years. Members of the Supreme Court are nominated by the president and receive lifetime appointments if confirmed by the Senate. And political appointees in the executive branch serve at the pleasure of the President if confirmed by the Senate.

"We, the People" have had enough of this current government. They, not the American People, are on a socialist and treasonous death march and bankrupting the country. We have watched a number of elected and appointed officials defile our nation's founding documents and sacred principles – and violate their sacred oath of office.

These are extraordinary times. "We, the People" cannot necessarily wait for the next round of elections because of the urgent and deteriorating national security and economic conditions. The time has come to call on these public servants to put the interests of "We, the People" above their own self-interests.

FamilySecurityMatters.org Contributing Editor Paul E. Vallely, Major General (USA/Ret.) is an author, military strategist and Chairman of Stand Up America and Save Our Democracy Projects.

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.
Thomas Jefferson