Congresswoman Jane Harman and Co-Sponsors [see below] have succeeded in getting H.R. 1955 passed. The bill, which is titled “Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007” is in direct conflict with the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States of America. Nonetheless, 404 members of Congress voted for the Resolution [only 6 members voting against, and 22 abstaining] and sent it off to the Senate.A breakdown of those votes can be viewed at:
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/vote.xpd?vote=h2007-993
The Resolution can be read in its entirety by simply Google-searching ‘HR 1955’. I encourage you to do exactly that.
The Second Continental Congress issued the Declaration of Independence July 4th, 1776. In the Declaration it is established that ‘the People’ have not only the right, but the duty, to throw off any Government which seeks to exert rule over – instead of for – the People.
It is the Constitution which establishes a ‘government of the People, by the People, and for the People’. The same Constitution which the noted Representatives took a solemn oath to defend, they now willingly seek to undermine. In case they’ve forgotten, I offer a simple reminder:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. --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 effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. 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.
America is not a land of Rulers lording it over the populace. It is a land where the will of ‘the People’ reigns supreme and ‘Representatives serve’ that will. Otherwise, it is not America at all.
[A personal note of Thanks to Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-California, for being the sole dissenting vote from the State of California.]
It is the Constitution which establishes a ‘government of the People, by the People, and for the People’. The same Constitution which the noted Representatives took a solemn oath to defend, they now willingly seek to undermine. In case they’ve forgotten, I offer a simple reminder:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. --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 effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. 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.
America is not a land of Rulers lording it over the populace. It is a land where the will of ‘the People’ reigns supreme and ‘Representatives serve’ that will. Otherwise, it is not America at all.
[A personal note of Thanks to Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-California, for being the sole dissenting vote from the State of California.]
Cosponsors of H.R. 1955
[as of 2007-10-24]
Rep. Christopher Carney [D-PA]
Del. Donna Christensen [D-VI]
Rep. Yvette Clarke [D-NY]
Rep. Charles Dent [R-PA]
Rep. Norman Dicks [D-WA]
Rep. Al Green [D-TX]
Rep. James Langevin [D-RI]
Rep. Zoe Lofgren [D-CA]
Rep. Nita Lowey [D-NY]
Rep. Daniel Lungren [R-CA]
Rep. Ed Perlmutter [D-CO]
Rep. Ted Poe [R-TX]
Rep. Dave Reichert [R-WA]
Rep. Bennie Thompson [D-MS]
Rep. Christopher Carney [D-PA]
Del. Donna Christensen [D-VI]
Rep. Yvette Clarke [D-NY]
Rep. Charles Dent [R-PA]
Rep. Norman Dicks [D-WA]
Rep. Al Green [D-TX]
Rep. James Langevin [D-RI]
Rep. Zoe Lofgren [D-CA]
Rep. Nita Lowey [D-NY]
Rep. Daniel Lungren [R-CA]
Rep. Ed Perlmutter [D-CO]
Rep. Ted Poe [R-TX]
Rep. Dave Reichert [R-WA]
Rep. Bennie Thompson [D-MS]
For too long our voices have been ignored. And for too long our elected Representatives have forgotten that they work for us, the People. Perhaps it is time that we exercise our right to be heard, to dissent, and to be truly served by simply firing those Representatives who act contrary to the will of the people. Elections are coming.
