Here is the rough draft. You could've done better. So help fix this or submit one that does the same job... OR if you can't think of anything better, you could sign this one:
A Notice and Appeal from the People
To Whom It May Concern:
Greetings,
Throughout history people have been obliged to petition their government at sporadic intervals, demanding change and justice. Whenever the prevailing system denies to its citizens the promised Rights, guarantees and relief from trespassers the people have a duty and a Right to petition for change. This Notice and Appeal is presented in that spirit.
Our nation was built upon the precept that Rights are conferred upon each person at birth by their God (whomever they deem that to be.) Further, the founders proclaimed that those Rights were unalienable: that is those Rights could not be bought, sold, traded away nor taken – except as a punishment for an actual crime.
We are a country, which was built upon the foundation of morality and justice. Freedom of Religion; the Right to worship as one’s conscience so dictates were fundamental principles upon which this country was built.
Most freedom loving people believe in the Right to Privacy, the Right to Private Property Ownership and the Right to Self Defense, which becomes an inevitable necessity in a free world. It is our Right and our inheritance.
In a free society, the elected officials derive their just powers by the consent of those they preside over. In totalitarian societies, the public officials take the liberties through unlawful usurpations of power; through intimidation and force; through corruption and a misuse of police powers and military might.
It has been observed in history that people will endure injustice as long as it is tolerable rather than stand united against an oppressive government. But, the people realize that they have an Obligation, a Duty, and a solemn Responsibility to reject tyranny and oppression. We also realize that history shows that Liberties lost are lost forever.
In today’s age, the people have petitioned and used every remedy available under the law to no avail. The usurpers have stolen a nation and have no intention of recognizing God given Rights. Privileges, to be doled out by government, have replaced recognized Rights. A myriad of statutes, edicts, rules, regulations, administrative requirements, government policies, ordinances, executive orders, court rulings, and such like have destroyed the Liberties of the people. In order to substantiate the facts, let us enumerate the transgressions the government has committed against its citizenry:
In the area of Freedom of Religion, the government has reinterpreted the law to say freedom FROM religion. Churches are required to seek approval from the government and given licenses and tax exempt status in exchange for not offending the policies of the federal government. Every reference to the religion of the founders of our nation is met with harsh reprisals. Bibles and religious materials are prohibited on government-controlled property, as is prayer in school and any discussion of religion as it pertains to the predominant religion in this country. By contrast, all kinds of accommodations are made for other religions including, but not limited to their dress codes, dietary laws and methods of worship. A bizarre doctrine of separation of church and state has been initiated whereby religious authorities cannot interfere with the government, but government can breach the wall to interject themselves into the religious doctrines of the church.
On the issue of Freedom of Expression, the government has made it impossible for third parties to field candidates for public office with special requirements they must meet that do not apply to the major two party system. Guarantees of Freedom of Speech have been repealed; those disagreeing with the powers that be risk being classified as enemies of the State, enemy combatants, domestic terrorists or seditionists.
There is the issue of taxation whereby an amendment, unconstitutionally passed, deprives the people of their most valuable asset: the fruits of their labor. The income tax is unconstitutional, illegal, unconscionable, immoral and not enforceable in a de jure republic. Further, our laws do not anticipate nor grant the authority to the government to delegate their responsibilities to third party corporations, which do not answer to the citizenry. The people have been compelled to accept the creation of a banking system which is controlled by a private corporation whose officers are chosen by the banking community and given a rubber stamp approval by the executive department within the federal government. Our forefathers warned that if the people allowed such a condition to be implemented that it would deprive the People of all their property until their children woke up to find themselves homeless on the continent their Fathers had conquered. The foreclosure rate in our nation bears witness to the accuracy of that prediction.
One of the great hallmarks of our Republic was the Right to Private Property Ownership. But again, the government has interjected itself into that arena as well. There are abuses of eminent domain statutes whereby private corporations can literally steal property for private gain if it means increased revenues for local governments. In many cases statutes have been instituted to prohibit landowners from defending their private property and in extreme cases, citizens have lost their property to trespassers that were illegally trespassing upon that private property. In many jurisdictions the citizenry cannot utilize their property to its fullest potential due to the massive numbers of laws that restrict the way and manner in which you can use your own property. In some cases, property owners cannot even fly the flag of this country in their own yards.
Among the most egregious assaults on the Liberties on the people is the implementation of gun control laws that now number in the tens of thousands. The fact that fewer than one tenth of one percent of the guns in our country ever take a human life is a testament to the over-all value of tools that discourage robberies, murders and many other crimes while insuring our Liberty. Yet those who have no respect for God given Rights argue that we should disarm and trade the false promise of temporary Safety in exchange for our Liberties. It has been observed that the greatest reason for the People to retain the Right to keep and bear Arms is, as a last resort, to prevent tyranny in government. Today, at least ten percent of the States in this Union have virtually outlawed the private ownership of firearms. All different manner of laws to deprive the citizenry of our Liberty teeth have been employed. The use of firearm bans, import bans, limitations on magazines or features and the places in which a citizen can bear Arms have obliterated the Right. Laws have been passed to discourage and prevent the citizenry from using firearms for personal protection and the protection of the lives of others. We are being forced to become willing victims of criminal activity.
The people have been forced to endure the attacks upon their Right to Privacy with the implementation of National Identification, specifically when it is tied to numbers that were issued for tax purposes. In addition, all manner of information is collected; much of it purely personal and the citizenry are monitored from the womb to the tomb, much like prisoners in correctional facilities. The people are spied on, photographed, monitored and investigated for no legitimate purpose. Files are generated and the nation’s leadership has declared that anyone who is not for the current regime is against it; and therefore, a legitimate target for being raided and possibly murdered.
The people are being subjected to warrant-less search and seizures, roving roadblocks and other ID searches. The records of the books the people read in the library are subject to review by law enforcement officials and all manner of electronic communications are monitored via eavesdropping without the benefit of a warrant. Due Process is denied on the most spurious pretext of National Security. The constitutional safeguards put into place by the founders of our country no longer exist, despite the fact that the people have never amended the Constitution.
Both Houses of Congress have sat silently, refusing to institute a Common Language, namely English, as the official language. The government has refused to establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, despite their legal charge to do so. The immigration laws have not been revised in over half a century and no longer anticipate the supply and demand being placed on immigrants by business, the citizenry and the government which is now dependent upon foreign laborers. There is no credible Guest Worker Program whereby foreigners can work without the expectation of becoming citizens. Foreigners’ only alternative is to enter the country illegally and such a system creates untold problems that cannot be corrected with band-aid solutions or totalitarian measures.
The government has created mountains of bureaucratic agencies; delegated control to corporations and other people who do not answer to the citizenry. Government agencies create their own laws, maintain their own courts and dole out their own brand of punishment. The courts have become little more than rubber stamps for the hordes of unelected petty tyrants who have developed laws crouched in the terminology of public policy. We are no longer a constitutional republic as we were guaranteed. The people no longer have Due Process, Representative Government or anything that would suggest that this is a Free Nation.
Our forefathers proclaimed before King George that A free born people are not required by the religion of Jesus Christ to submit to tyranny, but may make use of such power as God has given them to recover and support their laws and liberties...
Our own courts have ruled that the people are not obligated to submit to an unconstitutional act. Yet, agents of a government claiming to be ours have placed heavy burdens upon the people. We must choose between being obedient to the prevailing system or being true to our religious convictions. The people have literally been forced to choose between obedience to government or loyalty to the dictates of their conscience.
Free people do not compromise on matters of God given Rights; we cannot negotiate with tyrants over Rights that were bestowed upon us at birth and not subject to their control.
We, the undersigned, being Citizens and of legal age issue this Notice and Appeal:
That we will no longer tolerate the usurpations of power nor be subject to a yoke of tyranny
That we will refuse to abide by any law, no matter its pretended authority, that deprives us of the basic Rights guaranteed under the Bill of Rights and subject to the interpretation of the original intent when said Bill of Rights was ratified
That each signer will begin with a practice of passive resistance and civil disobedience when required to remain true to the dictates of our individual conscience
That each of us pledge to each other our time, resources, commitment and our word of Honor to defend our fellow man from any harm which any branch of government or agents thereof mete out for an individual’s failure to observe any act which violates the Rights contemplated in this Notice and Appeal
We hereby put all government officials, legislators and all others concerned that we retain the Right and the Duty to abolish such government which demonstrates a disregard for the God given Rights of the citizenry, thereby threatening them with despotism, tyranny and / or the atmosphere of repression
We APPEAL to all government officials, whether elected or appointed and regardless of branch of government to cease and desist the enforcement of laws that are repugnant to the Rights enumerated in this Notice and Appeal. We demand the repeal of any law, rule, regulation, statute or such like which conflicts with our Rights. These terms are absolute and non – negotiable. We retain the Right to separate ourselves from the ties that bind the citizenry to the government and dissolve the political bands which tie us together if our Rights are not declared inviolate.
Here's my input to help get the creative writing juices flowing. My comments are in bold/italics for easy identification. [ ] signifies deleted words, phrases or sentences without replacement. To see everything in context, please compare to the original. I hope the suggestions come across as intended, which is to help refine these fine thoughts.
Enforcer wrote:
Here is the rough draft. You could've done better. So help fix this or submit one that does the same job... OR if you can't think of anything better, you could sign this one:
A Notice and Appeal from the People
To Whom It May Concern:
Greetings,
Throughout history people have been obliged to petition their government at sporadic intervals, demanding change and justice. Second sentence unnecessary; our own Unanimous Declaration states this; it is known full well by those who will ge this. This Notice and Appeal is presented in that spirit.
Our nation was built upon the precept that Rights are conferred upon each person at birth [you might want to substitute 'creation' or 'conception' for birth, as the right to life is confered upon conception, and using 'birth' could provide some sort of ammo to abortionist minded readers] by their God (whomever they deem that to be.) Further, the founders proclaimed that those Rights were unalienable: that is those Rights could not be bought, sold, traded away nor taken – except as a punishment for an actual crime [do you want to be a bit more specific here between crimes that 'every man should know are evil' and the all encompassing 'actual crime' which could be a crime against a prohibition that is only a crime because it's on the books?] .
We are a country which was built upon the foundation of morality and justice that included the Freedom of Religion and the Right to worship as one’s conscience dictates. Last part of original sentence is almost a redundancy of the first sentence.
Constitutionally loyal Americans believe in the Right to Privacy, the Right to Private Property Ownership and the Right to Self Defense (an inevitable necessity in a free world). It is our Right and our inheritance.
In a free society, the elected officials derive their just powers by the consent of those they preside over. In totalitarian societies, the public officials take the liberties through unlawful usurpations of power; through intimidation and force; through corruption and a misuse of police powers and military might. <------the second sentence is pretty unnecessary even as an introductory statement because of the Unanimous Declaration that is known very, very well by those who will read this. Unless this is a tool to teach the reader, then it could be taken as condescention.
Historically, people have endured injustice as long as it was tolerable rather than stand [ ] against an oppressive government. But, the People have againrealized that they have an Obligation, a Duty, and a solemn Responsibility to reject tyranny and oppression. History demonstrates that Liberties lost are lost forever. <-- the writing goes from third to first person often. You might want to make it parallel throughout the text.
Today, the People have petitioned and used every remedy available under the law to no avail. The usurpers have stolen a nation and have no intention of recognizing God given Rights. [ ] Privileges, doled out by government, have replaced previously recognized Rights. A myriad of statutes, edicts, rules, regulations, administrative requirements, government policies, ordinances, executive orders, court rulings, and such [ ] have destroyed the Liberties of the people. In order to substantiate the facts, let us enumerate the transgressions the government has committed against its citizenry:
Regarding the Freedom of Religion, the government has reinterpreted the First Amendment to say freedom FROM religion. Churches are required to seek approval from the government and given licenses and tax exempt status in exchange for not offending the policies of the federal government. Every reference to the religion of the founders of our nation is met with harsh reprisals. Bibles and religious materials are prohibited on government-controlled property, as is prayer in school and any discussion of religion as it pertains to Christianity in this country. By contrast, all kinds of accommodations are made for other religions including, but not limited to their dress codes, dietary laws and methods of worship. A bizarre doctrine of separation of church and state has been initiated whereby religious authorities cannot interfere with the government, but government can breach the wall to interject themselves into the religious doctrines of the church.
Regarding the Freedom of Expression, the government has made it impossible for third parties to field candidates for public office with special requirements they must meet that do not apply to the major two party system. Guarantees of Freedom of Speech have been repealed; those disagreeing with the powers that be risk being classified as enemies of the State, enemy combatants, domestic terrorists or seditionists.
On taxation, whereby an amendment, unconstitutionally passed, still deprives the people of their most valuable asset: the fruits of their labor. The income tax is unconstitutional, illegal, unconscionable, immoral and not enforceable in a de jure republic. Further, our laws do not anticipate nor grant the authority to the government to delegate their responsibilities to third party corporations, which do not answer to the citizenry.
The people have been compelled to accept the creation of a banking system which is controlled by a private corporation whose officers are chosen by the banking community and given a rubber stamp approval by the executive department within the federal government. Our forefathers warned that if the people allowed such a condition to be implemented that it would deprive the People of all their property until their children woke up to find themselves homeless on the continent their Fathers had conquered. The foreclosure rate in our nation bears witness to the accuracy of that prediction.
The government has interjected itself into the rights of Private Property by the citizens as well. Abuses and reinterpretations of the eminent domain clause and State statutes to allow private corporations to steal property if it means increased revenues for local, State or federal governments have become common place.[From here on to the rest of this paragraph, the information, while true, does nothing more to make the point previously made.]
Among the most egregious assaults on the Liberties on the people is the implementation of gun control laws that now number in the tens of thousands. [Unnecesary to make the point.] It has been observed that the greatest reason for the People to retain the Right to keep and bear Arms is, as a last resort, to prevent tyranny in government. Today, at least ten percent of the States in this Union have virtually outlawed the private ownership of firearms. All different manner of laws to deprive the citizenry of our Liberty teeth have been employed. The use of firearm bans, import bans, limitations on magazines or features and the places in which a citizen can bear Arms have obliterated the Right. Laws have been passed to discourage and prevent the citizenry from using firearms for personal protection and the protection of the lives of others. We are being forced to become willing victims of criminal activity.
The people have been forced to endure the attacks upon their Right to Privacy with the implementation of National Identification, specifically when it is tied to numbers that were issued for tax purposes. [Again, unnecessary to make the point.] The people are spied on, photographed, monitored and investigated for no legitimate purpose. Files are generated and the nation’s leadership has declared that anyone who is not for the current regime is against it; and therefore, a legitimate target for being raided and possibly murdered.
The people are being subjected to warrant-less searches and seizures, roving roadblocks and other ID checks. The records of the books the people read in the library are subject to review by law enforcement officials and all manner of electronic communications are monitored via eavesdropping without the benefit of a warrant. Due Process is denied on the most spurious pretext of National Security. The constitutional safeguards put into place by the founders of our country no longer exist, despite the fact that the people have never amended the Constitution.
Both Houses of Congress have sat silently, refusing to institute our Common Language, namely English, as the official language. The government has refused to establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, despite their legal charge to do so. The immigration laws have not been revised in over half a century and no longer anticipate the supply and demand being placed on immigrants by business, the citizenry and the government which is now dependent upon foreign laborers. [Unnecessary to make the point.]
The government has created mountains of bureaucratic agencies; delegated control to corporations and other people who do not answer to the citizenry. These same agencies create their own laws, maintain their own courts and dole out their own brand of punishment. Our courts have become little more than rubber stamps for the hordes of unelected petty tyrants who have developed laws crouched in the terminology of public policy. We are no longer a constitutional republic as we were guaranteed. The People no longer have Due Process, Representative Government, or anything that would suggest that this is a Free Nation.
Our forefathers proclaimed before King George that a free born people are not required by God to submit to tyranny, but may make use of such power as God has given them to recover and support their laws and liberties... [Very few mentions of "Jesus Christ" in the Declaration or the Constitution....God is there, but not Jesus. Might want to consider keeping it at God for now.]
Our own courts have ruled that the people are not obligated to submit to an unconstitutional act. Yet, agents of a government claiming to be lawful have placed heavy burdens upon the people. We must choose between being obedient to the prevailing system or being true to our religious convictions. The people have literally been forced to choose between obedience to government or loyalty to the dictates of their conscience.
Free people do not compromise on matters of God given Rights; we cannot negotiate with tyrants over Rights that were bestowed upon us at birth and not subject to their control.
We, the undersigned, being Citizens and of legal age issue this Notice and Appeal:
That we will no longer tolerate the usurpations of power nor be subject to a yoke of tyranny;
That we will refuse to abide by any law, no matter its pretended authority, that deprives us of the basic Rights guaranteed under the Bill of Rights and subject to the interpretation of the original intent when said Bill of Rights was ratified;
[Never telegraph a punch. Don't tell them what you will or won't do. Just a thought.]
That each of us pledge to the other our time, resources, commitment and our word of Honor to defend our fellow citizen from any harm which any branch of government or agents thereof mete out for an individual’s failure to observe any act which violates the Rights contemplated in this Notice and Appeal
We hereby put all government officials, legislators and all others concerned that we retain the Right and the Duty to abolish such government which demonstrates a disregard for the God given Rights of the citizenry, thereby threatening them with despotism, tyranny and / or the atmosphere of repression
We APPEAL to all government officials, whether elected or appointed and regardless of branch of government to cease and desist the enforcement of laws that are repugnant to the Rights enumerated in the Constitution and reiterated in this Notice and Appeal. We demand the repeal of any law, rule, policy, regulation, statute or such like which conflicts with our Rights. These terms are absolute and non–negotiable. We retain the Right to separate ourselves from the [ ] government and dissolve the political bands which tie us together if our Rights are not declared inviolate.
Wow...very good overall statement of what's what. I read this from a flow and content perspective, so again, my comments are just to give thought for a more concise document that says only what it needs to say.
I'd like to first start out by thanking you for taking the time to at least read the rough draft. The only comment I can make relative to your critique is this:
You found some of my language to be unnecessary. I don't know that I agree with that. Sometimes one has to wonder whether the politicians and those around them really know anything at all - except how to get elected.
Also, people who have little knowledge of history or law will be reading the document and hopefully signing it. At least that is the intent... people from all walks of life willing to put the government on notice. Well, that's just my initial impression. We can let some other folks come around and let us know what they think. The fact that you and I support such a statement - regardless of which version were handed to us gives me hope that we might actually have something.
I can agree with this...
So when will the final draft be made? When will it be put in print and signatures start going on it?
Time is short, we need a declaration now before the revolt begins! _________________ mesatoad
war_bird1(at)hotmail.com
===============================
"The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it."
-Albert Einstein
Thanks to whomever sent the link to the forum for me. My main computer is down with a virus or something. Anyhooo... is there a re-write in the works yet? _________________ Don't Tread On ME....lest my fangs wind up in your foot !
When the final draft is completed, and with your permision, I'll print out several hundred flyers and distribute them in my area. Perhaps you should add a responce address. _________________ Death Before Dishonor
POW/MIA, SOME OF US STILL REMEMBER!
Other than the telegraphing of the punch I think it is great.It brings to light problems we all face,and then shows the the way the Militia chooses to respond.I would feel good signing this.lets do it! _________________ Amendment II (1791) A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.
First, it is disheartening that so many people are ignoring a chance to be part of a document which has the potential to unify us, put the politicians on notice, give us a common cause, identify the militia under OUR terms and represent OUR view.
Now, for those who have commented: Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Whether I agree with you or not is immaterial. That being said, I'll toss in my views and allow those who follow this thread to comment further. Hopefully by month's end we can prepare a final document from this Draft. So here goes:
MPA commented: "Second sentence unnecessary; our own Unanimous Declaration states this; it is known full well by those who will ge this."
Response: I disagree. This Notice and Appeal is a stand alone document AND the way Americans treat their Rights, I don't think they understand the Declaration of Independence. Still, I'd be open to the opinions of others.
MPA wrote: "History demonstrates that Liberties lost are lost forever. <-- the writing goes from third to first person often. You might want to make it parallel throughout the text."
Response: While I didn't understand this criticism, if someone can explain it another way, maybe we can clean that part of the draft up.
I've had a lot of experience trying to explain the Declaration of Independence to the masses. They don't get it nor do the politicians. They agree we have God given Rights, but they are convinced we should ask the government to dispense those Rights in the form of privileges. Those who have read and commented thus far tend to reinforce my presupposition that the Rough Draft explains what we should know, but don't and how it ties together.
Some of the guys are also having computer problems and i'm having to read the entire thing over the phone to them..FYI !
Not sure i can agree with the wording yet..gonna read it somemore and then again....I ain't no idiot who's gonna jump at the first pretty worded document that comes along nor will anyone else..WITH COMMON SENSE.
HOPEFULLY THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT LAW OR HISTORY.."WILL" TAKE THE TIME TO READ..READ.AND READ AGAIN..THEN DECIDE!
Here's an update on my Reading of Enforcer's roughdraft(2nd time)i like the parts about religion,as well as property-rights looking good so far..but thats just me.
Thank you Enforcer for taking on the awesome task of prepairing such a document,as like the founding fathers who came before us and gave us this Great nation we owe it to them as well as our future generation to simpilfy it and not drown it in flowery words to be taken out of context again 250 more yrs down the road.
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