Three Wheel Rat Rod
-
Bunkessa spotted this Rat Rod Trike in front of the local Home Depot
yesterday and thought “I know who’d like this.” And she was right.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES
The Constitution:
A citizen’s view
The Electoral College as intended.
Not enough is understood about the background and reasoning that went into the development of the Electoral College. It was devised by the Founders as a method of safeguarding the highest office of the land and protecting it from being occupied by a demagogue or megalomaniac.
While desirous of having the individual citizens of each state participate in the procedure, they did not think the election of the president should be a national event! Rather, it should be the result of the careful deliberations of a select group of individuals in each state (called electors) chosen according to the procedure established by the state’s legislature. The number of electors would be equal to the total of the state’s representatives and senators in congress. The “electors” would then convene with each elector casting a vote for two individuals (one of whom must be from a different state) considered properly qualified to be the Chief Executive of the country. Remember, the citizen voted for an elector, not a President and while an elector might have a predilection toward a particular individual, the process was to insulate the citizen from the usual propaganda and publicity approach so common today.
Each state, being considered sovereign in its own right, certified the results of the balloting, which certification was sent to the seat of the Government of the United States. There, the President of the Senate, in the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, opened all of the certificates and the votes would be counted.
Conceivably, there could be 5 or 6 nominees for the highest office. The Constitution provided that the individual receiving the highest number of votes in the Electoral College would be the President. The individual receiving the second highest number would be the Vice President.
Now let’s review exactly what was intended and why.
The idea of a national election where everybody voted for an individual was not acceptable since this would encourage the worst possible outcome of a democratic approach. The individual with the most charisma and best rhetoric could win under such a procedure, irrespective of qualifications. At this point, it must be noted that the development of the two party system has destroyed most of the benefit provided by the original concept of the Electoral College.
The reasoning of the Founding Fathers appears to have gone something like this: The average citizen would know members of his own community best. Thus, the idea in the Constitution for the individuals in each state to vote for an “elector” from their area to represent them in the state’s council of electors. These state electors were delegated the responsibility of voting for that individual they considered best qualified for the highest office in the land.
Such a procedure could easily lead to a multiplicity of names being placed in nomination and did so in several instances. To safeguard the procedure from the intrigue of politics by current office holders, no office holder in the federal government could serve as an elector in any state.
The only truly democratic element in all this was the initial voting done by the citizens in their own state for their local elector. From that point forward, the process was judgmental by those involved in casting their votes.
Article II, Sec. 1 provides all the specifics of the original procedure and should be required reading for those wishing to appreciate the genius of the Founding Fathers. Had the concept embodied therein been followed, we might have a totally different situation today. Note that Amendments XII and XX made substantive changes to the original Article and will be discussed in a subsequent writing.
That’s my view. What’s yours? Reach me at 1787@yahoo.com
©Copyright 2010 Hillard W. Welch
A citizen’s view
The Electoral College as intended.
Not enough is understood about the background and reasoning that went into the development of the Electoral College. It was devised by the Founders as a method of safeguarding the highest office of the land and protecting it from being occupied by a demagogue or megalomaniac.
While desirous of having the individual citizens of each state participate in the procedure, they did not think the election of the president should be a national event! Rather, it should be the result of the careful deliberations of a select group of individuals in each state (called electors) chosen according to the procedure established by the state’s legislature. The number of electors would be equal to the total of the state’s representatives and senators in congress. The “electors” would then convene with each elector casting a vote for two individuals (one of whom must be from a different state) considered properly qualified to be the Chief Executive of the country. Remember, the citizen voted for an elector, not a President and while an elector might have a predilection toward a particular individual, the process was to insulate the citizen from the usual propaganda and publicity approach so common today.
Each state, being considered sovereign in its own right, certified the results of the balloting, which certification was sent to the seat of the Government of the United States. There, the President of the Senate, in the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, opened all of the certificates and the votes would be counted.
Conceivably, there could be 5 or 6 nominees for the highest office. The Constitution provided that the individual receiving the highest number of votes in the Electoral College would be the President. The individual receiving the second highest number would be the Vice President.
Now let’s review exactly what was intended and why.
The idea of a national election where everybody voted for an individual was not acceptable since this would encourage the worst possible outcome of a democratic approach. The individual with the most charisma and best rhetoric could win under such a procedure, irrespective of qualifications. At this point, it must be noted that the development of the two party system has destroyed most of the benefit provided by the original concept of the Electoral College.
The reasoning of the Founding Fathers appears to have gone something like this: The average citizen would know members of his own community best. Thus, the idea in the Constitution for the individuals in each state to vote for an “elector” from their area to represent them in the state’s council of electors. These state electors were delegated the responsibility of voting for that individual they considered best qualified for the highest office in the land.
Such a procedure could easily lead to a multiplicity of names being placed in nomination and did so in several instances. To safeguard the procedure from the intrigue of politics by current office holders, no office holder in the federal government could serve as an elector in any state.
The only truly democratic element in all this was the initial voting done by the citizens in their own state for their local elector. From that point forward, the process was judgmental by those involved in casting their votes.
Article II, Sec. 1 provides all the specifics of the original procedure and should be required reading for those wishing to appreciate the genius of the Founding Fathers. Had the concept embodied therein been followed, we might have a totally different situation today. Note that Amendments XII and XX made substantive changes to the original Article and will be discussed in a subsequent writing.
That’s my view. What’s yours? Reach me at 1787@yahoo.com
©Copyright 2010 Hillard W. Welch
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Monday, December 27, 2010
Sunday, December 26, 2010
THE BATTLE OF TRENTON REDUX -- 2010
I am hopeful that the 112th Congress will both put a stop to any further advance of Executive over reach and begin oversight, investigation and prosecution regarding OBAMA's government by fiat and legislation that has passed because of the former majority socialist/wealth re-distribution agenda.
"We the People" are awake and aware and proved that in the November elections. OBAMA's deceitful attempt to claim bipartisan/collaborative governance during the LAME DUCK is the only transparency thus far in this administration. Remember, the majority who participated in the quackery will not be there in January. The 112th, if they keep their campaign promises, will bring OBAMA's Alinsky style emergency legislating to a screaming halt.
There should be no compromise in taking the necessary actions that will stop the spending, cease the accumulation of further debt, get the government out of the private sector, create an atmosphere that supports creative free enterprise which will equal jobs and REPEAL OBAMACARE.
There is a citizens war of ideas taking place. The November elections were the first battles and "We the People"won. Not unlike the Battle of Trenton, that Washington and his brave band of shoeless, hungry and bleeding patriots won, which was a turning point in the war against British tyranny, November was a turning point in restoring the United States of America back onto its destined course of individual freedom and accountability.
"We the People" are awake and aware and proved that in the November elections. OBAMA's deceitful attempt to claim bipartisan/collaborative governance during the LAME DUCK is the only transparency thus far in this administration. Remember, the majority who participated in the quackery will not be there in January. The 112th, if they keep their campaign promises, will bring OBAMA's Alinsky style emergency legislating to a screaming halt.
There should be no compromise in taking the necessary actions that will stop the spending, cease the accumulation of further debt, get the government out of the private sector, create an atmosphere that supports creative free enterprise which will equal jobs and REPEAL OBAMACARE.
There is a citizens war of ideas taking place. The November elections were the first battles and "We the People"won. Not unlike the Battle of Trenton, that Washington and his brave band of shoeless, hungry and bleeding patriots won, which was a turning point in the war against British tyranny, November was a turning point in restoring the United States of America back onto its destined course of individual freedom and accountability.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Friday, December 24, 2010
Thursday, December 23, 2010
112th Congress....GOODBYE ALINSKY/OBAMA POLITICS...HELLO CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY
The fact that OBAMA, Reid and Pelosi played the LAME DUCK to the advantage of their socialist agenda and the MOONBATS who were kicked out by "We the People" demonstrated their allegiance to the 111th Congress (OBAMA social justice, government central control) and politics (boo ho I'll get you) is evidence that the November election results scared even King George III, aka OBAMA.
In true ALINSKY style OBAMA lied to the citizenry yesterday claiming he is a come back kid in getting all this Lame Duck legislation passed by means of compromise and bipartisan cooperation. Note the votes. R I N Os of the 111th and the socialists who voted in OBAMACARE voted in the same fashion.
The 112th Congress can be the salvation of the Republic and "We the People." The 2012 elections are not that far away. If "We the People" continue to stay awake, aware and active a return to the free enterprise system and a movement to smaller and more efficient government can occur. This Patriot believes in the substance of the Constitution and the ability of "We the People" to get the nation back on the right track.
MERRY CHRISTMAS
In true ALINSKY style OBAMA lied to the citizenry yesterday claiming he is a come back kid in getting all this Lame Duck legislation passed by means of compromise and bipartisan cooperation. Note the votes. R I N Os of the 111th and the socialists who voted in OBAMACARE voted in the same fashion.
The 112th Congress can be the salvation of the Republic and "We the People." The 2012 elections are not that far away. If "We the People" continue to stay awake, aware and active a return to the free enterprise system and a movement to smaller and more efficient government can occur. This Patriot believes in the substance of the Constitution and the ability of "We the People" to get the nation back on the right track.
MERRY CHRISTMAS
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Friday, December 17, 2010
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Friday, December 3, 2010
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
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