With all the media frenzy surrounding Baptist Minister and former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee’s "bookcase cross" Christmas message and Mitt Romney’s "President first, Mormon second" Kennedy-esque speech, the term "Family Values" has once again reared it’s many faced head in the 2008 presidential race.
The United States is made up of a multitude of diverse families who can define their "values" in equally diverse ways. The definition of an American family and their values can be anything one wishes it to be, from the Adams Family to the Manson Family and everywhere in between. Religious family "values" also vary in the books from where these values are outlined, some of which include the traditional Bible, the Jewish Torah, the Mormon "Book", the Islamic Qur’an, the Scientologist’s Dianetics, and The Teachings of Confucius. Whether the followers believe these words were written by or inspired by G-d is a discussion for another time.
But there is one book and only one book of values which are universal to every citizen of the United States. One that we all believe in. One that IS (or should be) taught and studied in public schools. It is quite small in relation to the others, and most definitely written by man. This book does not begin with "In the Beginning...", it begins with "We the PEOPLE", and when one is searching for the values which MUST exist in our next President, one need go no further than those which appear in this book; The Constitution of the United States.
The values contained within the pages of The Constitution are those which Congressman Ron Paul considers the most important for every American citizen, whether they celebrate Christmas, some other holiday, or no holiday at all. In fact, it is this very "book" which guarantees that all families can freely express their own values in almost anyway they wish. These values are based on the fundamental rights of life, liberty and property.
The Legislative Powers, vested in the Congress, are specifically enumerated in Article I, Section 8. These are the very platform which drives Congressman Paul’s campaign. The most important Congressional powers are: to provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States, and the power to declare war.
Under our Constitution, CONGRESS, not the President, has the power to declare war, but as we have seen in Korea, Vietnam and especially Iraq, this provision of the Constitution has been usurped by the President time after time. Yet no other Presidential candidate has used this "book" in their campaign for fear of being labeled a heretic.
The next ten Amendments, also called the Bill of Rights, state the freedoms which our government must defend and which THIS government frequently violates. In brief;
Amendment I: Congress shall make no law prohibiting the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Violation: Establishing a "Free-Speech Zone"
Amendment IV: No warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Violation: Wire tapping, warrantless searches
Amendment V: NO PERSON shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law;
Violation: Guantanamo Bay
Amendment VIII: No cruel and unusual punishments shall be inflicted.
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Violation: Waterboarding, i.e. Torture
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