uncle sam: our own daddy wars and bucks
he enjoys the gift of giving war; but has more joy in the taking of one's money.
Growing up in my world was a lesson of knocks. I was raised by two very strong parents. But Dad, being a fighter pilot, and having served during war time, was mostly gone, leaving the brunt of raising to Mom. So, after my birth, which took place thirteen years after World War II, the nation was already embroiled in a Cold War. Then, during my formative years, the nation was entrenched in Vietnam, which had followed the war in Korea by a few short years, another Cold War being a hot war, just like Vietnam. A continual chess game of worldly proportions. Two superpowers vying to control the entire world using the pawns of the world to exert their desires upon the world. The aroma of dominance pervading the nostrils of those who held power, using the life breathe of the pawns who were subject to the whims of those in power. And I understood none of this growing up.
Except history is written by the winners, while the losers have to suck it up. Which brings up the question: What is truth? Pontus Pilot asked that very question of Jesus before he allowed his crucifixion to take place. But truthfully, could he have stopped it? I guess it all depends on what one believes or is manipulated into believing. And if one looks through history, man is war, an aggressive life form, always seeking to control or destroy others. The ability to reason making man the most destructive animal on the planet, bar none.
Now, all of that was until the Constitution, or supposedly so. But war has been a mainstay of the nation since the end of the American Revolution. Except the War of 1812 was the last-ditch effort by England to regain ownership of the country, bringing forth a defensive maneuver on America’s part to preserve the fledgling nation, but also cementing the nation into the future: War. The pervasive component of American history becoming an aggressive component of the nation’s foundation. And all it took/takes, was/is, another’s money and someone else’s life as the sacrificial tools by those in power. Look at the world today, and war is at the forefront of every political position.
But what happens when the government wages war on its own people? I mean, FDR wanted in WWII so bad, he manipulated Pearl Harbor, cementing America’s involvement, and sacrificing what; 2400 lives in one event. Then the a-bomb, where Stalin initially knew more than Truman, but secretary of state James Byrnes saw glory. And LBJ, he knew he’d never be president if JFK lived, so JFK had to go. He also wanted Vietnam. And yes, LBJ got his war, and sacrificed another 58,000 plus in the process. Although, in the end, he possibly saw what he’d done and didn’t run again. But who’s counting lives? Or better, of those in power, who cares: There’s always more bodies to grab. Worse, even though circumstantial evidence is everywhere, I can’t prove a single postulation made, as the government has a lock on any truth emanating from the halls of justice: redaction. Only, why not just spill all the beans to see the truth? How many years have passed? I mean, when President Obama wanted to sell military equipment to Vietnam, he proclaimed that war (Vietnam) was a long time ago. Time to move on. Only, how about those who can’t move on? They lost their husband, wife, brother, sister, or child in a war where no one even knew there was a country called Vietnam until Vietnam presented. And if anyone thinks I’m pro-Republican, think again. I believe both parties are doing their dead level best to destroy this country. But, in all the big wars, which party mostly put us in them? And yes, Bush (both of them) played their “dirty deeds done dirt cheap” roles. Worse, I’m just skimming the surface.
But I’m also digressing. This piece is about truth and the government waging war on its own people. A war over money, but more importantly: control. Who gets it, how it’s collected, and how one is able to live: freedom of choice. So, back to home and growing up. My world was a secluded world and Mom controlled every aspect of it. I lived in a nanny state until I moved out on my own. But the one thing I learned growing up: Life is not fair. Trust me, I had three bigger sisters! Although, others might say I still lived in a nanny state having gone straight into the Navy, but that’s semantics, right? I was on my own or was I. Or, based on political trends today, am I back into being forced into one yet again, begging: How much control does the government have over one’s life and how much intent is it willing to exert to enforce compliance? Or, how much control does one want on their life, believing: 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 (Declaration of Independence).
But first, definitions. Promote: to advance; to contribute to the growth, enlargement or excellence of any thing valuable, or to the increase of any thing evil; as to promote learning, knowledge, virtue or religion; to promote the interests of commerce or agriculture; to promote the arts; to promote civilization or refinement; to promote the propagation of the gospel; to promote vice and disorder. (all definitions from Webster’s 1828)
General: Public; common; relating to or comprehending the whole community; as the general interest or safety of a nation. To all general purposes, we have uniformly been one people (Federalist, Jay).
Welfare: Exemption from misfortune, sickness, calamity or evil; the enjoyment of health and the common blessings of life; prosperity; happiness; applied to persons.
Welfare: Exemption from any unusual evil or calamity; the enjoyment of peace and prosperity, or the ordinary blessings of society and civil government; applied to states.
Which brings me to the Constitution: WE THE PEOPLE of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America (preamble).
And if one reads the Framers definition of promote, the proverbial knife can cut both ways; good and bad. But I’m certain the Framers intent was for good. Although, with slavery remaining and not being abolished, was it really? Plus, their past obfuscates our present: Truth! Except, wasn’t that a really long time ago? There is no one living today who partook then. So, in the same vein, shouldn’t WE THE PEOPLE move past that era like President Obama claimed about Vietnam? Although, I know, the idea is to legislate hatred out of existence. Only, that is an impossibility unless one throws enough money at it, right? Except, the government has done just that in the war on poverty, yet poverty is still pervasive. Remember: LBJ and the Great Society! How many trillions have been spent to no avail, but many in government became uber wealthy while the country sank deeper into debt. And now the government is going to end global warming through our sacrifice, but it couldn’t end poverty. Which brings me back to the Constitution: The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States; (Constitution – Article I/Section 8).
Notice on the “uniform,” they left out taxes. And … back to a definition for Provide: To procure beforehand; to get, collect or make ready for future use; to prepare. Abraham said, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt-offering (Genesis 22). Provide neither gold nor silver nor brass in your purses (Matthew 10). Provide things honest in the sight of all men (Romans 12). Then: Provide, in a transitive sense, is followed by against or for. We provide warm clothing against the inclemencies of the weather; we provide necessaries against a time of need; or we provide warm clothing for winter, &c (Webster’s 1828).
Now, hasn’t it been postulated religion had no part in the nation’s framing. Yet, every definition in Webster’s 1828 goes back to a biblical foundation. And that’s the dictionary the Framers used, albeit an earlier dated version. Just saying. And, if I’m not mistaken, the Anti-Federalists believed “The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes” to be a sweeping clause and were against it, but: No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in Proportion to the Census or enumeration herein before directed to be taken (Constitution – Article I/Section 9/4th Clause). Except, government is not a producer of money, only a consumer, and the life blood of growing government is through the ability to obtain it (money), so Congress went for broke: Taxation. Although, the Framers did not set limits on Congress’ ability to spend, thus, the ability to tax to feed the frenzy of spending being a crux of epic proportions: The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration (Sixteenth Amendment – February 13, 1913).
And, if timing is anything, the sixteenth amendment came about just before the start of WWI even though America waited to enter the fray. But; harken back to the Civil War to recollect the first time the government taxed income to fund war. Only, now go back to “provide for the general welfare” and shouldn’t all things be equally collected and distributed? Yet, President Biden today is hell-bent on vote buying by paying off another’s college debt by those who either did not go, or paid theirs off through hard work and sacrifice, understanding: No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a regular Statement and Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be published from time to time (Constitution – Article I/Section 9/7th Clause). And don’t bother, as there are mountains of other issues the government overstepped where it had no power.
So, there lies a conundrum. Only Congress can write laws, except that power is limited. Plus, the House of Representatives is the only body of Congress allowed to introduce bills requiring WE THE PEOPLE be forced into surrendering our money for public consumption, whether by hook or crook, war or peace. Yes, they were supposed to represent the people! Only, war can come from many fronts, and I’ve said for years: When the country falls, it will be from the inside out. Then, add all three branches not working from a constitutional perspective: The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence (Constitution – Article IV/Section 4). Yet today, domestic violence is rampant.
So, while the debt continues to climb and spending continues at a rate unfathomable, the net result will be a complete national failure. Who will pay the price: WE THE PEOPLE. Think: the national debt in interest alone grows 1 trillion every 100 days without spending another penny. While the new push for college debt relief and now, another sixty billion for Ukraine and fourteen billion for Israel will sink the country further into the abyss while no CONUS (include Hawaii and Alaska) issues are addressed, managed, or resolved, except for those who do not warrant or deserve the funding. Throw in the growing illegal population, and two other fronts present: national security and a discombobulated congressional representation realignment to include representation for illegals. Make sense? Additionally, is the country ready for another Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, or Afghanistan? Are you ready to send your child to their death for an unknown cause or end? Sadly, the problems with every issue facing the nation: WE THE PEOPLE. A vicious cycle! Only, it doesn’t have to be this way. Just remember the definition Promote: to advance; to contribute to the growth, enlargement or excellence of any thing valuable, or to the increase of ANY THING EVIL; as to promote learning, knowledge, virtue or religion; to promote the interests of commerce or agriculture; to promote the arts; to promote civilization or refinement; to promote the propagation of the gospel; TO PROMOTE VICE AND DISORDER (Webster’s 1828).
Now honestly ask yourself: Which part of the definition has become the standard in the country today? Finally, I never thought my government would bring an overt Cold War to its own shores to implement a self-imposed hot war of destruction against the people themselves. But here we are. And make no mistake; amendments are meant to change the Constitution from intent to a design. So, why not amend the Constitution to bring the three branches under control? Because the power of control is an elixir; the winner writes the history, and the losers just have to suck it. And once taxation becomes an overbearing weight, will the government then force a complete nanny state, as it appears most want today. And the old-world chess board has now become the world game of “Risk” with a multiple of players seeking to control or destroy the planet. The begging question in all of this: What is truth?