While listening to a recent teaching by my Pastor, he spoke about how we are never stagnant in this life. The forces arrayed against us that result in Sin are like gravity. If we do nothing, we fall. This got me to thinking of a parallel: Liberty.
For many years, the colonists lived in America and did little to protect or guard liberty. As a result, the King of England imposed greater and greater tyranny until we fought a revolution. I see another instance of this in our modern lives. We as a whole sit back and do little to nothing while greater and greater tyranny is imposed upon us. For the record, Webster defies tyranny as:
1
: oppressive power <every form of tyranny over the mind of man — Thomas Jefferson>; especially : oppressive power exerted by government <the tyranny of a police state>
2
a : a government in which absolute power is vested in a single ruler; especially : one characteristic of an ancient Greek city-state b : the office, authority, and administration of a tyrant
3
: a rigorous condition imposed by some outside agency or force <living under the tyranny of the clock — Dixon Wecter>
4
: an oppressive, harsh, or unjust act : a tyrannical act <workers who had suffered tyrannies>
It's pretty cool how Thomas Jefferson was quoted in the first definition. Anyhow, we'll focus on #2, a government in which absolute power is vested in a single ruler. As the kids in the backseat on a road trip are prone to ask, "Are we there yet?". The answer is no, we're not. But we are on the way. Consider my area of focus: The federal REAL ID Act of 2005, which gave the Secretary of Homeland Security (a single ruler) the authority as to when a "federal identification" can be required (Title II, Section 201(3)). In a recent State legislative committee hearing, a representative of the State DMV kept using the term "federal standards" for State driver licenses. Under our Constitution, there can be no such thing for a State-issued driver license.
Next, here is the definition of Liberty:
1: the quality or state of being free: a : the power to do as one pleases b : freedom from physical restraint c : freedom from arbitrary or despotic control d : the positive enjoyment of various social, political, or economic rights and privileges e : the power of choice
2
a : a right or immunity enjoyed by prescription or by grant : privilege b : permission especially to go freely within specified limits
3
: an action going beyond normal limits: as a : a breach of etiquette or propriety : familiarity b : risk, chance <took foolish liberties with his health> c : a violation of rules or a deviation from standard practice d : a distortion of fact
4: a short authorized absence from naval duty usually for less than 48 hours
We don't need to go past the first one.
I've written about a very well-known period of tyranny in our world: Nazi Germany. As I've noted, Mr. Hitler did not assume power and the following week start mass executions of people he didn't like. It was a gradual process, which was made possible by the people of Germany not doing anything. Within about 10 years, the mass executions were taking place. During that time, another Pastor, Martin Niemöller, wrote something that falls right in line:
First they came for the communists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left to speak out for me.
It's been said actions have consequences, but it's also just as true that inactions have consequences. I've recently updated this site to include a quote from a friend of mine, Andrew Nappi, who is with the Florida 10th Amendment Center. It's on the upper right hand side of this page, and is certainly worth repeating here:
"One opposes tyranny, or one enables it. There is no middle ground and time is not an ally. Wrapping tyranny in the flag and calling it security makes it no less evil."
Key there is that time is not an ally. As each day/week/month passes, we must be vigilant as to efforts to reduce our Liberty. We can never remain stagnant- the forces against us are not so. Will the next attack on our Liberty be as plain as a torpedo dropped from a Japanese plane or an airplane flying into a building? No. It will be in legislation that is hundreds of pages long and only has a few sections that make "minor" adjustments to how we live our lives, and usually justified by the plane flying into the building. This of course sets the stage for the next "minor" adjustment once we have gotten used to the first one. I see all of the people that complained yet complied with REAL ID since they needed to drive for work or to get groceries, etc. Now they are set to receive a mandatory "electronic authentication" for their license by 2013. Keep reading for good news on that front.
Right about now you're thinking, I'm one person, what can I do? The answer is everything possible- but only if Liberty matters to you. Tyranny can be fought using two resources: Time and money. You may have one but not the other. That's perfectly understandable. If you have time, you can alert others as to key issues, and then make a concerted effort to pass your concerns to elected officials. The ball is in their court at that point, and we must never forget actions taken in support of tyranny or against Liberty. We must expose their actions and convince them to either vote in support of Liberty or be removed from office- or perhaps to decide not to run for re-election.
This is a great time to mention a new effort underway in Florida for Liberty candidates and workers, regardless of party: Liberty Takeover 2012. Worried about getting involved? You should worry more about not getting involved. As many know, 3 years ago this spring I was ignorant as to political goings on and was happily spending quality time with my collection of vehicles and not much of a speaker or writer. I was decidedly anti-social. In the intervening years, God has blessed me with the ability to do both in an effective manner. All you need to do is have faith and take the first step.
If you do not have the time, again, it's 2012 and we live in a short-attention span society, so it's understandable. Do you have just $2 or $3 (or more) each month you could contribute (click to donate) to those that have the time but not the money to stand up for Liberty? If you do, here is what you will receive:
- Bills to combat tyranny. The legislative process is a time-consuming one, and usually little changes each session. Think of it as a pendulum, it takes a while to stop the swing in one direction and then reverse it in the direction you want. The fact the Florida Campaign for Liberty was able to get two bills filed in our first year of doing so speaks volumes for our ability.
- Vigilance. As I've noted, new bills come along and you can't figure out what is in them based on just the title. As an example, the recent Highway Safety bill (HB 1223) contained two sections out of over 60 sections that dealt with tracking chips ("electronic authentication") on licenses. This was not an easy thing to find, but once we did, we met with the House bill's sponsor to inform him and get acceptable common ground. We also got an amendment removing this language on the Senate side. If the Florida Campaign for Liberty had not been involved in this, neither would have happened and by now both bills would be well on the way to becoming law. I'll note we were not around and doing this in 2008 when we got REAL ID. If we had been, maybe things would have been different.
- Bang for the buck and a bargain. All money donated in Florida is used in Florida. Lots of people are asking for your money- some, like the IRS are in fact demanding it. Lobbying is a $50 million a year industry in Florida. Liberty has but two lobbyists, and we need help. Compare the salaries: The DMV pays their lobbyist (with our tax dollars) over $80K/year. My county just spent $20K for two lobbyists for a month's worth of work. The Florida Campaign for Liberty could employ several lobbyists for what the average lobbyist in Tallahassee makes. But we can't employ them without your donation.
Are our bills a slam-dunk? In no way. One has been blocked, and the other gutted. But we got them to the table in their first year. Normally it takes several years to do so. As an example, the red light camera law took 7 years to be passed. Next year will be our second one opposing the cameras. We can restore Liberty on that issue in less than seven years. We'll be back next year with more refined versions based on the feedback from legislators we received this year. We are not standing still or stagnant. Will you join us in this effort by volunteering or donating?
Since I've asked for a donation, here is the Florida Campaign for Liberty disclaimer:
Because of Florida Campaign for Liberty's tax-exempt status under IRS Sec. 501 (C) (4) and its state and federal legislative activities, contributions are not tax deductible as charitable contributions (IRC sect 170) or as a business deduction (IRS sect 162(e)(1)). Florida Campaign for Liberty is a 501(c)4 lobbying organization which neither supports nor opposes candidates for public office and claims no responsibility for the actions of individuals or groups of individuals who use the Florida Campaign for Liberty logo or name or who may claim to act as representatives of the Florida Campaign for Liberty without prior written consent of the Florida Campaign for Liberty..
About Paul Henry
Paul has a law enforcement background, having served as a Florida Deputy Sheriff and State Trooper for over 25 years until he retired. He worked many levels and positions within the FHP, from road patrol trooper to lieutenant in criminal investigations, where he investigated numerous criminal cases. After retirement, Paul wished to pursue his automotive hobby and be left alone, but saw an increasing amount of waste in government as well as the government's increasing involvement in our private lives and liberty, so he became politically active. Paul is the founder of the non-partisan citizen's group Floridians Against REAL ID, and authored two bills for the 2012 Florida legislative session: REAL ID partial repeal and Motorist Rights (red light cameras). Paul is the 2013 Legislative Action Committee Chair for The Tea Party Network, a network for constitutional and Tea Party groups to do more than just complain about issues. Paul works as the Deputy Director for Legislative Affairs with the Florida Campaign for Liberty and lives in the Tallahassee, Florida area.
Sin, Gravity, and Liberty
While listening to a recent teaching by my Pastor, he spoke about how we are never stagnant in this life. The forces arrayed against us that result in Sin are like gravity. If we do nothing, we fall. This got me to thinking of a parallel: Liberty.
For many years, the colonists lived in America and did little to protect or guard liberty. As a result, the King of England imposed greater and greater tyranny until we fought a revolution. I see another instance of this in our modern lives. We as a whole sit back and do little to nothing while greater and greater tyranny is imposed upon us. For the record, Webster defies tyranny as:
Definition of TYRANNY
It's pretty cool how Thomas Jefferson was quoted in the first definition. Anyhow, we'll focus on #2, a government in which absolute power is vested in a single ruler. As the kids in the backseat on a road trip are prone to ask, "Are we there yet?". The answer is no, we're not. But we are on the way. Consider my area of focus: The federal REAL ID Act of 2005, which gave the Secretary of Homeland Security (a single ruler) the authority as to when a "federal identification" can be required (Title II, Section 201(3)). In a recent State legislative committee hearing, a representative of the State DMV kept using the term "federal standards" for State driver licenses. Under our Constitution, there can be no such thing for a State-issued driver license.
Next, here is the definition of Liberty:
Definition of LIBERTY
We don't need to go past the first one.
I've written about a very well-known period of tyranny in our world: Nazi Germany. As I've noted, Mr. Hitler did not assume power and the following week start mass executions of people he didn't like. It was a gradual process, which was made possible by the people of Germany not doing anything. Within about 10 years, the mass executions were taking place. During that time, another Pastor, Martin Niemöller, wrote something that falls right in line:
It's been said actions have consequences, but it's also just as true that inactions have consequences. I've recently updated this site to include a quote from a friend of mine, Andrew Nappi, who is with the Florida 10th Amendment Center. It's on the upper right hand side of this page, and is certainly worth repeating here:
"One opposes tyranny, or one enables it. There is no middle ground and time is not an ally. Wrapping tyranny in the flag and calling it security makes it no less evil."
Key there is that time is not an ally. As each day/week/month passes, we must be vigilant as to efforts to reduce our Liberty. We can never remain stagnant- the forces against us are not so. Will the next attack on our Liberty be as plain as a torpedo dropped from a Japanese plane or an airplane flying into a building? No. It will be in legislation that is hundreds of pages long and only has a few sections that make "minor" adjustments to how we live our lives, and usually justified by the plane flying into the building. This of course sets the stage for the next "minor" adjustment once we have gotten used to the first one. I see all of the people that complained yet complied with REAL ID since they needed to drive for work or to get groceries, etc. Now they are set to receive a mandatory "electronic authentication" for their license by 2013. Keep reading for good news on that front.
Right about now you're thinking, I'm one person, what can I do? The answer is everything possible- but only if Liberty matters to you. Tyranny can be fought using two resources: Time and money. You may have one but not the other. That's perfectly understandable. If you have time, you can alert others as to key issues, and then make a concerted effort to pass your concerns to elected officials. The ball is in their court at that point, and we must never forget actions taken in support of tyranny or against Liberty. We must expose their actions and convince them to either vote in support of Liberty or be removed from office- or perhaps to decide not to run for re-election.
This is a great time to mention a new effort underway in Florida for Liberty candidates and workers, regardless of party: Liberty Takeover 2012. Worried about getting involved? You should worry more about not getting involved. As many know, 3 years ago this spring I was ignorant as to political goings on and was happily spending quality time with my collection of vehicles and not much of a speaker or writer. I was decidedly anti-social. In the intervening years, God has blessed me with the ability to do both in an effective manner. All you need to do is have faith and take the first step.
If you do not have the time, again, it's 2012 and we live in a short-attention span society, so it's understandable. Do you have just $2 or $3 (or more) each month you could contribute (click to donate) to those that have the time but not the money to stand up for Liberty? If you do, here is what you will receive:
Are our bills a slam-dunk? In no way. One has been blocked, and the other gutted. But we got them to the table in their first year. Normally it takes several years to do so. As an example, the red light camera law took 7 years to be passed. Next year will be our second one opposing the cameras. We can restore Liberty on that issue in less than seven years. We'll be back next year with more refined versions based on the feedback from legislators we received this year. We are not standing still or stagnant. Will you join us in this effort by volunteering or donating?
Since I've asked for a donation, here is the Florida Campaign for Liberty disclaimer:
Because of Florida Campaign for Liberty's tax-exempt status under IRS Sec. 501 (C) (4) and its state and federal legislative activities, contributions are not tax deductible as charitable contributions (IRC sect 170) or as a business deduction (IRS sect 162(e)(1)). Florida Campaign for Liberty is a 501(c)4 lobbying organization which neither supports nor opposes candidates for public office and claims no responsibility for the actions of individuals or groups of individuals who use the Florida Campaign for Liberty logo or name or who may claim to act as representatives of the Florida Campaign for Liberty without prior written consent of the Florida Campaign for Liberty..
About Paul Henry
Paul has a law enforcement background, having served as a Florida Deputy Sheriff and State Trooper for over 25 years until he retired. He worked many levels and positions within the FHP, from road patrol trooper to lieutenant in criminal investigations, where he investigated numerous criminal cases. After retirement, Paul wished to pursue his automotive hobby and be left alone, but saw an increasing amount of waste in government as well as the government's increasing involvement in our private lives and liberty, so he became politically active. Paul is the founder of the non-partisan citizen's group Floridians Against REAL ID, and authored two bills for the 2012 Florida legislative session: REAL ID partial repeal and Motorist Rights (red light cameras). Paul is the 2013 Legislative Action Committee Chair for The Tea Party Network, a network for constitutional and Tea Party groups to do more than just complain about issues. Paul works as the Deputy Director for Legislative Affairs with the Florida Campaign for Liberty and lives in the Tallahassee, Florida area.