JEFFERSON COUNTY WEST VIRGINIA
2009 T.E.A PARTY
CITIZEN'S RESOLUTION
We The People of Jefferson County, West Virginia, on this the fifteenth day of April in the year of our Lord two thousand and nine have convened at the Jefferson County Court House, located in the County of Jefferson in the Great State of West Virginia to proclaim our intentions to stand resolutely together against the forces that threaten to destroy or diminish this country which we love so very much.
We humbly but firmly state our intentions, that beginning this day, we shall stand united together as sentinels against these forces, which are seemingly bent on yoking the citizenry of this great Nation under the burden of an increasingly astronomical debt as well as the tyranny of repressive taxation and regulation. We stand equally determined to oppose those who would seek to fundamentally alter the fabric of this great nation from that envisioned by our honorable Founding Fathers. It is apparent to us that in so doing these forces are intent on usurping or even removing the blessings of "Life", "Liberty" and the very "Pursuit of Happiness" guaranteed to us by our Founders and indeed by our Creator.
We proclaim with all the patriotic passion within our hearts that it is our intention to peacefully protest, call to task and when necessary resist, within the bounds and decorum allowed in a civil society governed the rule of law, all those individuals, organizations, agencies and programs deemed by the citizenry to endanger the aforementioned rights and liberties. Our Founders and currently elected leaders should expect nothing less. Therefore, we present the following enumerated grievances raised by the people of this county and DEMAND in the strongest terms possible that they be heard!
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED THAT THE CITIZENS OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA DEMAND:
GOVERNMENT WITHIN THE BOUNDS SET BY THE CONSTITUTION!
That the Federal Government return to the originally intended strictly bound, constitutional government with limited enumerated powers. With specific recognition that those powers, economic and otherwise, which were not explicitly enumerated, are left to the States and to the individual citizens (Reference the 9th and 10th amendments). To quote Thomas Jefferson, our county's namesake: "a wise and frugal Government, [is that] which shall restrain men from injuring one another, shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned".
GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE AND BY THE PEOPLE - THEY WORK FOR US!
That the elected representatives of this people at all levels of Government be reminded that they represent "We the People" and therefore are in our employ and not the other way around. They have each sworn solemn oaths declaring that they will faithfully discharge their duties. Those who loose sight of this WILL be turned out of office by "We the People" on Election Day to be replaced by those who can and will represent the will of the people, while protecting our constitutional rights, which includes our right of economic self determination.
BALANCED BUDGET!
That the U.S. Government be required, to function within a balanced budget. The average citizen of this country must do this, it is only reasonable that the Federal Government do likewise.
STOP WASTEFUL SPENDING AND PASSING ON DEBT!
That spending must be curtailed. Our Country and its Government can neither "spend its way to prosperity nor borrow itself out of debt". The age old practices of earmarks and pork spending, along with the relatively new practices of bailouts and stimulus packages are bleeding our nation and its people dry. Stop enslaving our children to debts you created. It should be made illegal to add earmark amendments or modification to bills without putting them through full open deliberation. The names of the representatives who make those amendments should accompany the amendment, so that the people can easily identify who is responsible.
STOP THE TRANSFER OF WEALTH, PROMOTE FREE MARKET!
That expeditious steps be taken to cease the transfer of wealth taking place in this country through its confiscatory tax codes and unwanted and incredibly burdensome social programs. This form of tyranny must stop. The best way for this Government to care for it citizens is to promote and protect the Free Market System within our boarders and worldwide. Capitalism is a significant component of the freedoms we enjoy. We also encourage the development of a new flatter and fairer tax code for our nation.
NO TO SOCIALISM AND SOCIALIZED MEDICINE!
That we grow tired of repeatedly telling you that we want neither "socialized medicine" nor socialism in general. Neither system works, both have failed everywhere they have been tried. They stifle freedom of self determination and we can afford neither.
BAILOUTS AND FEDERAL TAKE OVER OF THE U.S. ECONOMY!
That in general the practice of forcing federal bailouts onto U.S. Companies is immoral and a poorly conceived contrivance designed to permit takeover of large portions of the U.S. Economy by the Federal Government. This practice must be stopped. It is an improper utilization of taxpayer funds and endangers the free market underpinnings of our society. Companies that fail in this environment can file for bankruptcy.
STOP CUTTING THE MILITARY!
That we demand the cessation of cuts in the military budget in order to pay for pork projects and pet social programs. Cutting our military budget doesn't remove threats; it only emboldens those who oppose us. Accountability in defense spending is of course a requirement, but endangering our country and its precious men and women in uniform is another matter all together. One which will not be tolerated. "Providing for the national defense is one of the few jobs the Federal Government does constitutionally have." Please, at least get that right. Let them do their jobs.
ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION!
That we demand a solution for the immigration problem which plagues our nation. It too is bleeding our economy. It is taking jobs away from law-abiding, faithful American Citizens, deluding our culture and more importantly it greatly endangers the overall security of our nation. Any solution presented must be based upon accountability to the law of the land, this is paramount.
MORE ON ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE DUE DILIGENCE!
That no U.S. Representative will vote on any bill, law or tax prior to making said instrument available to their constituents (e.g. on the Congressional Web Site) for no less than 48 hours. This is to allow for citizen review and comment. Issues immediately impacting the physical security of the nation may be exempted.
That no representative shall vote on any bill, law or tax without having reviewed it and participated in its deliberation in open session (except when bound by the Secrecy Act). To do so is tantamount to: "taxation or obligation without representation". The results of said vote are to be independently published to the public (e.g. to the Congressional Website) within 24 hours of that vote.
That "We the People" demand that our elected officials be accountable to us. That attendance records, along with voting records be made public and easily accessible by a formalized independent body. The practice of elected officials being able to vote on their own pay increases must cease. Their "cost-of-living" pay raises must be tied to that of all other civil servants and the U.S. Military. Anything above and beyond that amount must be raised as a ballot issue and taken to the people.
THE WARNING!
THAT IT BE KNOWN FAR AND WIDE THAT WE THE PEOPLE OF JEFFERSON COUNTY WEST VIRGINIA ARE DEMANDING ACCOUNTABILITY ON YOUR PART. WE ARE NOW AWAKE, WE ARE WATCHING, YOU WILL HEAR FROM US AND WE WILL BE VOTING!
[NOTE: A scroll version of this document was presented to the People of Jefferson County WV on the above mentioned date. All who attended the event were permitted to sign the document if they concurred with it. Most did so. For a video record of the signatures please visit www.wtpwv.com]
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