Warning ~ I’m feeling very snarky …
If you want to continue to live under the UNITED STATES Constitution of
America and if don’t
want to live under a GOP version of the Articles of Confederation V-O-T-E and make sure a Republican is never,
ever elected to a position of power in
this nation again…
I cannot say with certainty what a final version
of the new GOP framework for this land will look like if they win the Senate in
2014 and the White House in 2016 but I can make an educated guess as their
favorite parts of the Articles of Confederation are that the States are Sovereign, that The People are Armed and that the Federal Government is, basically, a Solver of Disputes Between Said States.
Picture it:
Let’s take the Keystone XL Pipeline as a simple example ~ Canada wants the pipeline to run through the United States. Texas wants it to run through the United States, too. The problem is environmentalists believe the pipeline is hazardous to the health of the entire planet and a whole lot of citizens in Nebraska believe their water source is directly threatened so they are all fighting the building of the pipeline together.
In a Brand New GOP world this issue would still tick off Texas, Montana, Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana, of course, so they would likely form a pro-KXL Pipeline Alliance, they would likely tell the environmentalists and the citizens of Nebraska to STFU! and with great glee they would likely send their State Militias out to secure the building of the pipeline ~ perhaps even changing state boundaries to reach their objective... what's to stop them?
Then what ~ you are probably asking right about
now? Well, war between some of our states, of course. It's a natural GOP progression.
(That should give you a pretty clear image of how our Non-United States. Survival of the fittest, codified! Plug in your own example
and see where it takes you via the new Government of your State, depending on what
State you live in of course. Some states might keep the systems they have now
or they might become Libertarian or Oligarchy or even Direct Democracy ~ who
knows?)
Now. To be fair. The 1781 Articles of Confederation did give Congress the
power to make treaties, maintain an army and coin money but I suspect those
chores would all be gone following a GOP
Constitutional Convention immediately after the 2016 Election except for,
maybe, protection of borders and creation
of worldwide empire, perhaps.
Here’s a look at the document the GOP reveres more
than the U.S. Constitution. It has been edited by me to highlight the most
ludicrous and chaotic and to strengthen my argument that Democrats must get out
and vote and they must vote Democrat!:
Edited Version: The ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION
To all to whom these Presents shall come, we the
undersigned Delegates of the States affixed to our Names send greeting.
Articles of Confederation and perpetual Union
between the states of New Hampshire, Massachusetts-bay Rhode Island and
Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.
One
The Stile of this Confederacy shall be
"The United States of America".
Two
Each
state retains its sovereignty (And there it is. Right up
front. End of story, really, but I’ll continue to play.), freedom, and
independence, and every power, jurisdiction, and right, which is not by this
Confederation expressly delegated to the United States, in Congress assembled.
Three
The said States hereby severally enter into a firm league of friendship with each other
(friendship, that’ll work with a lying cheating GOP, right?),
for their common defense, the security of their liberties, and their mutual and
general welfare, binding themselves to assist each other, against all force
offered to, or attacks made upon them, or any of them, on account of religion,
sovereignty, trade, or any other pretense whatever. (It is interesting to note the general welfare is included here ~ that’ll
change!)
Four
The better to secure and perpetuate mutual
friendship and intercourse among the people of the different States in this
Union, the free inhabitants of each of these States, paupers, vagabonds, and fugitives from justice excepted (and we can, surely, expect that exception
list to grow ~ it’s been a long time since that list was made…), shall be entitled to all privileges
and immunities of free citizens in the several States; and the people of each
State shall free ingress and regress to and from any other State, and shall
enjoy therein all the privileges of trade and commerce, subject to the same
duties, impositions, and restrictions as the inhabitants thereof respectively,
provided that such restrictions shall not extend so far as to prevent the
removal of property imported into any State, to any other State, of which the
owner is an inhabitant; provided also that no imposition, duties or restriction
shall be laid by any State, on the property of the United States, or either of
them.
If any person guilty of, or charged with,
treason, felony, or other high misdemeanor in any State, shall flee from
justice, and be found in any of the United States, he shall, upon demand of the
Governor or executive power of the State from which he fled, be delivered up
and removed to the State having jurisdiction of his offense.
Full faith and credit shall be given in each of
these States to the records, acts, and judicial proceedings of the courts and
magistrates of every other State.
Five
For the most convenient management of the
general interests of the United States, delegates shall be annually appointed
in such manner as the legislatures of each State shall direct, to meet in
Congress on the first Monday in November, in every year, with a power reserved
to each State to recall its delegates, or any of them, at any time within the
year, and to send others in their stead for the remainder of the year. (I severely cut this one re more boring management
stuff… see link above. Just note ~ power in
the State, not The People.)
Six
(Also
severely cut for purposes of relevancy to me…see link above.)
No two or more States shall enter into any
treaty, confederation or alliance whatever between them, without the consent of
the United States in Congress assembled, specifying accurately the purposes for
which the same is to be entered into, and how long it shall continue. (Sorry, this is exactly the kind of stuff
that totally defeats the purpose of the UNITED STATES and it is why I now call
the GOP anti-U.S. Government because they are!)
No State shall lay any imposts or duties, which
may interfere with any stipulations in treaties, entered into by the United
States in Congress assembled, with any King, Prince or State, in pursuance of
any treaties already proposed by Congress, to the courts of France and Spain.
No vessel of war shall be kept up in time of
peace by any State, except such number only, as shall be deemed necessary by
the United States in Congress assembled, for the defense of such State, or its
trade; nor shall any body of forces be kept up by any State in time of peace,
except such number only, as in the judgement of the United States in Congress
assembled, shall be deemed requisite to garrison the forts necessary for the
defense of such State; but every State
shall always keep up a well-regulated and disciplined militia, sufficiently
armed and accoutered, and shall provide and constantly have ready for use, in
public stores, a due number of filed pieces and tents, and a proper quantity of
arms, ammunition and camp equipage. (And there it is, guns for all, although
interestingly enough it does still say REGULATED.)
No State shall engage in any war without the
consent of the United States in Congress assembled, UNLESS such State be actually invaded by enemies, or shall have
received certain advice of a resolution being formed by some nation of Indians
to invade such State, and the danger is so imminent as not to admit of a delay
till the United States in Congress assembled can be consulted (Awesome. There are some times States can
declare war!); nor shall any State grant commissions to any ships or
vessels of war, nor letters of marque or reprisal, except it be after a
declaration of war by the United States in Congress assembled, and then only
against the Kingdom or State and the subjects thereof, against which war has
been so declared, and under such regulations as shall be established by the
United States in Congress assembled, UNLESS
such State be infested by pirates, in which case vessels of war may be fitted
out for that occasion, and kept so long as the danger shall continue, or until
the United States in Congress assembled shall determine otherwise. (Oh good,
more war stuff the States can do!)
Seven
When land forces are raised by any State for the
common defense, all officers of or under
the rank of colonel, shall be appointed by the legislature of each State
respectively, by whom such forces shall be raised, or in such manner as such
State shall direct, and all vacancies shall be filled up by the State which
first made the appointment. (Ugh.)
Eight
All charges of war, and all other expenses that
shall be incurred for the common defense or general welfare, and allowed by the
United States in Congress assembled, shall be defrayed out of a common
treasury, which shall be supplied by the
several States in proportion to the value of all land within each State,
granted or surveyed for any person, as such land and the buildings and
improvements thereon shall be estimated according to such mode as the United
States in Congress assembled, shall from time to time direct and appoint. (I can see a war breaking out between some
States over this…)
The taxes for paying that proportion shall be
laid and levied by the authority and direction of the legislatures of the
several States within the time agreed upon by the United States in Congress
assembled.
Nine
(Also
severely cut for purposes of relevancy to me… see link above.)
The
United States in Congress assembled shall also be the last resort on appeal in
all disputes and differences now subsisting or that hereafter may arise between
two or more States concerning boundary, jurisdiction or any other causes
whatever; which authority shall always be exercised in the manner following. (Good
Grief! I don’t think a real justice system has been mentioned yet!) >>>
It’s a slog but we need to grasp the chaos that ensued and we need to imagine
how much worse it can get… Whenever the legislative or executive authority
or lawful agent of any State in controversy with another shall present a
petition to Congress stating the matter in question and praying for a hearing,
notice thereof shall be given by order of Congress to the legislative or executive
authority of the other State in controversy, and a day assigned for the
appearance of the parties by their lawful agents, who shall then be directed to
appoint by joint consent, commissioners or judges to constitute a court for
hearing and determining the matter in question: but if they cannot agree,
Congress shall name three persons out of each of the United States, and from
the list of such persons each party shall alternately strike out one, the
petitioners beginning, until the number shall be reduced to thirteen; and from
that number not less than seven, nor more than nine names as Congress shall
direct, shall in the presence of Congress be drawn out by lot, and the persons
whose names shall be so drawn or any five of them, shall be commissioners or
judges, to hear and finally determine the controversy, so always as a major
part of the judges who shall hear the cause shall agree in the determination:
and if either party shall neglect to attend at the day appointed, without
showing reasons, which Congress shall judge sufficient, or being present shall
refuse to strike, the Congress shall proceed to nominate three persons out of
each State, and the secretary of Congress shall strike in behalf of such party
absent or refusing; and the judgement and sentence of the court to be
appointed, in the manner before prescribed, shall be final and conclusive; and
if any of the parties shall refuse to submit to the authority of such court, or
to appear or defend their claim or cause, the court shall nevertheless proceed
to pronounce sentence, or judgement, which shall in like manner be final and
decisive, the judgement or sentence and other proceedings being in either case
transmitted to Congress, and lodged among the acts of Congress for the security
of the parties concerned: provided that every commissioner, before he sits in
judgement, shall take an oath to be administered by one of the judges of the
supreme or superior court of the State, where the cause shall be tried, 'well
and truly to hear and determine the matter in question, according to the best
of his judgement, without favor, affection or hope of reward': provided also,
that no State shall be deprived of territory for the benefit of the United
States.
All controversies concerning the private right
of soil claimed under different grants of two or more States, whose
jurisdictions as they may respect such lands, and the States which passed such
grants are adjusted, the said grants or either of them being at the same time
claimed to have originated antecedent to such settlement of jurisdiction, shall
on the petition of either party to the Congress of the United States, be
finally determined as near as may be in the same manner as is before
presecribed for deciding disputes respecting territorial jurisdiction between
different States.
The United States in Congress assembled shall
also have the sole and exclusive right and power of regulating the alloy and
value of coin struck by their own authority, or by that of the respective
States -- fixing the standards of weights and measures throughout the United
States -- regulating the trade and managing all affairs with the Indians, not
members of any of the States, provided that the legislative right of any State
within its own limits be not infringed or violated -- establishing or
regulating post offices from one State to another, throughout all the United
States, and exacting such postage on the papers passing through the same as may
be requisite to defray the expenses of the said office -- appointing all
officers of the land forces, in the service of the United States, excepting
regimental officers -- appointing all the officers of the naval forces, and
commissioning all officers whatever in the service of the United States --
making rules for the government and regulation of the said land and naval
forces, and directing their operations.
The United States in Congress assembled shall
have authority to appoint a committee, to sit in the recess of Congress, to be
denominated 'A Committee of the States', and to consist of one delegate from
each State; and to appoint such other committees and civil officers as may be
necessary for managing the general affairs of the United States under their
direction -- to appoint one of their members to preside, provided that no person
be allowed to serve in the office of president more than one year in any term
of three years; to ascertain the necessary sums of money to be raised for the
service of the United States, and to appropriate and apply the same for
defraying the public expenses -- to borrow money, or emit bills on the credit
of the United States, transmitting every half-year to the respective States an
account of the sums of money so borrowed or emitted -- to build and equip a
navy -- to agree upon the number of land forces, and to make requisitions from
each State for its quota, in proportion to the number of white inhabitants in
such State; which requisition shall be binding, and thereupon the legislature
of each State shall appoint the regimental officers, raise the men and cloath,
arm and equip them in a solid-like manner, at the expense of the United States;
and the officers and men so cloathed, armed and equipped shall march to the
place appointed, and within the time agreed on by the United States in Congress
assembled. But if the United States in Congress assembled shall, on
consideration of circumstances judge proper that any State should not raise
men, or should raise a smaller number of men than the quota thereof, such extra
number shall be raised, officered, cloathed, armed and equipped in the same
manner as the quota of each State, unless the legislature of such State shall
judge that such extra number cannot be safely spread out in the same, in which
case they shall raise, officer, cloath, arm and equip as many of such extra
number as they judeg can be safely spared. And the officers and men so
cloathed, armed, and equipped, shall march to the place appointed, and within
the time agreed on by the United States in Congress assembled.
Ten
The Committee of the States, or any nine of
them, shall be authorized to execute, in the recess of Congress, such of the
powers of Congress as the United States in Congress assembled, by the consent
of the nine States, shall from time to time think expedient to vest them with;
provided that no power be delegated to the said Committee, for the exercise of
which, by the Articles of Confederation, the voice of nine States in the
Congress of the United States assembled be requisite. (Good Grief!)
Eleven
(How
very, very interesting.) Canada
acceding to this confederation, and adjoining in the measures of the United
States, shall be admitted into, and entitled to all the advantages of this
Union; but no other colony shall be admitted into the same, unless such
admission be agreed to by nine States.
Twelve
All bills of credit emitted, monies borrowed,
and debts contracted by, or under the authority of Congress, before the
assembling of the United States, in pursuance of the present confederation,
shall be deemed and considered as a charge against the United States, for
payment and satisfaction whereof the said United States, and the public faith
are hereby solemnly pleged.
Thirteen
Every State shall abide by the determination of
the United States in Congress assembled, on all questions which by this
confederation are submitted to them. And the Articles of this Confederation
shall be inviolably observed by every State, and the Union shall be perpetual;
nor shall any alteration at any time hereafter be made in any of them; unless
such alteration be agreed to in a Congress of the United States, and be
afterwards confirmed by the legislatures of every State.
And
Whereas it hath pleased the Great Governor of the World to incline the hearts
of the legislatures we respectively represent in Congress, to approve of, and
to authorize us to ratify the said Articles of Confederation and perpetual
Union. (Whaaat???)
Know Ye that we the undersigned delegates, by virtue of the power and authority
to us given for that purpose, do by these presents, in the name and in behalf
of our respective constituents, fully and entirely ratify and confirm each and
every of the said Articles of Confederation and perpetual Union, and all and
singular the matters and things therein contained: And we do further solemnly
plight and engage the faith of our respective constituents, that they shall abide by the determinations of the United States in
Congress assembled, on all questions, which by the said Confederation are
submitted to them. And that the Articles thereof shall be inviolably observed
by the States we respectively represent, and that the Union shall be perpetual.
In Witness whereof we have hereunto set our
hands in Congress. Done at Philadelphia in the State of Pennsylvania the ninth
day of July in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and
Seventy-Eight, and in the Third Year of the independence of America.
Agreed to by Congress 15 November 1777 In force
after ratification by Maryland, 1 March 1781
As weaknesses showed themselves, our Founding Fathers decided on a re-do.
Some of ~
And the GOP has been fighting to undo it ever since...
V-O-T-E or F-O-R-E-V-E-R hold your P-E-A-C-E !!!
