Vote NO on a constitutional convention

I just wrote the following message to my state legislators urging them to oppose any call for a constitutional convention.

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To: Senator Greg Walker; Representative Sean Eberhart
Cc: Representative Eric Allan Koch; Representative Milo Smith
Subject: I urge NO on a constitutional convention

Thank you for your service to the citizens of Indiana.

Please vote NO on any resolution in the Indiana general assembly that petitions Congress to call a constitutional convention (as provided for by Article V of the U.S. Constitution).

I also urge you to vote YES on any resolution to rescind the 1979 resolution of the Indiana general assembly that favored a national constitutional convention.

I've become aware that several organizations are contacting state legislators to promote resolutions petitioning Congress to convene a constitutional convention, so this issue appears likely to come up in our general assembly, if it hasn't already.

Since leading constitutional scholars say a constitutional convention could not be restricted as to the amendments it could consider and propose, I am very concerned that such a convention could lead to proposing one or more amendments that could have a very harmful effect on our freedoms under the U.S. Constitution.

One need look no further than our own country's history to see that a convention called for the purpose of updating the Articles of Confederation ended up leading to an entirely new form of government instead.

With the current state of citizen knowledge of the precepts of liberty in the United States, the odds are not in favor of getting a better government than we have now if this situation should arise in our lifetime.

Although it would take three-quarters of the 50 states to ratify any proposed amendments, the biased news media and other opinion-molding institutions could easily help enable the ratification of undesirable amendments.

I understand that conservatives are split on this issue, but I am among those who feels that the risks posed by a constitutional convention far outweigh the possible benefits.

For more background information on this issue, I highly recommend the following items:

(1) "Beware of Article V," a 36-minute video free to view at
http://www.jbs.org/news-center/birchtube/69

This video was created specifically for helping state legislators understand the negative aspects of convening a constitutional convention.

(2) "Dangers of a Constitutional Convention," an article free to view at
http://www.thenewamerican.com/index.php/usnews/constitution/1241

(3) "Another Endorsement of a Constitutional Convention on Glenn Beck," an article free to view at
http://www.jbs.org/us-constitution-blog/5638

Please be sure to vote NO on any resolution calling for a national constitutional convention for the purpose of amending the U.S. Constitution.

Sincerely,
Bill Starr
Columbus, Indiana
Wed, 30 Dec 2009, 1:16 pm EST

Moral Criticisms of the Market

Ken Ewert does a great job of addressing moral criticisms often leveled against the free market by Christians.

Moral Criticisms of the Market

Postal Employees Live It Up | Cato @ Liberty

"Of course, private companies spend money on conferences, meetings, and events. But they don’t force people to buy their products or use their services. The USPS has a government-granted monopoly over first-class mail. It’s time to put an end to the government mail monopoly, and this audit is one more reason why." -- Tad DeHaven

Postal Employees Live It Up | Cato @ Liberty

Your Neighbor’s Contract You Can’t Refuse

A modern-day parable.

"A contract forced on someone else is not a contract. It is force. Every day, we pay for services we never requested, for prices never agreed to, from people we never met."

Your Neighbor’s Contract You Can’t Refuse

Chuck Baldwin: ‘Anger With Federal Government Not Enough’ | Independent Political Report

If conservatives/constitutionalists/libertarians would spend as much time and energy influencing elections and policies at the State and local levels as they attempt to do at the national level, we could turn this floundering ship of state around. -- Chuck Baldwin

For a fictional version of Mr. Baldwin's proposal, I recommend reading "Molôn Labé!".

Molon Labe! - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Chuck Baldwin: ‘Anger With Federal Government Not Enough’ | Independent Political Report

Which Comes First: Interventionism or Terrorism? by Jacob G. Hornberger

"The intervention comes first. The anger, hatred, resentment, and retaliation come second, followed by cockamamie explanations from the U.S. Empire and its chorus of interventionist supporters as to what has motivated the terrorists to strike." -- Jacob Hornberger

Which Comes First: Interventionism or Terrorism? by Jacob G. Hornberger

Sustainability: An Assault on Economics - Tyler A. Watts - Mises Institute

Excellent explanation of how prices trump "sustainability" in conserving scarce resources.

Sustainability: An Assault on Economics - Tyler A. Watts - Mises Institute

Earliest sunset of the year December 7

December 7 marks the earliest sunset of the year. (December 21 is the shortest day and January 4, 2010 is the latest sunrise, but that oddness is another story).

The natural clock time (aka Local Mean Time) for sunset in Indianapolis is 4:35 pm. This would be our sunset time today if Indianapolis had happened to end up at the middle of a time zone like Philadelphia or Peoria did.

The table below compares sunrise time today in Indianapolis with other United States cities located in their geographically-correct time zone.

You can see that Indy sticks out like a sore thumb on eastern time, but will be back in with the rest of the pack again if or when Indiana goes back to central time.

Sunset times on Monday, 7 December 2009

5:20, Indianapolis (eastern time)


4:35, Philadelphia (middle of eastern time zone)
4:35, Denver (middle of mountain time zone)
4:35, Reno (middle of Pacific time zone)
4:32, Nashville TN (nearly due south of Indy)
4:31, Peoria (middle of central time zone)
4:28, New York City
4:26, Las Vegas
4:20, Indianapolis (if returned back to central time)
4:20, Chicago
4:12, Boston
3:54, Bangor, Maine

Ref: http://www.usno.navy.mil/USNO/astronomical-applications/data-services/rs-one-year-us/

Congressman Ron Paul - Who Wants War? - Texas Straight Talk

Great arguments from Ron Paul against escalating the undeclared war in Afghanistan.

Congressman Ron Paul - Who Wants War? - Texas Straight Talk

Let’s Not Make a Federal Case Out of It! « J. Neil Schulman

Schulman helps put a few "outrages" back in perspective.

Let’s Not Make a Federal Case Out of It! « J. Neil Schulman

Does High Cholesterol REALLY Cause Heart Disease?

Some arguments against the conventional wisdom on cholesterol and statin treatment.

Does High Cholesterol REALLY Cause Heart Disease?

Letter to Congressmen: Support our troops; bring them home

Following is the message I just sent to my congressmen.


I urge you to vote NO to any funding for increasing U.S. troop presence anywhere overseas, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, or Iran.

I think it is time to really support our troops by bringing them home, out of harm's way, from the far-flung overseas reaches of the U.S. empire, and getting them back to work producing goods and services that the American people want and will pay for voluntarily.

I am all for maintaining a sufficient, constitution-sized, armed service to defend U.S. borders, but as far as overseas occupations and operations, I favor the defense policy of John Quincy Adams, and urge you to do likewise.

"Wherever the standard of freedom and Independence has been or shall be unfurled, there will America's heart, her benedictions and her prayers be. But she goes not abroad, in search of monsters to destroy. She is the well-wisher to the freedom and independence of all. She is the champion and vindicator only of her own." (U.S. House of Representatives, 4 July 1821)

John Quincy Adams on U.S. Foreign Policy (1821)

Thank you for your service to our state and country.

Sincerely,
Bill Starr
Columbus, Indiana


Contact U.S. Congressman Mike Pence : 6th District Of Indiana
- Fri, 4 Dec 2009, 1:24 pm EST

Contact Richard G. Lugar, United States Senator for Indiana
- Fri, 4 Dec 2009, 1:27 pm EST

Contact Indiana Senator Evan Bayh
- Fri, 4 Dec 2009, 1:29 pm EST

Can the County Sheriff Save the Constitution?

A practical decentralized approach to begin to shake off unconstitutional United States federal government usurpations.

Can the County Sheriff Save the Constitution?