A Judiciary Run Amuck

Republicans and Conservatives for America

I thought this was excellent... I'm passing on BRAVO Dave

April 27, 2005

TO THE EDITOR:


The "Justice Sunday" simulcast event sponsored by the Family Research Council, in Washington, DC., and many other Christian organizations cross the country, which calls for an end to the filibustering of judicial nominees with strong pro-life and Christian beliefs, has caused me to think about where we were and where we are insofar as our so-called separate but co-equal branches of government, and more specifically our judiciary is concerned. Suffice it to say, I believe that we are dangerously close to losing the Republic our Founding Fathers gave us over two centuries ago.
It comes as no surprise that our Founding Fathers viewed the judiciary as the least powerful of the three branches of the federal government, because should the courts have handed down an unpopular decision, the Congress would simply have passed a law to overturn the ruling. Since the Congress was the representatives of the people, this is clearly where our Framers felt the power belonged-WITH THE PEOPLE! How then did we get so far off the track? The answer is painfully simple: It is because WE THE PEOPLE, through our inaction and complacency allowed it to happen.

People of faith have allowed themselves to be compartmentalized, and made to believe that they have no place in the political or civil arena. Clearly, our Founding Fathers did not share this reckless philosophy. Our Constitution, not only establishes the Legislative, Judicial and Executive Branches of the Federal Government, it also sets out a system of checks and balances to ensure that one branch does not have more power than the other. So how did we get to that place in our history, where the United States, for all intents and purposes is run by the Courts? Again-WE THE PEOPLE, allowed it to happen, and it is going to be up to WE THE PEOPLE, and especially people of faith, to get this runaway train under control. However the process will not be an easy one.

Our Declaration of Independence, puts our current situation is perfect perspective: "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 a 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. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established, should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly, all experience hath shown, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But, when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government and to provide new guards for their future security. Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies, and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems of government."

While altering our form of government, may be somewhat extreme, there is more then adequate evidence to suggest that it is in need of some fine tuning. We rarely use the word OLIGARCHY, which describes a government by the few,and more specifically a few JUDGES, however I fear that we may be headed in that direction, if steps are not taken to reign in an activist judiciary. It is past time for Christians to become involved in the politicalprocesses of our country. We must take back the power that has been usurped by the Courts. To do otherwise risks the very core of our freedoms.

David J. Bowie
629 South Market Street
Elizabethtown, PA 17022-2533
717-361-8660
djb952@comcast.net