During the Libertarian Presidential debate in May of 2004, Aaron Russo, Gary Nolan and I agreed that we would rotate the sequence so that each of us would be required to answer first one third of the time. One of the issues I was required to address was about the military draft. The moment I heard the topic I knew what my answer was, however the moderator felt compelled to elaborate for several minutes before I had an opportunity to respond. The audience didn’t know it, however I was growing more impatient – and sarcastic – the longer I waited for my turn to speak. When the moderator finally came to a question mark, I faced the audience and said, “Imagine that. Young people aren’t signing up to die in foreign countries the way they used to.” I had to wait quite awhile for the applause to subside before I could continue my answer. Since then, several people have told me this was the answer that tipped the balance of the debate in my favor.

What kind of an Alice in Wonderland world must you live in where you can be forced to join the military, and still believe that you live in a free country? I went to the Post office last week and spotted a stack of selective service forms urging men to “do the right thing”. A notation at the bottom of the front cover insists “It’s the law”, but a more important question would be – is that law constitutional?

Let’s begin at the philosophical beginning by asking who owns your body. The only legitimate answer is that each man, woman, and child owns his or her own body, as well as the fruits of their labor. The most embarrassing aspect of American history is that we had the idealism to write “all men are created equal”, but we failed – initially – to eliminate slavery in this country. In order to guarantee support from all the southern states, the Constitution (Article 1, Section 9, clause 1) explicitly states that slavery “…shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year one thousand eight hundred and eight…” This was because it was generally agreed that although slavery was immoral, the southern states demanded twenty years to gradually eliminate the practice. “Sorry, Amos. You’ll have to wear those chains for another twenty years so my financial stability isn’t inconvenienced too severely.”

So when did Congress take action to end slavery in the land of the free? Was it 1809? 1810? Fuhgeddaboudit! It wasn’t until 1865 that the Thirteenth Amendment was proposed and ratified. This amendment explicity says that “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude… shall exist within the United States…” Slavery is simple. It means that instead of owning your own body, someone else is claiming you and your productive output as their property. But what is involuntary servitude?

involuntary (adjective)
not voluntary; independent of one’s will; not by one’s own choice

servitude (noun)
1: slavery or bondage of any kind: political or intellectual servitude.
2: compulsory service or labor as a punishment for criminals:

Is it really necessary for me to point out that if I don’t want to go, and yet I am forced into bondage wearing camoflage or olive drab, that this is just a different flavor of slavery? So how does the United States government justify conscripting the youngest and healthiest members of our society into a dangerous profession not of their own choosing? That answer can be found in the Military Selective Service Act.

The Congress further declares that in a free society the obligations and privileges of serving in the armed forces and the reserve components thereof should be shared generally, in accordance with a system of selection which is fair and just, and which is consistent with the maintenance of an effective national economy.

I have several objections to this congressional declaration.
1) Just because Congress says it, doesn’t make it so.
2) Military obligations can be shared generally as soon as economic wealth is shared generally.
3) A system which forces you to do anything cannot possibly be considered fair and just.
4) Given the current “debate” on raising the debt ceiling, Congress isn’t capable of maintaining an effective national ecomomy.

Please do not reprimand me for not supporting our troops. I have a long standing reputation for being willing to fight for a legitimate cause, and many of my best friends are or were in the military. I know that most of our soldiers are solemn and sincere when they take an oath to protect and defend the Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic. I am prepared to defend the Alamo again tomorrow, if necessary. however I will always be in staunch opposition to slavery wherever I find it. Conscription is the strategy used by kings in a feudal system. A voluntary defense force – especially the civilian militia – is the only legitimate strategy in a Constitutional republic inhabited by a truly free people. That is not the law, apparently – but it should be.

When I die, Liberty is no longer my problem

Michael Badnarik
512-461-0995

“I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.” –Thomas Jefferson

I read with great interest a piece written by my friend and fellow activist, Phil Pepin, entitled “Why Elections, the Tea Party and Activism Won’t Save Our Republic.” Pepin claims the conflict to be not about Democrat vs. Republican. Labels have no meaning and are used by both parties to distract, divide and conquer—nothing more, nothing less. Nor is it about Left vs. Right. Again, meaningless, misleading labels. It is, says Pepin, about moral leadership vs. immoral power hungry tyrants on both sides of the aisle who abandoned their respect for Constitutional principles and the Republic long ago, craving—like drug addicted derelicts—their power “fix” to reign supreme and without end over sovereign states and the sovereign citizens who dwell therein.

I see this unholy alliance of “Tyrannists” (a term I coined to singularly define Statists, Progressives, and their kind) on the one hand, and CINO’s (Conservatives in Name Only) from BOTH parties on the other, now converging as a unified juggernaut focused menacingly at the very heart of the republic—We the People!

The Tyrannist/CINO coalition has successfully adopted and employed the idea that “the enemy of my enemy is my friend.” Those of us opposing them, the ones I call “Constitutional Conservatives”, are now facing the fight of their very lives.

Akin to the theatrical good vs. evil scenario, the Tyrannist/CINO army of subjugation and conquest threatens to destroy the foundation of personal sovereignty this republic defined, fought for, and cultured over the last 235 years. Are We, the People, the true Constitutional Conservatives of all races, cultures and political beliefs, to succumb to tyranny and surrender what remains of our God given sovereignty or will we fight as “counter-revolutionaries” to retake the republic from the Progressive “revolutionaries” now openly marching behind the banner of tyranny and pseudo-conservatism? What are we to do and, more importantly, how are we to do it?

Dump the Labels

I propose we jettison the labels created by the enemies of the republic. Specifically, “Democrat” and “Republican.” They are meaningless! They serve no purpose but to divide the citizens—one from the other. The idea that all Democrats are “liberal” and all Republicans “conservative” is utter nonsense! Elderly citizens, many proudly wearing the “Democrat” ID badge, are about as liberal as Ronald Regan was! On the other hand, the citizens of Texas have seen it’s so called Republican “conservative” leadership in the Senate, House of Representatives and even the governor’s office time and time again salute and pledge allegiance to the Tyrannist/CINO banner. (Witness the complete failure of “conservative” leadership regarding sanctuary cities, TSA anti-grope and similar legislation in the Texas 82nd Legislature.) Self professed Republicans, hiding behind the mask of conservatism, constantly retreating before the onslaught of the Tyrannist/CINO horde, spewing conservative slogans all the while admitting they would rather switch than fight—where does it end? Not only is this behavior disgusting and shameful but the citizens are left unprotected and defenseless to face—alone—the monster that is the federal government and its rogue minions who continue to subjugate us from state houses across the land.

Join Forces

Grassroots organizations must evolve into lean, mean, formidable teams of Constitutional Conservatives. One example (of many) is a concept developed and taught by JD Benfer of San Antonio, Texas. The Citizen Lobbyist Network (CLN) has proven itself to be a successful vehicle for counter-revolutionaries, i.e., US! Specifically, CLN trains grassroots activists how to move from the lawn of the state capitol into the offices of the legislators within while successfully lobbying for conservative issues. Think of this “lawn to lobby” concept as a wagon wheel. At the center is the hub—the training command center for grassroots counter-revolutionaries. The spokes of the wheel represent the various activist organizations throughout the state or region. The rim of the wheel is the communications network the groups develop for themselves—in person, phone, email, fax, text, Facebook, Twitter, etc.

The coalescing force of the CLN concept has produced various degrees of success. Texas legislators were completely caught off guard when group after group of “citizen lobbyists” confronted them in a united front on issues most important to Texas conservative citizens. However, even with citizen lobbyists standing on their desks, the legislators often ignored them and marched to the beat of the CINO drum.

A Tough Nut To Crack—But It CAN Be Done!

We have learned here in Texas that several “fronts” must be fought simultaneously to “crack” the Tyrannist/CINO outer “skin” while destroying the “machine” from within:

1. Maintain the pressure on the outer wall. Specifically, bombard the camps of both Tyrannists and CINOs demanding they listen and comply with the demands of the Constitutional Conservatives. Let them know WE WILL NOT GO AWAY! We CAN wear them down with a constant, coordinated “bombardment” of Citizen Lobbyists in their state capitol offices as well as their district offices. Spare no one. Don’t ignore those seemingly true conservatives who compromise conservative values for a “quick and easy fix” whenever and wherever the moment is right. Appearances are always deceiving in politics and the state house and governor’s office is no different.

2. Openly support those legislators that are true Constitutional Conservatives and have proven themselves as such by their actions, i.e., voting record, legislation sponsorship, etc. Let those that truly talk the talk AND walk the walk know we will support them vigorously and that a Tyrannist/CINO attack on one conservative legislator will be considered an attack on all—and that the citizens will respond in kind!

3. Convince those Constitutional Conservatives in the Legislature to speak openly about those who appear to embrace conservative values yet privately pray at the Tyrannist/CINO alter. Bring to light that information and disseminate it across activist state-wide lines of communication. Let all political “dirt” be brought to light. Let the people deal with those who betray conservative ideology from without. Encourage and support true conservative legislators to deal with tyrannists/CINOs from within.

4. Influence and support legislators to introduce, and pass, service term limits. Twelve years is more than enough time to spend in any one job. Complacency and familiarity breed contempt (of constitutional principles (not to mention the citizens)). New, fresh faces and ideas are needed to invigorate the legislative process and keep government honest. Term limits must apply to the governor’s time in office as well. Insist on it via referendum if necessary.

5. Don’t wait for the general election in November to face the Tyrannists/CINOs. By then it is too late! Draft, groom and support (financially and morally) those Constitutional Conservatives willing to give of themselves for the good of society. Run for office yourself! If not for the state house, then for city council, county commissioner, local school board, etc. Don’t wait for others to approach you. Take the point and lead the way for Constitutional Conservatives everywhere. Look yourself in the mirror and ask yourself: “If not you, then who?”

The Tyrannist/CINO machine is gaining momentum. They know we, the Constitutional Conservatives, now know and fully understand their objectives: loss of personal sovereignty, liberty and property. We are in the eleventh hour, Patriots. If we do nothing, if we stand down, if we ignore the grim reality that envelops us then we are lost. The time is now, citizens, to engage the domestic enemies of our republic. To do otherwise, is to surrender, hoist the white flag of defeat and bind ourselves, and our children, into slavery.