Retired Marine urges strict adherence to Constitution

Two hundred thirty three years ago, a group of extraordinary men gave us what no country ever had before or since, a free nation predicated upon one principle – that all rights come from our creator, not man.
They further set rules of living in freedom, to halt all those who would prohibit it or take it away from us. This is what our U.S. Constitution is all about. The Founding Fathers put this responsibility in our hands. We the people are to be vigilant in keeping an eye on those elected to legislate in accordance, upon their oath, to the U.S. Constitution. Have we honored those Founding Fathers and colonials who gave up their families, their fortunes and, in many cases, their lives to give us liberty? I don’t think so.
I have been a well-traveled man and am retired from the U.S. Marine Corps after more than 20 years of honorable service. I have been a student of history – politically, theologically and militarily – for 36 years. I took seriously the advice of our Founders to be vigilant. With that being said, I come to the heart of the matter: This country no longer resembles or exhibits the Founders’ principles of the rights and liberties of the individual. Government has exceeded its constitutional limits.
Ask yourself if you are better now than 10 years ago or better than your father or grandfather. These two generations kept more of their hard earned money; you don’t. Now for the vinegar: It’s your fault. Narcissistic, pleasure seeking and plain just don’t give a damn attitude has contributed to an out of control spending government. Remember, corrupt, evil, wicked men will always lie, steal, cheat and use every means available to keep the money rolling in and their positions solidified. When they stupefy, mystify and mislead you, the American taxpayer, to believe in their ideology, and it certainly isn’t what our Founders firmly expressed in all their documented records, then it becomes a matter of time before we become what our Founders detested – a nation like all others, our rights gone and no happiness.
As I led your sons for more than 20 years, I constantly used one phrase to them: I challenge you. I use it again to my fellow Americans. This is our nation. We are responsible for it being corrupt. George Washington stated that our Constitution is for a virtuous and moral people. When the people are no longer virtuous and moral, the country will fall. What our elected officials need is what they fear: a United States. This means Americans united to tell them they are not doing the job; Americans who want the oath of office strictly adhered to. A Constitutional amendment would ensure this. The liars of government fear nothing, so give them something to fear – a population that wants the Constitution followed to the letter.
Now for those spin jockeys who will write their opinions based on Internet Web sites like Wikipedia, because they are too lazy to do the historical research, let me say that I am saddened by your lack of vigilance. Remember we inherited our country from those who did the suffering? Isn’t it about time you gave them your time? Expect to be ridiculed and wrongly perceived. Our Founding Fathers endured this and worse from England and all the money loving powers that tried to prevent them from declaring their freedom and to keep them taxpayers to those who were corrupt.
Today is no different. We are all still slaves to the powerful who employ false spending in government. Our taxes keep them enjoying a privileged life for themselves and their families. Let us show the world that we are carrying on the torch of liberty and being the vigilant Americans our Founders envisioned us to be. We must exercise our Constitutional rights to file grievances and petitions of unfair, unconstitutional laws.
Thomas Jefferson feared the Supreme Court would make law instead of applying it. The Supreme Court is to apply the law and not reinterpret what has already been plainly stated.
If we are so free and better off, why doesn’t our lifestyle mirror the first 100 years after our founding? Life was hard, but fair, pleasant and successful and government stayed out of our personal lives. Today families are working themselves to death just to maintain the basic necessities in an age where tax, tax and tax is the cry from our government.
Unconstitutional spending is not to be tolerated. The U.S. Constitution is constantly under attack by elected officials who trample it, after swearing to follow and obey it. They despise it because it prevents them from complete control of every American life. Let’s sound the message that enough is enough. Get involved and let’s rally to our Constitution; then look up and we might just find the propitious smiles of our Founders.

Robert Fleig is a retired member of the U.S. Marine Corps and lives in Abingdon.