Overstepping the Constitution

Take a look at this Section of our constitution. I am pretty sure this is the bonds set by the Constitution for our Congress and what they are allowed to do...

"The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;

To borrow Money on the credit of the United States;

To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;

To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;

To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;

To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United States;

To establish Post Offices and post Roads;

To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;

To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;

To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offences against the Law of Nations;

To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;

To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;

To provide and maintain a Navy;

To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;

To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;

To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;

To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings;--And

To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof." -U.S. Constitution Article 1 Section 8

So if I am to understand this Section of our Countries Constitution correctly, it is saying that these are the only responsibilities and powers given to the Congress. Is there anything today that is happening that in our Congress that they are overstepping their powers... I would be as bold as to say there are.

Elections... we've been duped.

I began reading and have found a few things interesting.

First off:

What's more important?

The Election for State Representative and Senate (Which is done locally)

Or

The Election for President of United States

May I propose that as our election process now stands I believe it is more important to focus our eyes on our own representatives and senate elections when they role forward. I believe in the past I have foolishly turned a blind eye to it all. I suppose I wasn't listening in school but from what I remember being taught or what was implied is that the most important elections were the Presidential Elections. But who votes for the President? Who passes laws nationally?

Your Representatives and Senate.

Secondly:

As the constitution now reads in Amendment XII:

"The Electors shall meet in their respective states and vote by ballot for President and Vice-President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves; they shall name in their ballots the person voted for as President, and in distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice-President, and they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted for as President, and of all persons voted for as Vice-President, and of the number of votes for each, which lists they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of the government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate; -- the President of the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the certificates and the votes shall then be counted; -- The person having the greatest number of votes for President, shall be the President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed; and if no person have such majority, then from the persons having the highest numbers not exceeding three on the list of those voted for as President, the House of Representatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, the President. But in choosing the President, the votes shall be taken by states, the representation from each state having one vote; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two-thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be necessary to a choice. [And if the House of Representatives shall not choose a President whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon them, before the fourth day of March next following, then the Vice-President shall act as President, as in case of the death or other constitutional disability of the President. --]* The person having the greatest number of votes as Vice-President, shall be the Vice-President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed, and if no person have a majority, then from the two highest numbers on the list, the Senate shall choose the Vice-President; a quorum for the purpose shall consist of two-thirds of the whole number of Senators, and a majority of the whole number shall be necessary to a choice. But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States."

As pointed out by the brilliant red text... our constitution is not being allowed to be fully realized. What choice do we get of vice president? May I suggest none. We are provided a ticket at which is decided by biased parties. So I would propagate that a system based on parties the way currently set is unconstitutional. What do you think?

The Journey Begins

As my first post I suppose I should explain my intentions and introduce myself. My Name Is Bryan O'Daly and I live just outside of Portland, OR. I love my country and want to see it succeed, however my recent view of modern political reform has caused me to slump my shoulders slightly. And at current state and progression I grow uncertain of our nation's future.

The provocation to this blog was believe it or not a film and further action on my part. The film was John Adams produced by HBO. I was quite impressed by it's informative nature... how much was speculation I am not certain but in the end it is irrelevant because really what I related to wasn't the politics of John Adams but rather the divine nature of the whole event. A people nudged to act and personal determination followed by blood and tears. Sacrifice to bring forth Liberty, which is embodied in our Constitution.

So I began to read some local news feeds and opinions of laws and modern legislature and found myself lacking in knowledge of the Constitution and how each law relates to it. So I decided to familiar myself with the documentation. And so the Journey Begins.

My intentions of this blog is to share with you some of my findings as I read this and further documentation in relating to standing and pending legislature.

I am a novice to all this... So I intend to be corrected if wrong or at least shaken at least. So hopefully through these experiences we all learn how to make this country a better Place.

Liberty and Justice for all,

Bryan O'Daly