[Peace-discuss] Re: Chris and Me

[John W.]

By the way, my comment on the "rule of law" came from Chris's subject line:

Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2007 14:54:00 -0400 (EDT)
From: Chris Dodd <chris_dodd at chrisdodd.com>
Reply-To: chris_dodd at chrisdodd.com
To: jbw292002 at gmail.com
Subject: Holding the line on the rule of law



At 03:27 AM 10/19/2007, John W. wrote:

>I'm not quite sure how it happened, but Christopher Dodd and I are on a 
>first-name basis, and he writes to me.  A lot.  So I took the liberty of 
>composing this little reply to one of his more intimate missives.
>
>
>>John,
>>
>>It's been a busy day, but I wanted take a moment and let you know that I 
>>have decided to place a "hold" on legislation in the Senate that includes 
>>amnesty for telecommunications companies that enabled the President's 
>>assault on the Constitution by providing personal information on their 
>>customers without judicial authorization.
>>
>>I said that I would do everything I could to stop this bill from passing, 
>>and I have.
>>
>>It's about delivering results -- and as I've said before, the FIRST thing 
>>I will do after being sworn into office is restore the Constitution.
>>
>>But we shouldn't have to wait until then to prevent the further erosion 
>>of our country's most treasured document.
>>
>>That's why I am stopping this bill today.
>>
>>I've gotta run, but please visit my campaign website for more details.
>>
>>http://www.chrisdodd.com/fisa
>>
>>Chris
>
>
>Chris, I'm not sure how you and I got to be on a first-name basis, but I 
>like it.  I like it a lot.  I'm very flattered, actually.  I'm hoping that 
>you'll invite me over to your house sometime, and maybe help me qualify 
>for things like Medicare, Section 8 housing, etc.
>
>Meanwhile, I'm going to go out on a limb here.  I'm going to presume on 
>our budding friendship to remind you, just between you and me, that there 
>really is no such thing as the "rule of law".  It's a myth.  It's kind of 
>like that alternative version of the Golden Rule: "Them that has the gold 
>makes the rules."  The rule of law, properly stated, is this:  "Them that 
>has the power declare what the 'rule of law' is at any given moment in time."
>
>I studied law for four years, and tears used to roll down my cheeks as I 
>learned in detail just how politicized and ideological the Supreme Court 
>actually is, how profoundly unjust our "justice" system is, how greatly 
>the scales of justice and mercy are weighted against the poor and 
>disenfranchised.  When America's greatest Supreme Court Chief Justice, 
>John Marshall, can invoke the "law of discovery" and the "law of conquest" 
>as ex post facto rationales for stealing land from Native Americans, as he 
>did in a famous early case, one realizes with a vengeance just how hollow 
>the "rule of law" really is.
>
>And Chris...the Constitution doesn't merely need to be restored.  It needs 
>to be revisited, revamped, revitalized, to account for the profound 
>changes in American life over the past 218 years.  Our Founding Fathers, 
>the "Framers" as they're called, apparently didn't anticipate the 
>Industrial Revolution and the rise of multinational corporations.  Until 
>the corporations and those they're able to purchase in the federal 
>government are brought under some measure of control and accountability, 
>the Constitution will be constitutionally unable (if you'll pardon the 
>pun) to establish Justice, promote the general Welfare, and do those other 
>things that it declares as its purpose in the Preamble.
>
>"Accountability" is a key word here, Chris.  We've misplaced it in 
>America.  We've somehow lost sight of the notion that a government's sole 
>legitimate purpose is to enhance the quality of life for ALL of its 
>citizens AND their posterity, not just the top 1% in the short 
>term.  Until our elected representatives recognize and reclaim that notion 
>of genuine accountability, America will continue to rot from the inside 
>out just as every other Empire throughout history has done.
>
>The U.S. doesn't have far to go before it collapses like an empty suit of 
>clothes with no body inside, Chris.  I know this  with absolute certainty, 
>and deep in your heart you know it too.  It's all up to you.  I hope you 
>respect my intelligence and integrity enough to do what you have to do to 
>make America the great country it COULD be.
>
>Your friend,
>
>John Wason