The Next Time You are Invited to Fight Like Hell for Senator Mike Gravel, Do It!
Joseph Raglione
July 26, 2009
Gentle readers of the American Chronicle, a few short months ago I was faced with a choice to support Senator Mike Gravel for President, or write and publicize Barack Obama for President. Based on the issues, I decided to continue helping Mike Gravel win the election and only when Senator Gravel had absolutely zero chances left of winning did I shift gears to help Barack Obama climb what turned out to be a very long and arduous social political ladder...however, that move did not in the slightest negate the wonderful concept Mike Gravel created and wanted to give to the people of the United States! Therefore, here is a blast from the recent past, Mike Gravel's "National Initiative Plan"...>
Gentle Readers of the American Chronicles, allow me to introduce Jonathan Kraus, Deputy Campaign Manager for Senator Mike Gravel who is and remains a 2008 Presidential candidate,
with or without permission from the corporate Media.
I Quote "
Dear Joseph,
I'm on the road working for Mike Gravel's presidential campaign, and I got word of your extremely generous offer to help raise awareness for Gravel on the web before Super Tuesday. Emphasizing the National Initiative and how it is the only true way to "empower the people" is the most vital part of his candidacy. But it also needs to be connected with more immediate issues that people can connect with; healthcare, ending the war, removing the income tax, and so on.
If you have any questions of what to feature, please write back to this email address, or give me a call (203-209-7736)
As for Gravel's emphasis on the environment, here are a few points to put in context. He would cut the defense budget by 60%, and give us a stronger, more efficient military. He would institute a carbon tax right at the source (the lump of coal and barrel of oil), which would filter through the system and shift our infrastructure to carbon-free, zero-emissions technology very rapidly. He has said "we can get off of gasoline in 5 years, and off of carbon in 10." He has accurately pointed out that in 1940, the United States had no military capacity, and within 3 years, they were producing a Liberty Ship every day. This was over 60 years ago.
There is clearly no reason why our industry could not rally behind a massive, immediate revolution to deal with the juggernaut of global warming. The only impediments are a lack of will and corruption in the (past Republican) government, which corrupts our industry. A carbon tax would demand that top polluters shape up, or suffer the consequences in the market. They would not have the ability to buy their way out with something like cap & trade. If applied on a global level, worldwide solutions could be created in an incredibly swift manner. No other candidate talks about the crisis with remotely the same level of urgency, or with a plan remotely as effective.
That's all I have for now, but we all really appreciate your offer to help, and let's make some noise for Gravel on Super Tuesday!
Best,
Jon
Jonathan Kraus
Deputy Campaign Manager
Mike Gravel for President 2008
203.209.7736
Unquote "
A few days ago, John Kerry and Edward Kennedy sent me a generic email asking I write for their candidate, Barak Obama, on the American Chronicles. I thought about it for five minutes and then decided, what the hell, I've spent my whole life fighting for underdogs! Why stop now! Go Senator Michael Gravel Go!...The following is Mike Gravel's plan for a People Powered Government...The National Initiative.
Allow me to introduce to you the concept of the 'National Initiative', the brain-child of presidential candidate: Mike Gravel, one of the smarter human beings on this planet! Senator Mike Gravel has entered the Presidential race in order to make you aware of a little known fact in your U.S. Constitution, the fact that you, THE PEOPLE, have the right to make your own laws. Heck, I wish they allowed us to do that up here in Imperial Canada!
The National Initiative
Newsletter
The Concept of the National Initiative...
The central power of government in a Democracy is lawmaking 末 not voting, and he who makes the rules controls the game! The Laws created by government determine if and when, how and which citizens can vote and as a (seriously negative) result, governments throughout history have been (dangerous) tools of oppression. This need not be! Ordinary American citizens can gain control of their government by becoming lawmakers, stemming government growth and turning it to public benefit.
Are the people qualified to be lawmakers? I say yes because, well, theyｴre qualified enough to give their power away on Election Day to manipulating politicians who say almost anything to get elected. Itｴs easier to make decisions affecting oneｴs self-interests (after consulting with knowledgeable sources if one chooses) than it is to select representatives or agents bent on power. One hopes these representatives have knowledge of the issues and the integrity to place their constituentsｴ interests above their own. Thatｴs a tall order for human nature.
The problem is: how do Americans become lawmakers? The solution: Voting on bond issues is lawmaking. Twenty-four states already allow people to make laws at the state and local levels, but unfortunately, the people are under representative State control. Congress is not about to really empower the people. The result: the U.S. government (with Senators bought and paid for by industrial corporate lobbyists) continues to grow and democracy slouches towards one-party tyranny and the loss of freedom.
The answer: the 'National Initiative for Democracy', which is a legislative package sponsored by The Democracy Foundation. You can locate them at (www.ni4d.us). They are a non-profit IRS 501 C (3) corporation, which fundamentally includes both an Amendment to the Constitution and a Federal Law. The Democracy Amendment: 1) amends the Constitution asserting the legislative powers of the people and: 2) outlaws the use of monies not from natural persons in initiative elections. 3) It creates an Electoral Trust (vital to creating and maintaining citizen lawmaking independent of representative government and also important for defining the role of its trustees;) and 4) it legitimizes the national election conducted by the 'Philadelphia II' foundation, a non-profit IRS 501 C (4) corporation, giving Americans the opportunity to vote on the National Initiative.
The Democracy Act is a proposed federal law that: 1. Sets out deliberative legislative procedures (copied from Congress and vital for intelligent lawmaking) to be used for initiative lawmaking by citizens and: 2. Defines the limited powers of the Electoral Trust that administers the legislative procedures on behalf of the people. 3) Defines the electoral threshold that must be reached for the National Initiative to become the law of the land.
(It is important to understand that the National Initiative does not alter the existing structure or powers of representative governments. Rather, it adds an additional check 末 THE PEOPLE 末 to our system of Checks and Balances, while setting up a working partnership between the people and their elected representatives.)
Once the people become lawmakers, they will be able to reform many of the dysfunctional practices of representative government by enacting laws created and initiated by a majority of voting citizens.
How can the National Initiative become law if itｴs not enacted by the Congress? There are only two venues within our government structure where constitutions and constitutional amendments and laws can be enacted in order to become legal. The First venue is THE PEOPLE or their elected representatives. (For those citizens and legislaters who insist on retaining representative governmentｴs legislative monopoly, they'll forever remain stuck in a system that either refuses to or is incapable of reforming itself.) Those who are prepared to turn to 'THE PEOPLE' for much needed changes in government, must first appreciate that the 'Framers' in 1787 did not provide specific procedures in the Constitution for 'THE PEOPLE' to amend the Constitution or make laws. This is where venue number Two comes in. The Framers did provide amending procedures for themselves in Article V of the Constitution, perpetuating their control of government. Naturally, conventional wisdom now holds that Article V is the only way to amend the Constitution.
Article V is how the government amends the Constitution, not how the people would do it. If 'THE PEOPLE' had to use Article V to amend the Constitution they would need permission from two-thirds of the Congress and three-fourths of the state legislatures. This would mean that the creator of our government, 'THE PEOPLE', would have to get permission from their elected representatives to amend the Constitution and this creates ludicrous logic! The constituent power of THE PEOPLE 末 the source of all political power 末 cannot be subject to the power of its creation or....(the createes of the people!) James Madison had it right when he said that the people could just do it! The people can amend and legislate as long as the process they employ is fair, transparent and reasonable. Todayｴs technology permits us to ask all American citizens if they wish to be empowered as lawmakers by enacting the National Initiative in a process that is fair, transparent and reasonable.
We, THE PEOPLE must support and fund and vote for the National Initiative if we are ever to have a government "by the people."
Vote Mike Gravel for President!
Gentle Readers of the American Chronicles, allow me to introduce Jonathan Kraus, Deputy Campaign Manager for Senator Mike Gravel who is and remains a 2008 Presidential candidate,
with or without permission from the corporate Media.
I Quote "
Dear Joseph,
I'm on the road working for Mike Gravel's presidential campaign, and I got word of your extremely generous offer to help raise awareness for Gravel on the web before Super Tuesday. Emphasizing the National Initiative and how it is the only true way to "empower the people" is the most vital part of his candidacy. But it also needs to be connected with more immediate issues that people can connect with; healthcare, ending the war, removing the income tax, and so on.
If you have any questions of what to feature, please write back to this email address, or give me a call (203-209-7736)
As for Gravel's emphasis on the environment, here are a few points to put in context. He would cut the defense budget by 60%, and give us a stronger, more efficient military. He would institute a carbon tax right at the source (the lump of coal and barrel of oil), which would filter through the system and shift our infrastructure to carbon-free, zero-emissions technology very rapidly. He has said "we can get off of gasoline in 5 years, and off of carbon in 10." He has accurately pointed out that in 1940, the United States had no military capacity, and within 3 years, they were producing a Liberty Ship every day. This was over 60 years ago.
There is clearly no reason why our industry could not rally behind a massive, immediate revolution to deal with the juggernaut of global warming. The only impediments are a lack of will and corruption in the (past Republican) government, which corrupts our industry. A carbon tax would demand that top polluters shape up, or suffer the consequences in the market. They would not have the ability to buy their way out with something like cap & trade. If applied on a global level, worldwide solutions could be created in an incredibly swift manner. No other candidate talks about the crisis with remotely the same level of urgency, or with a plan remotely as effective.
That's all I have for now, but we all really appreciate your offer to help, and let's make some noise for Gravel on Super Tuesday!
Best,
Jon
Jonathan Kraus
Deputy Campaign Manager
Mike Gravel for President 2008
203.209.7736
Unquote "
A few days ago, John Kerry and Edward Kennedy sent me a generic email asking I write for their candidate, Barak Obama, on the American Chronicles. I thought about it for five minutes and then decided, what the hell, I've spent my whole life fighting for underdogs! Why stop now! Go Senator Michael Gravel Go!...The following is Mike Gravel's plan for a People Powered Government...The National Initiative.
Allow me to introduce to you the concept of the 'National Initiative', the brain-child of presidential candidate: Mike Gravel, one of the smarter human beings on this planet! Senator Mike Gravel has entered the Presidential race in order to make you aware of a little known fact in your U.S. Constitution, the fact that you, THE PEOPLE, have the right to make your own laws. Heck, I wish they allowed us to do that up here in Imperial Canada!
The National Initiative
Newsletter
The Concept of the National Initiative...
The central power of government in a Democracy is lawmaking 末 not voting, and he who makes the rules controls the game! The Laws created by government determine if and when, how and which citizens can vote and as a (seriously negative) result, governments throughout history have been (dangerous) tools of oppression. This need not be! Ordinary American citizens can gain control of their government by becoming lawmakers, stemming government growth and turning it to public benefit.
Are the people qualified to be lawmakers? I say yes because, well, theyｴre qualified enough to give their power away on Election Day to manipulating politicians who say almost anything to get elected. Itｴs easier to make decisions affecting oneｴs self-interests (after consulting with knowledgeable sources if one chooses) than it is to select representatives or agents bent on power. One hopes these representatives have knowledge of the issues and the integrity to place their constituentsｴ interests above their own. Thatｴs a tall order for human nature.
The problem is: how do Americans become lawmakers? The solution: Voting on bond issues is lawmaking. Twenty-four states already allow people to make laws at the state and local levels, but unfortunately, the people are under representative State control. Congress is not about to really empower the people. The result: the U.S. government (with Senators bought and paid for by industrial corporate lobbyists) continues to grow and democracy slouches towards one-party tyranny and the loss of freedom.
The answer: the 'National Initiative for Democracy', which is a legislative package sponsored by The Democracy Foundation. You can locate them at (www.ni4d.us). They are a non-profit IRS 501 C (3) corporation, which fundamentally includes both an Amendment to the Constitution and a Federal Law. The Democracy Amendment: 1) amends the Constitution asserting the legislative powers of the people and: 2) outlaws the use of monies not from natural persons in initiative elections. 3) It creates an Electoral Trust (vital to creating and maintaining citizen lawmaking independent of representative government and also important for defining the role of its trustees;) and 4) it legitimizes the national election conducted by the 'Philadelphia II' foundation, a non-profit IRS 501 C (4) corporation, giving Americans the opportunity to vote on the National Initiative.
The Democracy Act is a proposed federal law that: 1. Sets out deliberative legislative procedures (copied from Congress and vital for intelligent lawmaking) to be used for initiative lawmaking by citizens and: 2. Defines the limited powers of the Electoral Trust that administers the legislative procedures on behalf of the people. 3) Defines the electoral threshold that must be reached for the National Initiative to become the law of the land.
(It is important to understand that the National Initiative does not alter the existing structure or powers of representative governments. Rather, it adds an additional check 末 THE PEOPLE 末 to our system of Checks and Balances, while setting up a working partnership between the people and their elected representatives.)
Once the people become lawmakers, they will be able to reform many of the dysfunctional practices of representative government by enacting laws created and initiated by a majority of voting citizens.
How can the National Initiative become law if itｴs not enacted by the Congress? There are only two venues within our government structure where constitutions and constitutional amendments and laws can be enacted in order to become legal. The First venue is THE PEOPLE or their elected representatives. (For those citizens and legislaters who insist on retaining representative governmentｴs legislative monopoly, they'll forever remain stuck in a system that either refuses to or is incapable of reforming itself.) Those who are prepared to turn to 'THE PEOPLE' for much needed changes in government, must first appreciate that the 'Framers' in 1787 did not provide specific procedures in the Constitution for 'THE PEOPLE' to amend the Constitution or make laws. This is where venue number Two comes in. The Framers did provide amending procedures for themselves in Article V of the Constitution, perpetuating their control of government. Naturally, conventional wisdom now holds that Article V is the only way to amend the Constitution.
Article V is how the government amends the Constitution, not how the people would do it. If 'THE PEOPLE' had to use Article V to amend the Constitution they would need permission from two-thirds of the Congress and three-fourths of the state legislatures. This would mean that the creator of our government, 'THE PEOPLE', would have to get permission from their elected representatives to amend the Constitution and this creates ludicrous logic! The constituent power of THE PEOPLE 末 the source of all political power 末 cannot be subject to the power of its creation or....(the createes of the people!) James Madison had it right when he said that the people could just do it! The people can amend and legislate as long as the process they employ is fair, transparent and reasonable. Todayｴs technology permits us to ask all American citizens if they wish to be empowered as lawmakers by enacting the National Initiative in a process that is fair, transparent and reasonable.
We, THE PEOPLE must support and fund and vote for the National Initiative if we are ever to have a government "by the people."
Vote Mike Gravel for President!
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