[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 14]
[House]
[Pages 19189-19190]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                            THE CONSTITUTION

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Paul) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, the U.S. Constitution is the most unique and 
best contract ever drawn up between a people and their government 
throughout history. Though flawed from the beginning, because all men 
are flawed, it nevertheless has served us well and set an example for 
the entire world.
  Yet no matter how hard the authors tried, the inevitable corrupting 
influence of power was not thwarted by the Constitution. The notion of 
separate States and local governments championed by the followers of 
Jefferson was challenged by the Hamiltonians almost immediately 
following ratification of the Constitution.
  Early on the supporters of strong centralized government promoted 
central banking, easy credit, protectionism, mercantilism and subsidies 
for corporate interests.
  Although the 19th century generally was kind to the intent of the 
constitution, namely limiting government power, a major setback 
occurred with the Civil War and the severe undermining of the principle 
of sovereign States.

                              {time}  2000

  The Civil War will finally change the balance of power in our 
federalist system, paving the way for centralized big government.
  Although the basic principle underlying the constitutional republic 
we were given was compromised in the post Civil War period, it was not 
until the 20th century that steady and significant erosion of the 
Constitution restraints placed on the central government occurred. This 
erosion adversely affected not only economic and civil liberties but 
foreign affairs as well.
  We now have persistent abuse of the Constitution by the executive, 
legislative and the judicial branches. Our legislative leaders in 
Washington demonstrate little concern for the rule of law, liberty and 
our republican form of government.
  Today, the pragmatism of the politicians, as they spend more than $2 
trillion annually, create legislative chaos.

[[Page 19190]]

The vultures consume the carcass of liberty without remorse. On the 
contrary, we hear politicians brag incessantly about their ability to 
deliver benefits to their district, thus qualifying themselves for 
automatic reelection.
  The real purpose of the Constitution was the preservation of liberty, 
but our government ignores this while spending endlessly, taxing and 
regulating. The complacent electorate who are led to believe their 
interests and needs are best served by a huge bureaucratic welfare 
state convince themselves that enormous Federal deficits and 
destructive inflation can be dealt with on another day.
  The answer to the dilemma of unconstitutional government and runaway 
spending is simple: restore a burning conviction in the hearts and 
minds of the people that freedom works and government largesse is a 
fraud. When the people once again regain their confidence in the 
benefits of liberty and demand it from their elected leaders, Congress 
will act appropriately.
  The response of honorable men and women who represent us should be 
simply to take their oaths of office seriously, vote accordingly and 
return our Nation to its proper republican origins. The result would be 
economic prosperity, greater personal liberty, honest money, abolition 
of the Internal Revenue Service and a world made more peaceful when we 
abandon the futile policy of building and policing an American empire. 
No longer would we yield our sovereignty to international organizations 
that act outside of the restraints placed on the government by the 
Constitution.
  The Constitution and those who have sworn to uphold it are not 
perfect, and it is understandable that abuse occurs, but it should not 
be acceptable. Without meticulous adherence to the principle of the 
rule of law, minor infractions become commonplace, and the Constitution 
loses all meaning. Unfortunately, that is where we are today.
  The nonsense that the Constitution is a living, flexible document 
taught as gospel in most public schools must be challenged. The 
Founders were astute enough to recognize the Constitution was not 
perfect and wisely permitted amendments to the document, but they 
correctly made the process tedious and difficult. Without a renewed 
love for liberty and confidence in its results, it would be difficult, 
if not impossible, to restore once again the rule of law under the 
Constitution.
  I have heard throughout my life how each upcoming election is the 
most important election ever and how the very future of our country is 
at stake. Those fears have always been grossly overstated. The real 
question is not who will achieve the next partisan victory; the real 
question is whether or not we will once again accept the clear 
restraints placed in the power of the national government by the 
Constitution. Obviously, the jury is still out on this issue. However, 
what we choose to do about this constitutional crisis is the most 
important ``election'' of our times, and the results will determine the 
kind of society our children will inherit. I believe it is worthwhile 
for all of us to tirelessly pursue the preservation of the elegant 
constitution with which we have been so blessed.

                          ____________________