As further justification for the People to stop sending money to the federal government, this article reports on the treasonous behavior that occurred in the halls of Congress on October 2 and 3. 2002, regarding the unconstitutional commitment of this nation to war.

The government’s disdain and disrespect for the Constitution came out into the open on October 3, 2002, in the House of Representatives, during the second day of a two-day hearing on the Iraq Resolution (H.J. Resolution 114), "AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF MILITARY FORCE AGAINST IRAQ."

Congressman Ron Paul reminded the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on International Relations that the Constitution required a congressional Declaration of War before the armed forces of the United States could be applied in hostilities overseas, not H.J.R 114, a congressional Resolution authorizing the President to decide if and when to apply that force.

However, Chairman Henry Hyde is quoted, for the record, "There are things in the Constitution that have been overtaken by events, by time. Declaration of war is one of them…There are things no longer relevant to a modern society…Why declare war if you don’t have to?…We are saying to the President, use your judgment…So, to demand that we declare war is to strengthen something to death. You have got a hammerlock on this situation, and it is not called for. Inappropriate, anachronistic, it isn’t done anymore…."

The 50-member Committee then went on to vote against the substitute amendment offered by Rep. Paul, which read simply (after the resolving clause), "That pursuant to Article I, Section 8 of the United States Constitution, a state of war is declared to exist between the United States and the Government of Iraq and the President is hereby authorized and directed to employ the United States Armed Forces to carry on war against the Government of Iraq and to bring the conflict to a successful conclusion."

The Committee then went on to approve H.J. Resolution 114, which was eventually approved by Congress.

If anyone has lingering doubts about the corruption of the Legislative and Judicial branches and the devolution of our Constitutional system of check and balances into the instrumentalities of the powers that truly run our nation, the proof is now put before you.

The processes of limited government, defined by the Constitution are, indeed, no longer relevant and have been neutered to the extent that today only the shadow of a bona fide Constitutional government exists.

Our legislative leaders and federal judges feel so comfortable working outside the Constitution that they now no longer even hesitate to talk of such matters on the record. They make contemptible judicial decisions and strong-arm the workings of the legislative process to achieve their ends, knowing that the tentacles of power will protect them, their careers and their benefactors.

Indeed, the two most significant powers a People can grant its government are the power to tax and the power to commit to war. These are the most critical elements of government. As we sit today, our federal government is in gross violation of the strict limits the People have delineated around these crucial powers.

Any reasonable man would agree that every citizen has standing to sue if the cause of action is an alleged violation of the Constitution. In other words, the court’s determination of the constitutional question affects each and every citizen. However, the court’s have developed a "standing doctrine" as a way of avoiding certain questions. The standing doctrine says that for a plaintiff to have standing to bring an action he must show injury "different in kind and degree" from the injury suffered by everybody else. Otherwise, the court says, the plaintiff’s question is a "political question" for Congress to decide.

The case against the use of force in Yugoslavia without a declaration of war was dismissed for lack of standing. In other words, according to the court, the plaintiffs had to take their complaint to Congress – the very people who violated the Constitution, and who obviously were not going to listen to the plaintiffs.

In other words, Congress gets to change the Constitution (but in a way not authorized by the Constitution).

On the matter of petitioning the Legislature about unconstitutional abuse of the law making process and their oaths of office, the Foundation offers an insightful analysis contributed by Mike Bodine analyzing the two-day October 2002, House International Relations Committee hearing "authorizing" (unconstitutionally) the President to initiate war against Iraq.

Consider the full implications of the comment made by Chairman Henry Hyde:

Also of particular note in the proceeding’s transcript is Rep. Ron Paul (Texas) who, although brave enough to publicly, and aggressively, confront the Constitutional problems arising out of the Committee’s actions, failed to have the fortitude to actually vote for his own proposed amendment which was a direct, formal, and constitutionally proper, declaration of war against Iraq.

The American People are witnessing the real-time meltdown of the Constitution. The judges aid and abet the process. The representatives know it is wrong. Clearly, it is past time for the People to exercise their unalienable right to wrestle an errant government back into the limits unambiguously prescribed in our Constitution.

Indeed, the government’s refusal to grant redress at every turn leaves us but ONE peaceful option – keep our money out of Washington.

In the October hearing referred to above, Chairman Hyde makes the following admission which he reiterates:

Not so. This Foundation reminds everyone that it is the People, not Congress, that ultimately control the purse strings.

We The People have not just the right, but also the duty to protect our Republic from those forces that would destroy it. We must not allow the use of our own money to fund the destruction of that which so many of our countrymen have died for.

We call on all Americans to join us, educate yourselves and your families and prepare to engage in a peaceful, but pro-active mass movement to stop income tax withholding, filing and payment across our land.

History will attest to the moral certainty and righteousness of these actions. Together, we will stem the flow of the money that is enabling the silent overthrow of our Constitutional Republic.

It is un-American to fund tyranny, treason and despotism.

We love our country but we have come to despise our government because of its growing disrespect of the People and our Constitution.

It is time to put a collective foot down against the government’s abuse of its power.