News From The Campaign Trail

18	May 2014	Restore States Rights – Repeal the 17th Amendment
		by: Dennis Linthicum

Liberator_bombs My opponent has spent the last two weeks carpet bombing the district with all sorts of glossy direct mail pieces. These gross distortions are Rep. Walden’s last desperate, fear-mongering attempt to nurture uncertainty and fear about my positions. My positions are straightforward – a return to liberty and freedom as guaranteed by the Declaration of Independence, the US Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. This means I am opposed to demagogues, like Walden, who believe that we are slaves to daily government edicts.

Unfortunately, Rep. Walden’s slanderous efforts harm our Republic more than they harm my campaign. One of the propaganda pieces makes the statement, “Dennis wants to take away your Oh_really2 right to vote...” First, nothing could be farther from the truth because State’s Rights are the cornerstone that uplifts, protects and strengthens your rights in our representative republic. Second, it’s disappointing to see my concerns about our national interests being slandered.

Our republican government refers to two things:

the origin of the powers of a government (the people), and
the manner in which these powers are exercised (via representation).

James Madison said that “we may define a republic to be ... a government which derives all its powers directly or indirectly from the great body of the people, and is administered by persons holding their offices…, for a limited period…” This is why we see Greg Walden thrashing so fiercely for the status quo — he enjoys his long tenure in D.C., something our founders would not have imagined.

James Madison also cleared the air with regard to democratic rule, stating, “Democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property.” Fisher Ames added, “The known propensity of a democracy is to licentiousness which the ambitious call, and ignorant believe to be liberty."

My position on the 17th Amendment

Today, the federal government has gorged itself on power and is wielding that power indiscriminately. The only solution strong enough comes from the U.S. Constitution. Our founding fathers had a better understanding of natural law than we do, despite our technological modernity.

Our nation’s framers understood and agreed with Lord Acton’s observation that, “power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Thomas Jefferson noted that good government is properly effected through the dispersion of power not through the concentration of power.

Repeal_the_17th Therefore, the first line of defense for maintaining “free and independent states” comes from the states themselves. Each state has a unique population demographic and natural resources, with differing interests and perspectives regarding program priorities. The federal government should not be entangled in these local interests. In the 2nd District we experience this continually: the Feds have successfully intruded into what should be local resource management affairs. The Federal government can then use the power of the purse (AKA, the printing press) to buy allegiance to their own bureaucratic and administrative interests.

For the past 100 years we have been slowly losing our rights. We have allowed the federal bureaucracy to discount and absorb our state’s specific interests. As a result, we hardly know how to weigh these issues from our state’s perspective.

My question is, why is returning to state-chosen, state-focused Senators so scary?

What is it about the 17th Amendment that makes people think a state-oriented focus would be detrimental to our national well-being?
Is it because some states want more federal tax money poured into their unique projects?
Is it because your current congressman wants to sponsor corporate crony interests with taxpayer subsidies and loan guarantees?

Over-arching federal control has stolen the dialogue and removed our focus from our local community and our local control. Greg Walden likes the status quo. He knows that I, as one man, cannot change the 17th Amendment and that this is a conversation about philosophy and ideas. However, this discussion scares Rep. Walden because it is an argument for state leadership and power instead of an impenetrable regulatory authority housed 3,000 miles away. Your current Representative is afraid to even discuss the potential changes which might diminish his own personal power.

Earlier this year Lawrence W. Reed commented on the progressive nature of the anachronisms that Greg Walden fully endorses:

“Without the 16th and 17th Amendments and the Federal Reserve, it’s inconceivable that the federal government could have grown from less than five percent of GDP in 1913 to nearly 25 percent in 2013. Were it not for those three gremlins, how many fewer trillions might our unconscionable national debt be? The toll on our liberties is also incalculable but surely considerable.”

Walden’s deceitful pretense that the 17th Amendment ensures our democratic voice is simply exploitation by a political elitist from Washington. My point is that a return to original intent is worth discussing and scare-mongering will only harm the public’s quest for truth.

Stop_feeding_the_rino In this primary election you have a real choice in whom you'd like to represent you. You can choose a 30-year incumbent politician who says nice things to you when in the district but whose voting record is tarnished with insider deals made with other Washington politicians — on both sides of the aisle. Or you can choose someone who is like you, someone who has worked in the private sector for 30 years and who is up to the challenge of standing against the political establishment.

You can read more about the 17th Amendment here, and I appreciate your vote.

7 Comments

Kaye Loraine ~ May 19, 2014 12:10

I voted for you. When will I hear that you won? The Republican House is doing a fantastic job. Benghazi, the FBI corruption, The corrupt DOJ, are some of their issues and I can imagine that they will investigate the VA. Trey Gowdy, as you know, is the leader in the Benghazi investigation. You will be with some fabulous people and that will make it easier for you to accomplish your goals. Politics is a hard job and I'm thankful you are willing to take on the task. What is impressive is what people have accomplished while in office. God bless. Kaye Loraine, RN, BSN, LNC. #
John springer ~ May 19, 2014 12:56

We have the 17th amendment because state legislatures are very easy to corrupt. Railroads, mining companies, and big corporations bribed legislators to put their people in the Senate around 1900. With citizens united it's not a lot better now, but at least people get a chance to vote. #
Scott Olson ~ May 19, 2014 13:03

Why do you think having Senators appointed by the state government is better than having them elected? Wouldn't that just remove power from the people and hand it to the government? It seems to me you're saying that the citizens aren't competent to choose their Senators but they are competent enough to choose people to appoint their Senators. I don't get it. #
Barney Rogers ~ May 19, 2014 13:51

Senators appointed by legislatures instead of elected directly by citizens nearly ensures that unfunded Federal mandates to State governments stop. A key problem in State governments is that Federal government has passed a myriad of laws, rules and regulations that States are required to enforce but it doesn’t provide one nickel to enforce these requirements. This process therefore “steals” money from the State treasury. Moreover certain states may not wish to enforce such one-size-fits-all policies. Legislature-appointed Senators stop this nonsense and return power back to the States. Senators then begin protecting State governments from an over-extending Federal one rather than agreeing with the idea that a more powerful Federal government is better. As far as State Legislatures being more corrupt than the Federal one... I don’t quite buy that. Instead I believe the idea that the further away someone is from the voting public (DC vs. Salem) the more likely they can get away with things no one in the voting district knows about. Note - if the 17th Amendment did not exist, we would be enjoying a Republican controlled Senate since 2010. #
Dennis Linthicum ~ May 19, 2014 16:43

Hello Scott Olson, State legislatures will be forced to be conservative once the printing presses are stopped. Today, the feds sponsor and entice state, county and municipal governments into bad decision making because of the funding stream coming from the federal treasury. The 17th allows this to continue because Senators are not beholding to the state's interests. Rather they, like modern Rino Republicans in the House, get to make promises from the federal trough that are not sustainable. Without the 17th, State legislators would never allow a Senator to vote for unfunded mandates from the federal government. Today, it happens all of the time, because the printing press can create money, or the FED can borrow it from China, or Congress can lay it on the backs of our children – all because something was a popular idea. ObamaCare fits this scenario – rhetorically popular, economically implausible and clearly unconstitutional. Is it really harmless because the money for it was created from thin air? Our state legislature did the same thing with Cover Oregon. They were either led astray, or willing participated because of the financial enticements coming from the federal government. I am suggesting that States would suffer economic harm, and legislatures would necessarily change their Senators if people suffered from the bad economic policies that plague Oregon and the rest of America. I believe this is what you are actually arguing for – accountability from the real world. Not 'printed paper prosperity' that will certainly end poorly for all Americans. #
Arthur Harris ~ May 19, 2014 20:00

Having you as our representative of this great district, within this outstanding State, and still the greatest country would be a dream come true. Why the political posture today deems that the only way to get elected is to denigrate and slander your opponent is beyond me. I pray that you get the necessary votes to bring your views and morale stance to the House of Representatives. GOD BLESS... #
Doug ~ May 20, 2014 00:00

Very well written and I applaud your stance on repeal of the 17th Amendment. The founders had it right. It was progressives that changed it. Imagine how a strong Senator can buy off another Senator or punish him for not voting his way, by withholding campaign funds. A Senator represent YOUR States Interest in the Union. Not other, more powerful Senators positions. We have outside money used to elect Senators to form a voting block. The Chamber of Commerce is opposing Tea Party candidates, so they can pass Amnesty and drive down wages, especially non-educated workers. This could be a set up for return of overseas labor, but in the end, the labor will either be unionized or patronized with Welfare to keep them loyal to Democrats. They intend to turn Texas blue, thru federal spending for housing under the next director of HUD and they want to control a larger volume of low wage workers, based on cheap housing and promises of a better life. Texas will begin to stall. Democrats use government to create more business, but its done as favors to contributors. The money never gets paid back. Outsiders are shut out of the process. The electrical coal plants shut down, allow more coal to be shipped to China, by Warren Buffets, Burlington Northern. He also hauls a lot of crude, which could go away, if the XL pipeline were built. If a Senator gets out of line with the State, they can replace him. The legislature picking a Senator, is no difference than the Congress, confirming a judge, which you do not directly vote for. A bad judge is not likely to get a vote by Dennis base on his outlook and he won't be strong armed by another senator to support a bad judge. Judges have made horrible decisions in the past and we cannot afford to have a supreme court packed with progressives. They want to eliminate the Constitution. Individual rights would disappear. States would have little to no authority as the Federal Government and bureaucrats control more land. The size of your home, type of car, schools, food supply would all end up under federal control. Look up Venezuela, if you want to see a train wreck economy. Its nearing collapse. Do not assume progressives want all types of businesses and jobs to be active in the US. #

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I feel in times like this, we are on a downhill slide with ice frozen over it, things are happening so fast it is impossible to keep up with! Unfortunately, most of the things happening are not good for our Nation.

I believe if we do not turn back to the fundamental and moral values set up and blessed by our Lord when this country began, we will surely perish as a Nation, so that's why I endorse Dennis. Strong Christian leaders are needed now more than ever. I will vote for Dennis as well as pray for his leadership. Thank you Dennis for your commitment.

Tina
Bonanza, Oregon