When people think of the Declaration of Independence, the following words come to mind.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
But the words that immediately follow are equally important.
That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.
This idea that government gets power from the consent of the governed should not be taken lightly. Our country fought a revolutionary war over this understanding and the US Constitution was designed to protect the sovereignty of our citizens as well as the states in which they live. The idea that a King could try our people in a foreign court of law didn’t set well with the founders. It was one in a thorough list of grievances submitted as justification for our separation from England.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation.
In fact, most of the grievances listed stem from this idea that the colonists were not represented in the legal system under which they were ruled. So, when we established our own system of government it was a pretty big deal that those who rule are the same as those who are ruled. Those who represent the people when holding political office are less inclined to pass unjust laws because they are subject to the same system of laws.
Recently, on September 28, the United States Congress passed JASTA, the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, but I think that was a mistake. The United States is a sovereign state on the world stage meaning it sets its own foreign policy and decides how things will operate inside its boundaries.
“JASTA reduces foreign sovereign immunity by allowing U.S. courts to hear cases involving claims against a foreign state for injuries, death, or damages that occur inside the United States as a result of a tort, including an act of terrorism, committed anywhere by a foreign state or official.” Washington Post
JASTA permits private parties to sue foreign governments for damages resulting from terrorist acts. The plaintiffs would have to prove that government officials were complicit, but it doesn’t take much to start a lawsuit. Soon, other nations will do the same and then our government or its officials could be sued in foreign courts that don’t give us the same sort of rights that defendants have in our courts.
It is imperative JASTA be repealed. JASTA erodes the principle of sovereignty…that all states are considered equal to each other, and no state may interfere in the affairs of another state. If you feel that JASTA is not in the best interest of our country, you can exercise your civic responsibility -and express your concern by contacting your states senators http://www.senate.gov/senators/contact/ or representatives http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/ and letting them know that JASTA is contrary to the founders’ vision for our country and that they have sworn an oath of office to uphold the laws of our constitution, therefore, it is their responsibility to repeal this law.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
But the words that immediately follow are equally important.
That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.
This idea that government gets power from the consent of the governed should not be taken lightly. Our country fought a revolutionary war over this understanding and the US Constitution was designed to protect the sovereignty of our citizens as well as the states in which they live. The idea that a King could try our people in a foreign court of law didn’t set well with the founders. It was one in a thorough list of grievances submitted as justification for our separation from England.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation.
In fact, most of the grievances listed stem from this idea that the colonists were not represented in the legal system under which they were ruled. So, when we established our own system of government it was a pretty big deal that those who rule are the same as those who are ruled. Those who represent the people when holding political office are less inclined to pass unjust laws because they are subject to the same system of laws.
Recently, on September 28, the United States Congress passed JASTA, the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, but I think that was a mistake. The United States is a sovereign state on the world stage meaning it sets its own foreign policy and decides how things will operate inside its boundaries.
“JASTA reduces foreign sovereign immunity by allowing U.S. courts to hear cases involving claims against a foreign state for injuries, death, or damages that occur inside the United States as a result of a tort, including an act of terrorism, committed anywhere by a foreign state or official.” Washington Post
JASTA permits private parties to sue foreign governments for damages resulting from terrorist acts. The plaintiffs would have to prove that government officials were complicit, but it doesn’t take much to start a lawsuit. Soon, other nations will do the same and then our government or its officials could be sued in foreign courts that don’t give us the same sort of rights that defendants have in our courts.
It is imperative JASTA be repealed. JASTA erodes the principle of sovereignty…that all states are considered equal to each other, and no state may interfere in the affairs of another state. If you feel that JASTA is not in the best interest of our country, you can exercise your civic responsibility -and express your concern by contacting your states senators http://www.senate.gov/senators/contact/ or representatives http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/ and letting them know that JASTA is contrary to the founders’ vision for our country and that they have sworn an oath of office to uphold the laws of our constitution, therefore, it is their responsibility to repeal this law.
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