HOW I SEE IT: Why my platform targets the Patriot Act
Published: October 26, 2009
Updated: October 26, 2009
Regarding my stance on the Patriot Act, which was written about in the Star-Exponent’s House District 30 endorsement Friday, there are a few things I’d like to point out to the voters that are extremely important.
Each of us is born with the responsibility to defend and uphold our Constitution and Bill of Rights, whether we do that by educating our children about its history and importance, whether we do that by participating in marches, or if we do that privately, by stopping for a moment on July 4 to think about what our Founding Fathers and Mothers sacrificed to plant the seeds for a fair and accessible government.
Woodrow Wilson said, “The American Revolution was a beginning, not a consummation.” Our unique form of liberty requires constant attention and defense; if we allow it to falter, it will be handed to our children damaged, which was not how it was handed to us.
The Patriot Act severely damages our liberty; it allows for search and seizure without warrant, wiretaps without due process and personal records to be searched without court order. The Patriot Act allows the federal government to supersede local and state judicial process and local law enforcement.
We once had a system of law that protected our civil liberties, a system that held our government accountable and defended liberty. It is my opinion, a politician’s first job, their primary responsibility to citizens, is to uphold the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Their sworn duty is to protect liberty. If they fail at that, and if we fail to hold them accountable, then we fail and we have failed the next generation.
It is important to understand that the states are the final check and balance in our system of government. It is the job of the states to act as the final barrier to tyrannical laws and acts. An article in Wired Magazine pointed out that, “In the past two years over 300 cities and four states have passed resolutions calling on Congress to repeal or change parts of the USA Patriot Act that violate constitutional rights such as free speech and freedom from unreasonable search and seizure.”
States do have the right, the responsibility, and the ability to stand up to the federal government when necessary. If we allow laws that undermine our Bill of Rights to stand, if we sit by and do nothing for ourselves and what those who came before us fought for, then I fear for our future and for what we truly hold dear as Virginians.
This is one of the reasons I decided to run for the House of Delegates, and this is one of the reasons I’m running as an independent, because I am not seeing the things I feel are important being addressed by the two parties.
I have seen our state and national debt spiral, I have seen the passage of the Patriot Act without a fight, I have seen our rivers become polluted to the point the Chesapeake Bay Foundation stated 85 percent of Virginia’s waterways are in “crisis mode.”
I want to restore our Virginia.
Carson is running as an independent against incumbent Republican Ed Scott in the Nov. 3 election.
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Reader Reactions
Thanks!
I also want to mention that everyone in our district should be proud that Ed Scott and Matt Carson have shown great respect for one another and the process. They have not thrown mud at one another - but instead discussed issues. This is a rare event in politics. Their behavior and character makes me even prouder to be a local!
Kathy, If you like what he has to say then come on up to Madison and hear him (and Ed Scott)at the Rural Madison candidate’s forum at the BOS auditorium at 7 pm TONIGHT.
I think the problem is that state voters rarely have a long-term perspective. It is sad that so few people see that federal legislation ultimately affects the way local politicians can make decisions about roads, education, healthcare, and all of the other items that really matter to us here. In order for VA - and our district in particular - to improve in the areas that truly matter, we must be willing to stand up for what is right - and protect the basic freedoms we have. By making the argument that we are not part of that larger federal “battle” on the local level - I fear that our local politicians abilities will be further and further reduced. I think Mr. Carson is a unique option for us. He certainly seems to have the sincerity and character needed to defend his convictions. I would be honored to have a representative who is willing to work for a larger cause; the “smaller” things will come because we are willing to work for what is right.
I think you make some fair points, esp. about the American Revolution being but a beginning. What I think concerns some voters is that the Patriot Act is federal legislation, and while working for its repeal may be laudable, I wouldn’t want my local state representative getting bogged down on that as opposed to dealing with state issues. But I would encourage you to continue spreading the word about the problems of the so-called Patriot Act.
Readers may want to know that the CSE’s endorsement was for Mr. Scott, not Mr. Carson.
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