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Letter: What do others say about amendments?
Gerard Van Der Veen
Yucca Valley
I wrote a letter that I got a few comments on regarding our Constitution. Please allow me to correct myself. Don’t start throwing rocks at me yet, OK? It was not the Constitution I was after, but the fact that we are slowly losing most of our rights.
Ben Sasnett, at one time a deputy district attorney … decided to publicly give me a history lesson (thanks, Ben; great letter) due to the fact I didn’t have the date right. I’m told it was 1787 the Constitution was adopted, not 1776. The amendments were for the good of the people. I guess that depends upon which side of the people you’re on.
“Joe the Plumber” (in the online comments) more or less said I was ignorant, uneducated, misguided and immature, and I was trying to muck up the system. He said what I’d written wasn’t worth the paper it was written on; good thing I have a computer to write on. Just kidding.
Dave Peach, William Kirschner and “Southwest” also had comments to add, which can be read online following the letter Ben Sasnett wrote called, “Amendments secure liberties.”
So I added my comments also in response to theirs, but so far have seen no comments back. Why not?
So I have to ask myself, did they read them and now have nothing more to say or what? Makes me wonder.
So I’m asking you folks to please read them and post your comments. I’m curious after you read them how you feel about the loss of our rights then. We are all entitled to our opinions!
Yucca Valley
I wrote a letter that I got a few comments on regarding our Constitution. Please allow me to correct myself. Don’t start throwing rocks at me yet, OK? It was not the Constitution I was after, but the fact that we are slowly losing most of our rights.
Ben Sasnett, at one time a deputy district attorney … decided to publicly give me a history lesson (thanks, Ben; great letter) due to the fact I didn’t have the date right. I’m told it was 1787 the Constitution was adopted, not 1776. The amendments were for the good of the people. I guess that depends upon which side of the people you’re on.
“Joe the Plumber” (in the online comments) more or less said I was ignorant, uneducated, misguided and immature, and I was trying to muck up the system. He said what I’d written wasn’t worth the paper it was written on; good thing I have a computer to write on. Just kidding.
Dave Peach, William Kirschner and “Southwest” also had comments to add, which can be read online following the letter Ben Sasnett wrote called, “Amendments secure liberties.”
So I added my comments also in response to theirs, but so far have seen no comments back. Why not?
So I have to ask myself, did they read them and now have nothing more to say or what? Makes me wonder.
So I’m asking you folks to please read them and post your comments. I’m curious after you read them how you feel about the loss of our rights then. We are all entitled to our opinions!
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The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of hidesertstar.com.
MacPlastic wrote on Feb 3, 2010 1:58 PM:
" Gerard, I googled 'Amendments secure liberties' to read your past comment and now have a bit more insight into your opinions.
American history is very well seasoned with all sorts of injustices. What you call your "bogus raid and excessive force" is just a very, very small example of the injustice found in America and this modern world.
However, It is NOT the time for the general public to start fighting. To even suggest that the general public should start to fight our government or civil authority is to endorse anarchy. Anarchism is not the path America should travel.
Yes, in order to stop criminal activity and civil injustice we all are more regulated. Less free to do anything to the detriment of others. Thus, the world changes, for the better, not the worse.
It's not a situation of us loosing our rights, it's an amendment to protect everyones rights. "
American history is very well seasoned with all sorts of injustices. What you call your "bogus raid and excessive force" is just a very, very small example of the injustice found in America and this modern world.
However, It is NOT the time for the general public to start fighting. To even suggest that the general public should start to fight our government or civil authority is to endorse anarchy. Anarchism is not the path America should travel.
Yes, in order to stop criminal activity and civil injustice we all are more regulated. Less free to do anything to the detriment of others. Thus, the world changes, for the better, not the worse.
It's not a situation of us loosing our rights, it's an amendment to protect everyones rights. "
damndawgers wrote on Feb 3, 2010 3:21 PM:
" Hello joe,
you need to go to the archives and type in tthe article or bens name to go back to it. thank you for your comment here i agree with you. also i am not trying to start a war here as some may feel. But i feel wake up calls may be needed to wake some folks up! Don't you?
Respectfully, Gerard "
you need to go to the archives and type in tthe article or bens name to go back to it. thank you for your comment here i agree with you. also i am not trying to start a war here as some may feel. But i feel wake up calls may be needed to wake some folks up! Don't you?
Respectfully, Gerard "
damndawgers wrote on Feb 3, 2010 4:25 PM:
" macplastic, thank you i didn't know you could google and find all this there.
however, my situation may have been a small bit of injustice as you say. But! It should never have happened in the first place. It could definitely been prevented had law enforcement done a better job of finding out for sure if what a we tipper said had been proved to be true before acting, not after.
If we don't do something about all the wrongs law enforcers do to us and get away with etc.. I got an apology for them shooting our family member (my dog) they will be shooting our kids and getting an apology, oops that's already happeneing.
People don't realize the effect of what has happened that we have to live with daily. Believe me you wouldn't want to be in my boots.
I'm not trying to start an anarchy at least not intentionally. I respect your comments. God Bless. Respectfully, G. Van Der Veen. "
however, my situation may have been a small bit of injustice as you say. But! It should never have happened in the first place. It could definitely been prevented had law enforcement done a better job of finding out for sure if what a we tipper said had been proved to be true before acting, not after.
If we don't do something about all the wrongs law enforcers do to us and get away with etc.. I got an apology for them shooting our family member (my dog) they will be shooting our kids and getting an apology, oops that's already happeneing.
People don't realize the effect of what has happened that we have to live with daily. Believe me you wouldn't want to be in my boots.
I'm not trying to start an anarchy at least not intentionally. I respect your comments. God Bless. Respectfully, G. Van Der Veen. "
joetheplumber wrote on Feb 3, 2010 5:06 PM:
" OK, I read your story. I’m sorry about your dog, and I’m sorry that the Police traumatized your child. That was wrong, it sounds like some overzealous police work. But there’s got to be more to the story. It’s very unlikely that someone would say, “pick a house, any house,” call We Tip with a bogus story, just to sit back and get a good laugh. I’m not saying it couldn’t happen, it’s just very unlikely.
You’re probably not the kind of guy to upset so many people that you have no idea who did this to you. So, you must have a very good idea who’s behind this. So why didn’t you turn them in for filing a false report? Probably because there was some truth to their story and since you got away with it you didn’t want to incriminate yourself. Maybe it was just a half truth. Maybe your house was clean all the time, but for whatever reason, someone showed you not to mess with them. If I’m wrong and this incident was a totally random attack on your home and your family, I apologize for my mistake. But if my suspicion is correct, you have no right to bring this into the public looking for sympathy. "
You’re probably not the kind of guy to upset so many people that you have no idea who did this to you. So, you must have a very good idea who’s behind this. So why didn’t you turn them in for filing a false report? Probably because there was some truth to their story and since you got away with it you didn’t want to incriminate yourself. Maybe it was just a half truth. Maybe your house was clean all the time, but for whatever reason, someone showed you not to mess with them. If I’m wrong and this incident was a totally random attack on your home and your family, I apologize for my mistake. But if my suspicion is correct, you have no right to bring this into the public looking for sympathy. "
dave peach wrote on Feb 3, 2010 8:52 PM:
" I apologize that my last letter was humiliating and frustrating and caused neglect of your response and explanation. Your frustration is understandable, although the circumstances and culpability remain to be confirmed.
“Because you folks let us!” You are correct to attempt to restrain them responsibly. And to have them held responsible for any unjust or illegal transgression, which I did not review and cannot assess.
*Plus, others have much more ability and authority than myself. This is layman opinion.
Freedoms are precious and must be protected. Contrary to the advice Mr. MacPlastic offered, it has often been necessary to fight the government and battles and wars can be won against it.
See: Constitutional Amendments and prison enrollment records. "Hey, Ace! Remember me? Finally got shot down after being so lucky and crooked. Good. How's the Corvette and yacht look now? That's good too. I hope you're comfortable."
Bear in mind that government is necessary and will be preserved or replaced, often with a worse one.
Freedom for everyone is just and necessary. The amendments help that along with a long way to go. We need a few more, at least.
But when you are right, continue to fight and others will join you or disarm you depending upon how it's done. Civilly is best and usually sufficient.
If there is anyway I can help, please let me know specifically. If there is injustice, please keep fighting.
It's called 'vigilance', and it is a requirement for preserving freedom and a responsive government. Gotta have it or we're all doomed. "
“Because you folks let us!” You are correct to attempt to restrain them responsibly. And to have them held responsible for any unjust or illegal transgression, which I did not review and cannot assess.
*Plus, others have much more ability and authority than myself. This is layman opinion.
Freedoms are precious and must be protected. Contrary to the advice Mr. MacPlastic offered, it has often been necessary to fight the government and battles and wars can be won against it.
See: Constitutional Amendments and prison enrollment records. "Hey, Ace! Remember me? Finally got shot down after being so lucky and crooked. Good. How's the Corvette and yacht look now? That's good too. I hope you're comfortable."
Bear in mind that government is necessary and will be preserved or replaced, often with a worse one.
Freedom for everyone is just and necessary. The amendments help that along with a long way to go. We need a few more, at least.
But when you are right, continue to fight and others will join you or disarm you depending upon how it's done. Civilly is best and usually sufficient.
If there is anyway I can help, please let me know specifically. If there is injustice, please keep fighting.
It's called 'vigilance', and it is a requirement for preserving freedom and a responsive government. Gotta have it or we're all doomed. "
damndawgers wrote on Feb 3, 2010 8:55 PM:
" Yo Joe,
That was a good assumption, unfortunately the word limits doesn't allow the full story to be printed at one time. It would be a book if i wrote down everything from the start to finish which may not be a bad idea. For instance, bieng made to lay down on my driveway with a gun to the back of my head when suddenly i hear 2 loud shots fired, you'd be surprised as to what the brain is capable of in a millisecond.
Allow me to tell you what i was guilty of, I have no reason to lie to you, so here goes.
I was guilty of having garage sales and bar-b-q's on the week-ends and sometimes during the week. Friends and customers were always around. I also liked to relax smoking some marijauna now and then. This caused to much traffic according to police.
Now the warrant I was presented with accused me of bieng a heroin dealer and having large amounts of heroin in my house. I don't n never have done the heroin. Matter of fact i despise it and it's users. I'm sure you'd have a diiferent opinion if you knew the whole issue. Thank you n God Bless. respectfully, g. van der veen. "
That was a good assumption, unfortunately the word limits doesn't allow the full story to be printed at one time. It would be a book if i wrote down everything from the start to finish which may not be a bad idea. For instance, bieng made to lay down on my driveway with a gun to the back of my head when suddenly i hear 2 loud shots fired, you'd be surprised as to what the brain is capable of in a millisecond.
Allow me to tell you what i was guilty of, I have no reason to lie to you, so here goes.
I was guilty of having garage sales and bar-b-q's on the week-ends and sometimes during the week. Friends and customers were always around. I also liked to relax smoking some marijauna now and then. This caused to much traffic according to police.
Now the warrant I was presented with accused me of bieng a heroin dealer and having large amounts of heroin in my house. I don't n never have done the heroin. Matter of fact i despise it and it's users. I'm sure you'd have a diiferent opinion if you knew the whole issue. Thank you n God Bless. respectfully, g. van der veen. "
damndawgers wrote on Feb 4, 2010 4:00 AM:
" Come on joe i'm not looking for any symphaty at all. I'm just trying to wake folks up as to what law enforcers can get away with when they need an arrest to cover thier butts after doing wrong to us. personally i don't see how these cops can go home and sleep at night., i couldn't my concious would be bugging me.
As I read in the newspaper from Desert Hot Springs, approx 25 yrs ago,
"MY MEN ARE TRAINED TO TERMINATE, THEY ARE NOT HERE TO PROTECT N SERVE!" excuse me? A chief Robles had made those statements regarding the shooting of a dog. He also said 6 bullets were not inhumane to take this dog out?
I'm sorry Joe but trained to terminate scares me, that is final right??? God Bless. Respectfully, Gerard Van Der Veen. "
As I read in the newspaper from Desert Hot Springs, approx 25 yrs ago,
"MY MEN ARE TRAINED TO TERMINATE, THEY ARE NOT HERE TO PROTECT N SERVE!" excuse me? A chief Robles had made those statements regarding the shooting of a dog. He also said 6 bullets were not inhumane to take this dog out?
I'm sorry Joe but trained to terminate scares me, that is final right??? God Bless. Respectfully, Gerard Van Der Veen. "
joetheplumber wrote on Feb 4, 2010 2:00 PM:
" Yes, that defiantly sends a chill down the spine. If you have the proof, you should send it up the chain of command, all the way to the governor if necessary. “Sworn” officers take an oath and it sounds to me like the officer who made that statement is derelict of duty, out of control, and in clear violation of the law, and in clear violation of your rights. You’re not loosing your rights because of this, you still have your rights. If all legal channels fail, try filling a civil lawsuit. It worked for Mr. Goldman in the O.J. Simpson case. Call newspapers, call TV news stations, write letters, do whatever you’re willing to do.
In the mean time, try to hang out with a different crowd. Trouble attracts more trouble. Gerard, I’m sorry about your dog. You have my heartfelt sympathy for that. "
In the mean time, try to hang out with a different crowd. Trouble attracts more trouble. Gerard, I’m sorry about your dog. You have my heartfelt sympathy for that. "
dave peach wrote on Feb 4, 2010 2:47 PM:
" *Addendum
"Praise in public and reprimand in private" (as practical) was violated.
Mr Cunningham is hopefully receiving appropriate rehab and compassion. I apologize to him and any witness(es).
_
I shall not and others should not ever forget that we may and should be proud of two true aces, pilot Steve Ritchie and aviator William Driscoll; and many others.
They are two true heroes.
They have sacrificed and endured for the benefit of humanity and our only home and there is no higher calling. "
"Praise in public and reprimand in private" (as practical) was violated.
Mr Cunningham is hopefully receiving appropriate rehab and compassion. I apologize to him and any witness(es).
_
I shall not and others should not ever forget that we may and should be proud of two true aces, pilot Steve Ritchie and aviator William Driscoll; and many others.
They are two true heroes.
They have sacrificed and endured for the benefit of humanity and our only home and there is no higher calling. "
damndawgers wrote on Feb 4, 2010 5:12 PM:
" Howdy,
thankx to all for all the advice and understanding. My situation happened in Big Bear, CA. in 1994, at that time not having the finances for lawyers fees etc.My way to get back at the cops, was and is to write about situations either involving animal deaths or or things like wac, the weaver tragedy, people bieng violated and not able or to scared to do anything about it. etc.
I'm just trying to wake up the public as far as what they can and will do.
And if it hasn't happened to you or a member of your family, then hang on it will eventually get you.Our jails are the most populated over any other country in the world. Go figure!!!
Again thx folks for the comments, mucho appreciated. Respectfully, Gerard Van der Veen. "
thankx to all for all the advice and understanding. My situation happened in Big Bear, CA. in 1994, at that time not having the finances for lawyers fees etc.My way to get back at the cops, was and is to write about situations either involving animal deaths or or things like wac, the weaver tragedy, people bieng violated and not able or to scared to do anything about it. etc.
I'm just trying to wake up the public as far as what they can and will do.
And if it hasn't happened to you or a member of your family, then hang on it will eventually get you.Our jails are the most populated over any other country in the world. Go figure!!!
Again thx folks for the comments, mucho appreciated. Respectfully, Gerard Van der Veen. "
damndawgers wrote on Feb 4, 2010 5:48 PM:
" Oops almost forgot, it must be my ole timers disease, hehe. Anyway Robles was shipped off to another facility, and the then police dept. was turned back into a sheriff's dept. So there was some sort of actions taken, i can't say i remember as to all that was done.
You see Joe, at the time I first read the article, i never realized why i could never forget about it, till the Big Bear incident. Thanx again for you folk's insight. God Bless, Respectfully Gerard Van Der Veen "
You see Joe, at the time I first read the article, i never realized why i could never forget about it, till the Big Bear incident. Thanx again for you folk's insight. God Bless, Respectfully Gerard Van Der Veen "
Bob Mateski wrote on Feb 4, 2010 5:51 PM:
" Quotes from a few of our founding fathers.
" To those who consent, no injustice has been done."
"Those who would give up some liberties for security, deserve neither."
" The price of freedom is eternal vigilance."
These are quotes to live by even in todays hectic and intrusive world.
Video camera's are everywhere now, you can't go anywhere without being observed and recorded.
The argument for them is crime or traffic control, the argument against them is privacy intrusion.
You can't even live out in the middle of the desert miles away from the next person and expect complete privacy, the satelites that are in orbit around this globe can read the headlines on a newspaper from 20 miles in space! "
" To those who consent, no injustice has been done."
"Those who would give up some liberties for security, deserve neither."
" The price of freedom is eternal vigilance."
These are quotes to live by even in todays hectic and intrusive world.
Video camera's are everywhere now, you can't go anywhere without being observed and recorded.
The argument for them is crime or traffic control, the argument against them is privacy intrusion.
You can't even live out in the middle of the desert miles away from the next person and expect complete privacy, the satelites that are in orbit around this globe can read the headlines on a newspaper from 20 miles in space! "
joetheplumber wrote on Feb 4, 2010 6:36 PM:
" Every email you send, every text message you send, every comment you post on these pages, every Google search you do, every phone conversation you have, (rumor has it that every phone conversation is recorded), it’s all cataloged and stored. The reason I personally don’t feel that it invades my privacy is because it’s such an unbelievably vast amount of information that no one is ever going to see it. “You can’t see the forest through the trees”. (I think that’s what it means). It really is there to catch criminals. If you were to Google search ‘how to make a’, (I’ll just say “the B word” for my own protection), and then you have phone conversation discussing the placement of this “B word”, and then a “B word” goes off somewhere, the agency(s) who control this information can do a, sort of, so to speak, Google search, catalog search, of there own stored files to find your cataloged information. That’s how they catch you, theoretically. That’s called the Patriot Act, and that does suspend your freedom. But it really only effects the bad guys. So it’s ok, for most of us, to sleep at night. "
damndawgers wrote on Feb 5, 2010 1:42 PM:
" Thank you Bob.
You are absolutely right, big brother is everywhere. Thanks n God Bless.
Respectfully, gerard van der veen "
You are absolutely right, big brother is everywhere. Thanks n God Bless.
Respectfully, gerard van der veen "
damndawgers wrote on Feb 5, 2010 5:34 PM:
" Hi again,
You want to hear something kinda funny, all this started when i wrote an article pertaining to a cross that went to the supreme court. After whici i was asked if i believe in our constitution?
Wow, what a concept, go figure. Again joe your comment was right on. thx again n god bless. respectfully, gerard van der veen. "
You want to hear something kinda funny, all this started when i wrote an article pertaining to a cross that went to the supreme court. After whici i was asked if i believe in our constitution?
Wow, what a concept, go figure. Again joe your comment was right on. thx again n god bless. respectfully, gerard van der veen. "
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joetheplumber wrote on Feb 3, 2010 12:23 PM:
I’m sure that I did read your reply, however, I don’t recall the details. I honored your request and went back to re-read it but it doesn’t appear that it’s still posted on-line, as it goes too far back. It’s not my intension to be rude to anyone but somehow I let my comment to your original letter slip by my self-editing. Sorry, I was quite sarcastic that day, but you do have to take responsibility for your words and also take your lumps.
Maybe we both learned a lesson; think before we speak. I’m certainly going to try to be more thoughtful and responsible when writing in a public forum. Your speculation must be correct, in that, your reply was read by all and that we just moved on. This is primarily a comment page but some back and forth dialog does occur.
I’m not paranoid about losing my rights. I am concerned about the lawyers in our country that feel it’s their purpose in life to challenge everything. If it’s true that there are two sides to every story, then perhaps the lawyers are keeping the system in check. In any event, I know my rights and I don’t feel that I’m losing them. I don’t believe the scare tactics of jerks such as Glen Beck or Rush Limbaugh who try to intimidate the public into believing we’re loosing our rights. It’s not true, in my opinion. Although I’m sure it’s flawed, we do have the finest justice system in the world. We have the right to choose our own legal defense. If we believe the court made a mistake we have the right to appeal its decision. "