Foreword
I think myself that we have more machinery of government than is necessary, too many parasites living on the labor of the industrious. Government big enough to supply everything you need is big enough to take everything you have … The course of history shows that as a government grows, liberty decreases. The two enemies of the people are criminals and government, so let us tie the second down with the chains of The Constitution so the second will not become the legalized version of the first. Thomas Jefferson

Minnesota Sedition
Grok and other AI platforms are great tools. But don’t believe everything you read. After all, AI is not the originator of facts. AI’s capability relies on swiftly checking dozens of online sources to summarize its replies — and if you want to chat, Grok will offer opinions no better than your own. So you don’t bother asking Grok the sticky question — how many adults in America truly favor a Marxist form of government? You could easily ask the same question and replace “adults” with Democrats, Republicans, Women, Men, Blacks, Gen Z’s, College Professors, etc. You can even drill down to other individual identities. Even so, you must take into consideration that millions of people would never admit to communist ideology, while routinely voting that way. These are the people who prefer to benefit from America’s freedom for themselves while denying freedom to despicable “conservatives” and religious types who still believe in cornball concepts like family, decency, morality and accountability. On second thought, the Marxist question for Grok should be aimed at Minneapolis. Excluding left-leaning Manhattan, D.C., Portland, San Francisco, Seattle, Boston, etc., the rest of America wonders what percentage of the Minneapolis/St.Paul population favors open borders, illegal immigration and Marxism autocracy. Your first guess is that 70 percent of Minnesota supports breaking Federal law and committing whatever acts of violence are necessary to run ICE (Immigration and Custom Enforcement)officials out of town. That percentage seems high until you discover that the twin cities are home to 60 percent of the entire state population. But, then, Matilda, guess what? In 2024, over 1,519,000 voters chose the Trump/Vance ticket compared to approximately 1,657,000 for Harris/Walz. The differential is 138,000, but those numbers don’t suggest that Minnesota is in love with Somali fraud gangs and Venezuela criminals. What it does suggest is that major cities tend to harbor corruption. As usual, in keeping with its deceit, legacy media puts ICE and Trump on public trial. Simultaneously, Minnesota government officials rattle their civil disobedience sabers and flaunt their lawsuits. They have reason to be confident since all seven members of the Minnesota Supreme Court are left wing female jurists, all appointed by democrat Governors. Word has it that before their meetings, the judges often gather to watch episodes of ABC’s The View for encouragement and guidance. Against the media backdrop of a city under siege, you would never know that dozens of Minnesota’s top drawer businesses and many law enforcement agencies are cooperating with ICE to uphold the law. Meanwhile, Trump will do what he must do. Constitutionally, as chief executive, he not only has the duty to enforce laws, but also the authority to decide how to do so.** What he sees is nothing less than an insurrection, sanctioned by Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, his city council and Governor Tim Walz. Backing up a bit, you persistently have denounced Federal meddling in domestic affairs, arguing that Washington has vastly overreached its enumerated powers — that America’s massive debt and tyrannical abuses are the direct result of desecrating The Constitution of the United States. However, in this case, Trump stands on solid ground. And his Justice Department should now begin serving warrants on every Minneapolis official complicit in breaking Federal law. What many people will overlook in this political soap opera is the “what if” question. What if Governor Tim Walz had been on the winning ticket in 2024? Imagine that. Imagine him in action right now as Vice President. And BTW, never forget. People who voted for him will be on the 2026 midterm ballot.

Epilogue
While you’re on the subject of Federal jurisdiction, you should revisit how the Supreme Court, with the aiding and abetting of Congress, screwed over the U.S. Constitution.

The 1787 Constitution . . . created a stronger federal system with supremacy over the States in specific areas. However, the States did not cease to be sovereign; they retained substantial residual sovereignty. The key principle is Limited Federal Authority. The federal government could only exercise powers expressly delegated to it by the Constitution, detailed in Article 1, Section 8). Check it out. https://www.gilderlehrman.org/sites/default/files/inline-pdfs/us_constitution_0.pdf

The original Constitution did not grant the federal government general regulatory authority over citizens within the states (e.g., no power over health, education, welfare, criminal law, property, police or most other everyday matters), Those areas were left entirely to the States.

**  https://www.nilc.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/president-legal-authority-2014-08-20.pdf

www.conventionofstates.com

You have a house cleaner. She comes to your place once a month. She’s 60+. She’s single. She owns her home, a late model vehicle and loves two dogs. She works seven days a week, on average cleaning a dozen places. She manages health issues and does what most people who live alone do — everything. She pays taxes to three governments. Her life is not subsidized by a partner, or a family member or some branch of government. In other words, the lady is independent, self reliant, responsible, accountable. Unlike millions of Americans, she budgets and avoids debt. Her work schedule is maxed out, meaning her income is essentially fixed, threatened by inflation. Her retirement is on her, no room to slack off. As you examine the reality of this American life, this lone house cleaner, you see a true Superstar. But she’s not alone. Tens of millions like her, in different walks of life, are applauded, recognized and appreciated, but only by those individuals who benefit from their work. Millions like her never hear the cheers reserved for the rich and famous, or for the entertainers, athletes, politicians and media celebrities who, god-like, bask in notoriety. What must occur to you on this cusp of a New Year is this: if every able bodied person adopted the independence, self reliance and work ethic of your house cleaner, America would fly higher than any MAGA slogan. Yes, Matilda, you know that speculation is pure fantasy. Consider that at least 100 million Americans, 30% of the population, are enrolled in at least one federal government assistance program. Or better yet, process this: Your Federal Government spends more than $1 trillion annually on 80+ welfare programs. https://epicforamerica.org/social-programs/epic-explainers-the-1-trillion-welfare-bureaucracy/ Maybe you didn’t get that. One TRILLION a YEAR. This money is your tax money. You didn’t ask Congress to approve this expenditure even though your congressman or congresswoman is YOUR EMPLOYEE. Although your congressman or congresswoman doesn’t say it to your face, he or she is telling you, “How we spend your tax money is none of your &%$#^%&* business.” And to make matters much, much worse, your taxes don’t even cover the bill. Which means your Government must borrow the money. And to make matters much, much, much, much worse, The Constitution of the United States does not give the Federal Government jurisdiction to spend one dime of your tax money as charity for anyone, including the Poor. The Constitution does not give the Federal Government the authority to provide food, housing, health care, energy, childcare or even temporary subsidies. No doubt, the tone of that assertion might signify a harsh, heartless, merciless attitude. But not in this case. God knows how many people of all ages are afflicted with physical and mental disabilities that render them helpless. The question is — who should do the helping? Basically, the private sector. The first tier of support are family and friends. The second is community. The third is the city. And the fourth is the state. Essentially, those closest to the vulnerable. You see, in 2024, the largest source of charitable giving came from individuals, who gave $392.45 billion, representing 67% of total giving. https://www.nptrust.org/philanthropic-resources/charitable-giving-statistics/ In addition, below you can find a list of national 501-c-3 organizations that answer the call for food, housing, health, and other domestic needs. Still, the Federal Government grows the welfare system for the able bodied. For instance, data shows that a single mother with two children at the (so-called)poverty threshold is eligible for more than $42,000 in welfare benefits. https://emar-data-tools.shinyapps.io/prd_dashboard And “the average poor family with children already receives $65,200 in cash, food, housing, medical care, and educational support . . . . .” https://www.heritage.org/welfare/report/largest-welfare-increase-us-history-will-boost-government-support-76400-poor-family. Statistics are obscure, not counting for redundancy, fraud and the dwindling American work ethic. If you need a laugh to interrupt this litany of facts, in 1996, Joe Biden said this: “The culture of welfare must be replaced with the culture of work. The culture of dependence must be replaced with the culture of . . . personal responsibility.” Yet another Joe deception, now turned comic, this lecture is over. Except to give a shout out to all the Americans out there who do all the working, all the inventing, all the building, all the protecting, all the teaching, all the care giving, all the providing, all the saving, all the sacrificing, all the growing, and yes, all the cleaning — and BTW, the two skilled studs who just the other day installed your new water heater — Superstars all.

Note: A Partial List of Well-known Charities (excl. Gates, Musk & other billionaires). Ed.

Feeding America
St. Jude’s
United Way
Direct Relief Int’l
Salvation Army
Habitat for Humanity
Americares
Samaritan’s Purse
Goodwill
Compassion Int’l
YMCA
Boys & Girls Clubs
HealthWell Foundation
Red Cross
Mount Sinai Health
The Arc of the United States
Lutheran Services in America
Doctors Without Borders USA
American Cancer Society Health
American Heart Association
Mayo Clinic Health System
Convoy of Hope
Shriners Hospitals 75
UNICEF
Dana-Farber Institute
Midwest Food Bank
CARE USA
Memorial Sloan Kettering
Michael J. Fox for Parkinson’s
Easter Seals
Tunnel to Towers
Save the Children
Wounded Warriors
Make-A-Wish Foundation
Cross Catholic Outreach
Alzheimer’s Association

www.conventionofstates.com

Don McLean wrote and sang American Pie 55 years ago. To most people, they know the song as “the day the music died.” You feel a little like that today, but for an entirely different reason, forced to face an undeniable reality. Try as he might, after suffering a decade of intense bludgeoning by the Beltway mob, Donald Trump has become — a politician. In 2015, while almost everyone you know snickered at his candidacy, you almost worshipped his style and guts. You ceaselessly championed the man for one reason and one reason only. He was not a politician. He was not a member of a ruling family. He was not an attorney. He represented the American Everyman — out in the street busting ass, a swaggering outsider, a gunslinger, daring to single-handedly face The Establishment. That was yesterday. Today, you received yet another snail mail broadside from politician Phil Berger, President Pro Tempore of the North Carolina Senate, a job he’s spending a fortune to keep. The question is: Do you think it’s his money? (Laugh here.). On one side of the mailer, you see photos of a grinning Berger and a thumbs up of Trump, with four Trump quotes. One quote states “He will Never Let You Down.” Urp. On the reverse side, a HUGE Trump photo with HUGE text: “TRUMP BACKS BERGER.” If you happen to be in Berger’s voting district, you’ve likely received at least 30 of these flyers, more than half of them attacking his political rival Sam Page, Sheriff of Rockingham County for the past 27 years. In the other mailers, Berger basically pounds his chest. Bragging is a colossal understatement. He takes credit for anything and everything good about North Carolina, displaying 3-4 photos of himself as The President’s bosom buddy. Simultaneously, his campaign against underdog Page is pure, unadulterated sleaze. You have to ask, “Why would a top, accomplished lawmaker armed with Trump’s enthusiastic backing stoop to throw mud?” According to Matilda, his animosity is indicative of someone in panic mode, with good reason.** Allegedly, Berger helped redistrict a NC county to benefit Republican election results. His reward is Trump’s “endorsement,” AKA, political payback. This was the (alleged) explanation Page heard when he spoke to the Man himself. Well, it smells; and for me, the stink sticks to his ubiquitous blue suit. If the Berger payback was that important, Trump’s people should at the very least be assured that he would not be tainted by being associated with political muck. To put this mess to bed, Berger so far has spent over $2M campaigning against an opponent who’s financially confined to social media and personal appearances. As the NC soap opera plays out, Trump closes the book on his second term’s first year. By any measure, it has been a study in what’s best about leadership. No way you’ll rag on him, despite the Berger gaffe. And you won’t talk perfection. Look at the record. Beginning day one, the man took hold of his punch list; and with extraordinary energy, set about getting the rejuvenation train rolling — energy, taxes, tariffs, inflation, border, bureaucracy, foreign wars, DEI, etc. etc. Yes, you would rather see Musk still at the DOGE wheel. Yes, you want to see a handful of federal agencies bite the dust. Meanwhile, Media is always poised to support whatever disruption the Dems can dredge up to derail the Donald Express. You and others are impatient. The debt is moving toward $40 trillion. Consumer prices are stubbornly high. And America’s socialists are stubbornly stupid, free to complain and attempt to change a young country that’s the envy of the old world. You may sing the blues today but admit it’s fleeting emotion. Frankly, you need to put aside gloom and doom and sincerely acknowledge politicians like Berger and Page who qualify for Theodore Roosevelt’s famous passage: Man in the Arena. It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena . . . who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short . . . again and again …….

Kudos, gentlemen.

** https://www.ncspin.com/poll-sam-page-up-by-ten-over-phil-berger

www.conventionofstates.com