"No one can read our Constitution without concluding that the
people who wrote it wanted their government severely limited;
the words 'no' and 'not' employed in restraint of government
power occur 24 times in the first seven articles of the
Constitution and 22 more times in the Bill of Rights."
by:
Rev. Edmund A. Opitz
(1914-2006) American minister, author
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Reader comments about this quote:
 -- Mike, Norwalk      
 -- Daniel, California      
Just say 'NO' -- to Congress.
 -- E Archer, NYC     
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    Saying "No!" to Congress is like saying "No!" to a two year old. They never listen and eventually they're going to get a spanking.
     -- Ken, Allyn, WA     
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     -- Byron, Fort Collins      
    Makes one think, hmmm, Mr. Obamunist Goodwrench the assassin presents that he came from a place where reading the Constitution may have been a topic of interest at least once in a period of years BUT, I guess NOT!. Actions speak louder than words (even when they come from a teleprompter) How about people on the other side of the isle from the peace prize winning war monger, say like, Romney? No, I guess not him either. He says Social Security, compelled compliance, larceny with impunity, war without congressional approval, and victimless crimes are all Constitutional. Oh well, a bunch of non-readers all (well, I can think of one there related exception - go Ron Paul).
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    "Government, even in it's best state is a necessary evil, in it's worst state an intolerable one." Thomas Paine
     -- jim k, Austin, Tx     
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     -- Mary - MI      
    The conclusion does not follow from the assertion. If I say "you can do anything you want other than these 46 things" that is not very limiting. Time to engage in the study of basic logic.
     -- Anonymous, Reston, VA, US     
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    But, Reston, you assume the "you can do anything you want" part. THAT is the reason the Constitution was amended -- to make explicitly clear that there are certain areas in which We The People reserve all rights -- that we did not 'give up' any rights in order to form a government -- we formed a government to protect our rights. We NEVER gave our representatives the power to do whatever they want, In fact, the only 'powers' we have given our representative governments are those specifically enumerated in the Constitution -- if it ain't there, we did not give them permission to do it. In other words, if individuals do not have the right to do something, groups of individuals do not have any more right to do the same thing. Corporations, unions, armies, clubs, guilds, government, etc. have not been given the power to dictate to others by the shear number of their supporters. We have NOT given the government the power to do whatever they want -- and those pesky 46 things are not the only rights we reserve -- the Constitution does not tell us our rights, it tells our government what it may and MAY NOT do. Now if only they would follow it...
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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     -- Steven Cox, Blountville      
     -- Ronw13, Yachats OR      
    All Rights Reserved ! Natural Law is Common to All. E Archer, you have a Merry Christmas sir. Thank you, it is always a pleasure. Love and Respect, values from their source. Cleaning The House comes. That is Hope !
     -- Ronw13, Yachats OR     
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     -- jim k, Austin      
    No in today's leftism means oppression and not equality. A sad state of affairs and an indictment against modern education in public schools that preach anarchy in the same breath as big govt. 
     -- Don Lee, Reno     
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    Rev. Edmund A. Opitz displayed that he was truly much wiser in interpreting the true intent of the U.S. Constitution than the likes of Anonymous, Reston, VA, US will ever hope to be.
     -- Mary, MI     
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