Category: Republic - Bryan William Brickner

2020: In High Spirits, a Seven-Twenty Preamble

7/19/2017

The twenty dollar right in the US Constitution, Amendment VII

One gathers what another spills /
We the People /
Show some spirit /
For constitutionalism /
For the law that makes We the People We the People /
Every ten years

If you care to, ask yourself what you are doing for We the People? What part are you playing?

If the answer is nothing (no part) and that’s okay with you, then okay.

If the answer is nothing and that’s not okay, then do something to support the Constitution, our supreme law and the thing that makes us We the People, constitutionally reborn every ten years (enumeration / census).

Article 1, Section 2, Clause 3 and the 7th Amendment are numerical avenues of approach for those of constitutional spirit ~ a spirit for constitutionalism. One could start by asking representatives (at all levels) if they support the US Constitution; they’ll say yes, of course, so then ask them the next question, the one about representing We the People by the “thirty Thousand” ratio or the one about the twenty dollars in the 7th Amendment: that will begin a conversation. If they support constitutionalism they are obliged (by citizenship and law) to help; if they don’t help, then they aren’t supporting the Constitution. If you don’t support the US Constitution, are you even still American? If so, how?

The representation usurpation ends when We the People want it to: if not now, what more do We need to see?

The Preamble, where our ideals are shown in high spirits and fulfillment waiting, is a We the People rally point; it reads like a dream, perhaps a dream we need to dream again …

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Tomorrow is 7/20; perhaps make a moment for Amendment VII, establishing Justice and insuring domestic Tranquility; read something, share something, or discuss with someone the implications of such a right hiding in plain sight (in the US Bill of Rights) and nearly 100 percent ignored.

For ourselves and our Posterity.

*Next Up: Friday 11 August and some receptor science ~ The Neurotransmitter Acetylcholine: Tobacco (Nicotine) Soldiers Soldiering.

Posted by Bryan W. Brickner

2020: The Four Orders of Reality in a Baudrillardian Nativity

7/12/2017

The Immaculate Preconception

Simulations, Jean Baudrillard (1983)
Translated by Paul Foss, Paul Patton and Philip Beitchman
“The Precession of Simulacra,” pages 11-12

This would be the successive phases of the image:
            -it is the reflection of a basic reality
            -it masks and perverts a basic reality
            -it masks the absence of a basic reality
            -it bears no relation to any reality whatever: it is its own pure simulacrum.

In the first case, the image is a good appearance – the representation is of the order of sacrament. In the second, it is an evil appearance – of the order of malefice [evil enchantment]. In the third, it plays at being an appearance – it is of the order of sorcery. In the fourth, it is no longer in the order of appearance at all, but of simulation.

Baudrillard was harder to explain before our current political situation: now the first through fourth orders of the image (this is the “I m age” / ego) can be clearly discerned.

Imagine “We the People” as an image.

Is “We the People” a first order reality, one based on the constitutional representation ratio found in Article 1? Or is “We the People” a simulation of the usurpation and therefore a fake representation?

Perhaps the nativity scene is a useful image for understanding Baudrillard’s four orders. To begin with, to understand there is a baby Jesus missing, one has to know of the first order, of a complete Jesus nativity. Take Aspasia or Socrates, for example, individuals living 400 years before Jesus; they would have difficulty imagining the setting; even more difficult, meaning for the bottomless manger, absent baby Jesus and the third wise man represented as an ass. A Socrates might also see the angel more as a guiding spirit, a daemon, more than we allow ourselves to see directing signs and spirits.

Baudrillard also noted, to quote in paraphrase, that nostalgia assumes its full meaning when the real is no longer what it used to be.

We the People: to be or not to be first or fourth order? – To be constitutionally real or constitutionally fake?

The answer is on the horizon we call now.

*Next Up: Wednesday 19 July and a 2020: In High Spirits, a Seven-Twenty Preamble.

Posted by Bryan W. Brickner

2020: Jesus was poor and said a few things about being rich

7/5/2017

Beijing 1879

Jesus, son of Mary, was a poor man overflowing with riches.

The Gospels, in Matthew, Mark and Luke, report Jesus being asked by a rich man what actions lead to eternal life.

Follow the commandments Jesus said.

The rich man said he did: what else?

Sell all your possessions and follow me Jesus said.

The rich man was distraught, the disciples confused.

Jesus continued: How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God / Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.

The disciples asked: Who can be saved?

What is impossible with man is possible with God said Jesus.

Possible.

Jews, Catholics, Muslims and Protestants agree; Jesus was a teacher of being rich in things other than worldly riches: someone poor in materialism, yet rich in material.

Citizens gathered in a US House according to numbers would represent our beliefs ~ the beliefs of We the People, poor and otherwise.

*Next Up: Wednesday 12 July and a 2020: The Four Orders of Reality in a Baudrillardian Nativity.

Posted by Bryan W. Brickner

2020: Putin Knows

6/28/2017

Putin Knows

Why does our current president criticize our former president more than he does the president of Russia, Vladimir Putin?

We won’t try to answer that question today; instead we’ll focus on something more knowable: specifically, what Putin knows.

Putin knows offensive, so he knows of Sun Tzu and The Art of War.

Sun Tzu provides 33 proverbs for offensive strategy: the final three speak to knowledge of self and knowledge of other.

If you know self and other, you won’t be in peril.

If you know self or other, your chances of success are 50/50.

If ignorant of self and other, such people are “mad bandits” and certain to always be in peril.

Putin knows of the American usurpation, how We the People are not represented according to numbers (US Constitution: Article 1, Section 2, Clause 3). By knowing us better than we know ourselves – because we don’t acknowledge the usurpation, in print or deed – Putin has an advantage and we (the US) are in peril.

How to end the American peril?

Gather We the People.

*Next Up: Wednesday 5 July and a 2020: Jesus was poor and said a few things about being rich.

Posted by Bryan W. Brickner

2020: Virtual Representation and the People

6/21/2017

“Regulations Lately Made Concerning the Colonies”

The lead-in was the title for a 1765 British Empire executive order concerning the colonies; this would have pertained to all colonies, not just the North American ones.

The regulations stated: “All British subjects … are virtually represented in Parliament; for every member of Parliament sits in the House, but as one of that august Assembly by which all the Commons of England are represented.”

So Virginians with names beginning with George, Thomas and James, for example, should give thanks that they were virtually represented in Parliament by a British commoner (which defines them as colonial commoners). There was no need for someone from Virginia, or any other colony, according to the Crown, to actually be in Parliament; the point being that Washington, Jefferson and Madison were being “virtually represented” by other commoners in England.

The 1765 regulations continued: “The colonies and all British subjects whatever, have an equal share in the general representation of the Commons of Great Britain, and are bound by the consent of the majority of that House, whether their own particular representatives consented to or opposed the measures there taken, or whether they had or had not particular representatives there.” (Italics added.)

One can see the political seeds of No Taxation Without Representation in the last part of that regulation – “whether they had or had not particular representatives there” – and the seeds of rebellion as well.

Virtual representation was Crown representation.

*Next Up: Wednesday 28 June and a 2020: Putin Knows. For further reading see Section 3 of Chapter 1, “Revolution – a sovereignty of the people,” in Article the first of the Bill of Rights (2006).

Posted by Bryan W. Brickner

2020: Tax Day Disses Our Revolution and Abraham Lincoln

4/15/2017

"No Taxation Without Representation"

Someone who disrespects is showing respect for another value.

For instance, the phrase “No Taxation Without Representation” animated the American Revolution. Taxation without representation is what monarchs and other toughies do and value; representation with taxation is a republican value.

So when We the People are disrespected, that is taxed without constitutional representation according to numbers, a usurper is actually showing respect to a monarchic mentality that we can call anti-republican and anti-USA.

President Abraham Lincoln February 1865

The same dis is observable in having Tax Day and the day Abraham Lincoln died coincide: usurpers did that, not republicans.

One can say Lincoln saved our Republic from killing itself; having Tax Day on his death day shows a lack of humility on the part of the usurpers. Simply put, it is arrogance.

April 15th is a double Republic dis: taxation without representation and it mocks the accomplishments and sacrifice of Abraham Lincoln. We are, by the logic of this day, the Usurped States of America and not the united ones.

*Next Up: This Wednesday April 19th and some serotonin receptor science.

Posted by Bryan W. Brickner

Republican Values: Gus Kotka and Johnny Reb On Our Way Census

3/12/2017

Gus Kotka and Johnny Reb OOW Enumeration

Part 12 of 13

“American exceptionalism.”
“What is it Reb?”
“The way the founders defined ‘We.’”
“We?”
“The constitutional pronoun We.”
“What’s exceptional about that?”
“The Enumeration.”
“You don’t say.”
“It defines We the People Gus.”
“By numbers?”
“The Enumeration is the counting of people.”
“The census.”
“Census is a noun.”
“So is enumeration.”
“Enumerate is the verb.”
“The doing.”
“Yes.”
“And that was exceptional?”

Gus Kotka and Johnny Reb OOW Represent

“There is no other republic like ours Gus.”
“Definitely not Plato’s.”
“And nothing like it since.”
“So the founders implemented something new by defining We the People by numbers.”
“They did.”
“And this is to happen every ten years?”
“A built in renewal.”
“So adding the ‘We’ to We the People was exceptional.”
“Still is.”
“So do the Enumeration and then what Johnny?”
“Divide by thirty Thousand.”
“To represent We the People.”
“Yes Yank.”
“This is the part where our Constitution says there shall be one Representative of We the People for every thirty Thousand people.”
“Yes.”
“That seems good.”
“We wouldn’t have had our Constitution without it.”
“Really?”

Gus Kotka and Johnny Reb OOW We the People

“It’s called the Connecticut Compromise.”
“Heard of that.”
“The Enumeration unifies by dividing.”
“Sounds like us.”
“You and me?”
“Yes.”
“Our war?”
“That and the Enumeration reverses.”
“Counter-intuitive.”
“More like it reverses thinking.”
“I hear ya.”
“The whole ‘unify by dividing’ idea.”
“Sharing.”
“It is sharing, ain’t it Johnny?”
“Power sharing.”
“We the People is a political means that divides in order to unify.”
“To share is to divide.”
“Go figure Reb.”
“Go figure Yank.”

*Next Up: 19 March and our season finale for Republican Values: Gus Kotka and Johnny Reb On Our Way Constitutional Solutions.

Posted by Bryan W. Brickner

Republican Values: Gus Kotka and Johnny Reb On Our Way Birthright

3/5/2017

Gus Kotka and Johnny Reb OOW Divided

Part 11 of 13

“We was born into usurpation, weren’t we Johnny?”
“We were.”
“That’s like being born into slavery.”
“Same power.”
“How’s that?”
“Same power that Plato was up against.”
“Might makes right.”
“Yes Yank.”
“So it’s always been something about the people.”
“Divide and conquer usually.”
“Ouch.”
“The people was sort of a derogatory phrase Gus.”
“Bad.”
“Slaveholders would even refer to their slaves as ‘the people.’”
“Like who?”
“Lee.”
“Robert E.?”
“It was common Gus.”
“A house divided against itself cannot stand.”
“Correct.”

Gus Kotka and Johnny Reb OOW House

“Lincoln.”
“1858.”
“Fifty-eight Reb?”
“When Lincoln was running for the Senate.”
“He lost.”
“And then won the presidency in 1860.”
“Did Lincoln coin the Divided House phrase?”
“No, Sam Houston used it.”
“Heard of him.”
“Texas Governor who wouldn’t rebel in 1860.”
“Who else?”
“Thomas Paine.”
“Common Sense.”
“Thomas Hobbes.”
“Never heard of him.”
“Saint Augustine.”
“Sounds vaguely familiar.”
“The Gospels.”
“Heard of them.”
“Mathew and Mark.”
“Oh my.”
“Lincoln was quoting Jesus Gus.”
“Smart man Johnny.”

Gus Kotka and Johnny Reb OOW United

“It mostly worked.”
“’Cept for the war.”
“Blame the usurpation.”
“Usurpation divides We the People.”
“That is its purpose Gus.”
“And today in 2017?”
“Worse.”
“Worse?”
“Worse as measured by the constitutional definition of We the People.”
“So our Republic prefers usurpation to constitutional representation?”
“Our Republic is stuck in usurpation.”
“Sounds like Tory Crown.”
“Correct Gus.”
“So to get America unstuck?”
“Use our exceptionalism.”
“Our exceptionalism?”

*Next Up: 12 March and part 12 of Republican Values: Gus Kotka and Johnny Reb On Our Way Census.

Posted by Bryan W. Brickner

Republican Values: Gus Kotka and Johnny Reb On Our Way Fork

2/26/2017

Gus Kotka and Johnny Reb OOW Paths

Part 10 of 13

“What do you make of this fork Reb?”
“Not much.”
“Which way is our way?”
“Both Gus.”
“Both?”
“Right.”
“Are we splitting up?”
“No.”
“Well two paths and two of us?”
“We’re staying together Gus.”
“Good.”
“Either path leads to where we’re going.”
“Virginia?”
“Constitutional representation.”
“Of We the People.”
“According to our numbers.”
“Thirty Thousand.”
“You got it Gus.”
“Which way though, you know, to Berryville?”
“Let’s move up and take a closer look.”
“Alright Reb.”

Gus Kotka and Johnny Reb OOW Nuances

“Better.”
“Still a fork and a question.”
“Both work Yank.”
“How?”
“Nuance.”
“New what.”
“Nuance – it means subtle difference.”
“So both ways lead to the same place.”
“Yes.”
“What is the nuance then?”
“Who is going to talk first?”
“About the usurpation?”
“Correct.”
“So the fork isn’t about you and me Reb.”
“No Gus.”
“Well let’s move forward and look.”
“Sure.”

Gus Kotka and Johnny Reb OOW Birthright

“Who is the fork for Johnny?”
“Usurpers.”
“President?”
“Yes.”
“Senators?”
“Yes.”
“Representatives?”
“Yes.”
“Governors?”
“You got it Yank.”
“Usurpers took our birthright, didn’t they Johnny.”
“They did.”
“Our very American birthright to constitutional representation.”
“Uniquely American Gus.”
“According to our numbers.”
“The birthright of We the People.”

*Next Up: 5 March and part 11 of Republican Values: Gus Kotka and Johnny Reb On Our Way Birthright.

Posted by Bryan W. Brickner

Republican Values: Gus Kotka and Johnny Reb On Our Way Er

2/19/2017

Johnny Reb and Gus Kotka OOW Resurrection

Part 9 of 13

“It’s a story Gus.”
“Great!”
“Shall we walk and talk?”
“On our way time ‘eh?”
“Time.”
“Okay – but what’s Er?”
“A soldier.”
“So what did Er do?”
“Lots.”
“Like what?”
“Resurrection.”
“Rise again?”
“So sayeth Plato.”
“Plato ends The Republic with a resurrection story?”
“Plato does.”
“What happened?”
“There was a battle and Er fell on the field.”
“Okay.”
“Ten days later they find the battlefield.”
“Yikes.”
“Right, ’cept Er’s body is not decayed.”
“Irrational.”
“Plato then says that two days later, while on the funeral pyre, Er comes back to life.”
“Jesus.”

Gus Kotka and Johnny Reb OOW Afterlife

“Right Yank.”
“But before Jesus.”
“By 350 years.”
“That’s like from Columbus to our time Johnny.”
“True.”
“Does Er just scare ‘em?”
“He tells the people of his soul’s journey.”
“To where?”
“Afterlife.”
“The dead?”
“Yes, and the newly to be born.”
“Both?”
“It’s a long journey Gus.”
“What was Plato up to Johnny?”
“Order again.”
“So Er saw Judgement Day.”
“Others, not his.”
“Okay: so?”
“It was a big deal to Plato.”
“Why?”

Gus Kotka and Johnny Reb OOW Necessity

“Cosmos.”
“Explaining good government wasn’t enough.”
“Plato wanted to explain it all.”
“Plato wanted to replace Athena.”
“Hey there is a goddess.”
“Where?”
“Necessity.”
“The mother of all invention is a goddess?”
“She is and she concludes Plato’s Republic.”
“I knew it.”
“Knew what?”
“Goddesses.”
“They’re resilient.”
“Like fate.”
“Plato would agree Yank.”
“Go figure. Hey there’s a fork ahead Johnny.”
“There sure is.”

*Next Up: 26 February and part 10 of Republican Values: Gus Kotka and Johnny Reb On Our Way Fork.

Posted by Bryan W. Brickner

Just ‘cuz music: Gaga Gotsadze - Late Night Melancholy