Reposted from comments on the new Urban Future thread here
Originally from the blog Fightin’ Words
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Above: Obama’s last visit to Copenhagen didn’t work out so well for the USA.
The Minnesota Free Market Institute hosted an event at Bethel University in St. Paul on Wednesday evening. Keynote speaker Lord Christopher Monckton, former science adviser to British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, gave a scathing and lengthy presentation, complete with detailed charts, graphs, facts, and figures which culminated in the utter decimation of both the pop culture concept of global warming and the credible threat of any significant anthropomorphic climate change.
A detailed summary of Monckton’s presentation will be available here once compiled. However, a segment of his remarks justify immediate publication. If credible, the concern Monckton speaks to may well prove the single most important issue facing the American nation, bigger than health care, bigger than cap and trade, and worth every citizen’s focused attention.
Here were Monckton’s closing remarks, as dictated from my audio recording:
At [the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference in] Copenhagen, this December, weeks away, a treaty will be signed. Your president will sign it. Most of the third world countries will sign it, because they think they’re going to get money out of it. Most of the left-wing regime from the European Union will rubber stamp it. Virtually nobody won’t sign it.
I read that treaty. And what it says is this, that a world government is going to be created. The word “government” actually appears as the first of three purposes of the new entity. The second purpose is the transfer of wealth from the countries of the West to third world countries, in satisfication of what is called, coyly, “climate debt” – because we’ve been burning CO2 and they haven’t. We’ve been screwing up the climate and they haven’t. And the third purpose of this new entity, this government, is enforcement.
How many of you think that the word “election” or “democracy” or “vote” or “ballot” occurs anywhere in the 200 pages of that treaty? Quite right, it doesn’t appear once. So, at last, the communists who piled out of the Berlin Wall and into the environmental movement, who took over Greenpeace so that my friends who funded it left within a year, because [the communists] captured it – Now the apotheosis as at hand. They are about to impose a communist world government on the world. You have a president who has very strong sympathies with that point of view. He’s going to sign it. He’ll sign anything. He’s a Nobel Peace Prize [winner]; of course he’ll sign it.
[laughter]
And the trouble is this; if that treaty is signed, if your Constitution says that it takes precedence over your Constitution (sic), and you can’t resign from that treaty unless you get agreement from all the other state parties – And because you’ll be the biggest paying country, they’re not going to let you out of it.
So, thank you, America. You were the beacon of freedom to the world. It is a privilege merely to stand on this soil of freedom while it is still free. But, in the next few weeks, unless you stop it, your president will sign your freedom, your democracy, and your humanity away forever. And neither you nor any subsequent government you may elect will have any power whatsoever to take it back. That is how serious it is. I’ve read the treaty. I’ve seen this stuff about [world] government and climate debt and enforcement. They are going to do this to you whether you like it or not.
But I think it is here, here in your great nation, which I so love and I so admire – it is here that perhaps, at this eleventh hour, at the fifty-ninth minute and fifty-ninth second, you will rise up and you will stop your president from signing that dreadful treaty, that purposeless treaty. For there is no problem with climate and, even if there were, an economic treaty does nothing to [help] it.
So I end by saying to you the words that Winston Churchill addressed to your president in the darkest hour before the dawn of freedom in the Second World War. He quoted from your great poet Longfellow:
Sail on, O Ship of State!
Sail on, O Union, strong and great!
Humanity with all its fears,
With all the hopes of future years,
Is hanging breathless on thy fate!

Lord Monckton received a standing ovation and took a series of questions from members of the audience. Among those questions were these relevent to the forthcoming Copenhagen treaty:
Question: The current administration and the Democratic majority in Congress has shown little regard for the will of the people. They’re trying to pass a serious government agenda, and serious taxation and burdens on future generations. And there seems to be little to stop them. How do you propose we stop Obama from doing this, because I see no way to stop him from signing anything in Copenhagen. I believe that’s his agenda and he’ll do it.
I don’t minimize the difficulty. But on this subject – I don’t really do politics, because it’s not right. In the end, your politics is for you. The correct procedure is for you to get onto your representatives, both in the US Senate where the bill has yet to go through (you can try and stop that) and in [the House], and get them to demand their right of audience (which they all have) with the president and tell him about this treaty. There are many very powerful people in this room, wealthy people, influential people. Get onto the media, tell them about this treaty. If they go to www.wattsupwiththat.com, they will find (if they look carefully enough) a copy of that treaty, because I arranged for it to be posted there not so long ago. Let them read it, and let the press tell the people that their democracy is about to be taken away for no good purpose, at least [with] no scientific basis [in reference to climate change]. Tell the press to say this. Tell the press to say that, even if there is a problem [with climate change], you don’t want your democracy taken away. It really is as simple as that.
[Update: this section on a question from an attendee to the presentation has been removed from this WUWT article because even though Monckton clearly refuted it, it is turning into a debate over presidential eligibility that I don’t want at WUWT. If you want to see it and discuss it. Do it at the original blog entry Fightin’ Words – Anthony]
Regardless of whether global warming is taking place or caused to any degree by human activity, we do not want a global government empowered to tax Americans without elected representation or anything analogous to constitutional protections. The Founding Fathers would roll over in their graves if they knew their progeny allowed a foreign power such authority, effectively undoing their every effort in an act of Anti-American Revolution. If that is our imminent course, we need to put all else on hold and focus on stopping it. If American sovereignty is ceded, all other debate is irrelevant.
Edited to add @ 8:31 am:
Skimming through the treaty, I came across verification of Monckton’s assessment of the new entity’s purpose:
38. The scheme for the new institutional arrangement under the Convention will be based on three basic pillars: government; facilitative mechanism; and financial mechanism, and the basic organization of which will include the following:
World Government (heading added)
a) The government will be ruled by the COP with the support of a new subsidiary body on adaptation, and of an Executive Board responsible for the management of the new funds and the related facilitative processes and bodies. The current Convention secretariat will operate as such, as appropriate.
To Redistribute Wealth (heading added)
b) The Convention’s financial mechanism will include a multilateral climate change fund including five windows: (a) an Adaptation window, (b) a Compensation window, to address loss and damage from climate change impacts [read: the “climate debt” Monckton refers to], including insurance, rehabilitation and compensatory components, © a Technology window; (d) a Mitigation window; and (e) a REDD window, to support a multi-phases process for positive forest incentives relating to REDD actions.
With Enforcement Authority (heading added)
c) The Convention’s facilitative mechanism will include: (a) work programmes for adaptation and mitigation; (b) a long-term REDD process; © a short-term technology action plan; (d) an expert group on adaptation established by the subsidiary body on adaptation, and expert groups on mitigation, technologies and on monitoring, reporting and verification; and (e) an international registry for the monitoring, reporting and verification of compliance of emission reduction commitments, and the transfer of technical and financial resources from developed countries to developing countries. The secretariat will provide technical and administrative support, including a new centre for information exchange [read; enforcement].
UPDATE: Thanks to WUWT reader “Michael” who post the URL on another unrelated thread, we now have video of Lord Monckton’s presentation:
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I work in an IT environment. I see daily the attacks from the internet (spam, viruses, etc) trying to invade our system and compromise our businesses. We continually have to maintain our guard and update our defenses to keep us safe.
This is just like the current (local, state, country, world) political environment. A minority of people trying to compromise our liberty by continually attacking our system trying to weaken our liberties, restrict our freedoms and take from us what we earn all under the guise that they know what is best of us and are trying to save us. These are age old scams that was represented by snake oil salesmen, sin eaters and rain makers of past generations.
Once you become aware of these relationships you can see it in everything that goes on.
Our allegedly free, unbiased, news outlets are supposed to be a defense against these freedom robbing predators. Unfortunately the news organizations have been compromised and are aligned with the charlatans. I know that they know that I know that this is true but they know that I know the they know the average citizen is stupider than a box of nails and can easily be pied pipered into total submission.
I thought I would never live to see the day when a obvious grab for money and power would produce bad science. The last time I read about that was when a society of manipulators thought that Blond Haired Blue Eyed people were the chosen race.
Serenity now………………..
That’s got to be the funniest thing I’ve read all week ;).
The sovereigns in the USA are the people, they cannot be ceded by the government. It is the government that serves the people not the other way around.
People need to brush up on their Constitutional theory and history.
I doubt Obama gets the whole consent of the governed thing.
gtrip (00:41:36) :
Is it me or is Lord Monckton becoming the Al Gore of our side? Our president can’t sign any treaty that will mean anything to our country without our Senates approval. I think Monckton is just riding the wave of his early success and milking it for all it’s worth.
That’s being very naive, see below.
Daniel L. Taylor (02:26:31) :
I find the responses here to Lord Monckton’s revelation depressing. If our side has a carefree, “can’t happen here” attitude towards this dangerous treaty, then what hope is there?
I would like someone who believes in the invincibility of Constitutional limitations to explain to me please the existence of Social Security. Or Medicare. Or the countless other programs, taxes, and laws which stomp all over State and individual rights despite the very clear language and intent of the 10th Amendment. Explain to me please campaign finance reform in light of the 1st Amendment, or asset forfeiture laws in light of the 5th. How about the many czars who escape Congressional oversight despite the fact that these czars now hold real power and authority in our government?
Add the following important losses of individual and state’s rights to the list above:
In the 1886 Wabash case, the Supreme Court struck down an Illinois law outlawing long-and-short haul discrimination. Nevertheless, an important result of Wabash was that the Court clearly established the exclusive power of Congress to regulate interstate commerce. (See Gibbons v. Ogden.)
Followed by:
Interstate Commerce Act (1887)
In 1887 Congress passed the Interstate Commerce Act, making the railroads the first industry subject to Federal regulation.
April 5, 1933 – U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt declares a national emergency and issues Executive Order 6102, making it illegal for U.S. citizens to own gold.
The government defrauded my grandparents of a large portion of “real” wealth by “Executive Order”. Combine this with E.M.Smith (02:36:04), and you may get a glimpse of the big picture.
John Egan (06:26:39) :
One of the essential problems about political polarization in this country is the inability of the extreme right to accept the legitimate electoral results of the American people.
Do you realize how foolish that statement is? One of the essential problems about political polarization in this country is the inability of the extreme left to remember that they whined, and are still unwilling to accept the legitimate electoral results of the “stolen?” Bush election in Florida.
I think you mean anthropogenic … the climate can’t change to look like a human.
“Isn’t the only hope for the planet that the industrialized civilizations collapse? Isn’t it our responsibility to bring about?”
“We may get to the point where the only way of saving the world will be for industrial civilization to collapse.”
Both those doozies are compliments of Maurice Strong.
This whole environmental/GW pile of dogma is bread from the mind of Maurice Strong, that lovely gift from Canada to the world.
If anybody thinks it is ludicrous this could be about wealth redistribution through regulation really needs to research Strong. And believe you me, he knows how to wreck things. Just ask Ontario Hydro.
Canadian PM Harper has a brain and I’m sure realizes the danger of this thing and I hope like hell he won’t sign.
Right now, the US legislature is so far left, it scares me that this may have a chance to pass. Let’s hope if Bama signs the thing, any vote is delayed and the US public votes in more balanced houses in 2010 and I will continue to remember Copenhagen for the one day/night I had a blast there touring the breweries and observing the gorgeous feminine sights and not for a huge step in removing opportunity from myself and my children. That’s the biggest threat.
This backs up what Monckton spoke to: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2009/10/15/tom-borelli-cap-trade-apollo-ceres/
“Big Business Teams Up With the Left to Sell Cap-and-Trade
Every day we have an opportunity to vote with our wallets by letting companies know there is a price to pay for colluding with those who oppose our values.”
Line of the day:
“It looks like freedom is dimming along with the Sun.”
MartinGatkins
“You could not possibly be more wrong. The EU and UN are just different heads on the same monster. They’re both working together with the goal of global governance. The UN is the tool of the European socialists and has been almost from the outset.”
Good point – I missed that angle.
WUWT might do worse than distance itself a little further than it has from Monckton’s intervention if it wants to continue to be considered a science-driven site.
There is widespread unease within the UK’s Conservative Party at current leader David Cameron’s “touchy-feely” Green agenda. One wonders if Monckton’s speech is aimed less at Minnesota’s “free marketeers” and more at dissident party colleagues in an effort to weaken HQ’s pro-AGW stance. (That said, US rejection of the Copenhagen nonsense would strengthen the hand of Monckton and colleagues.)
Whatever, WUWT is running a risk that it will be seen as a bit player in a faction scrap within the Conservative Party. It stands to become an object of ridicule as a result – whatever the motives of its supporters.
It was, as we all know, former Monckton boss, Margaret Thatcher who set up the Hadley Centre in 1990. Many saw this as part of the hunt for a “scientific” rationale for the political goals of rehabilitating nuclear power and finally destroying UK coal-mining.
No one at that time argued that the “eco-lobby” was largely comprised of disgruntled eastern Europe emigrés and lonely souls from the wider left. It was a fatuous idea then and it is equally fatuous now.
To go on to that these elements are part of a “world government” conspiracy is demagogic tosh that has me reaching for H L Mencken. OTOH, Monckton’s suggestion that “there is a certain amount of doubt whether or not [Obama] was born in Hawaii” is simply shameful. It gives “Peer Review” a new meaning.
However, the fire-and-brimstone stuff does serve as a rallying point for potential votes in an intra-party scrap – Conservative Party rank-and-file are not, on the whole, recognised for deep political thinking.
What is worrying is that the tone of WUWT’s Minnesota report suggests a measure of approval for Monckton’s intervention. This will backfire.
In any case, crude demagogy of Monckton’s sort has no place in what purports to be a scientifically-driven discussion.
The politics of green ideology are, to put it mildly, much more complex and much more pernicious than Monckton’s playing to the gallery suggests.
I think it reasonable to insist that those who examine a changing political climate do so with the same intellectual rigour as WUWT (rightly) demands that others examine the natural one.
Re; “PeterT (01:23:49) :
Blimey!! I don’t think this is a very good look for those good people who want to question the science of AGW, as a matter of fact I don’t want to be associated with someone who is starting to sound like a shrill political conspiratorial nutter, leave that rubbish to the other side and stick with the science.”
Peter, there’s no arguing that he does sound like a nut. But have you checked what he’s saying? Let’s look at a few things that he’s said:
Monckton: “I read that treaty. And what it says is this, that a world government is going to be created. The word “government” actually appears as the first of three purposes of the new entity. ”
Here is the ‘The Global Environmental Governance Project” from Yale:
http://environmentalgovernance.org/
Here is the Council of Foreign Releations web page on global governance:
http://www.cfr.org/issue/23/global_governance.html
Here is the President of the CFR discussing global governance and sovereignty:
http://www.cfr.org/publication/9903/sovereignty_and_globalisation.html
A direct quote from the above link:
“Moreover, states must be prepared to cede some sovereignty to world bodies if the international system is to function.”
Does the CFR have any influence in our government? Well, read the following quote from Hillary Clinton:
” We get a lot of advice from the Council, so this will mean I won’t have as far to go to be told what we should be doing and how we should think about the future.”
http://www.cfr.org/publication/19840/council_on_foreign_relations_address_by_secretary_of_state_hillary_clinton.html?breadcrumb=%2Fmedia%2Ftranscripts
If you want to find out about the roots of the CFR, you can read about them in a book called “Tragedy and Hope” written by a Harvard professor of history, Carroll Quigley. If you read this book, you’ll find links between JPMorgan, communists, and the CFR (note that this book was published in 1966). And Quigley was a 20 yr member of the CFR, a liberal, and disliked right-wingers. This book was the most fantastic eye-opening book I’ve ever read. What I have said is just the tip of the iceberg of what’s in this book.
And finally, Obama’s energy czar, Carol Browner was listed on Socialist International’s ‘Commission for a Sustainable Society’ (until this was reported in the media) that calls for 3 things, one of them being global governance. Here it is:
http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2006/12/133110.php
“(1) To design and put forward proposals for democratic forms of global governance as the foundation for building a peaceful and sustainable world society overall; ”
Here’s the second thing Monckton’s claimed: “The second purpose is the transfer of wealth from the countries of the West to third world countries, in satisfication of what is called, coyly, “climate debt” – because we’ve been burning CO2 and they haven’t.”
Well, this is very easy to verify. Here are some credible links and excerpts:
-NYTimes:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/31/business/energy-environment/31iht-green31.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print
“Eliminating that infrastructure deficit for low- and middle-income countries will, by itself, cost on the order of $315 billion annually over the next 20 years, the authors argue. Girding that updated infrastructure to meet the demands of a changing climate will require $16 billion to $63 billion in additional financing each year. ”
Here’s the Obama Admin’s Cass Sunstein discussing global redistribution hypotheticals from rich countries to poor countries:
http://www.georgetownlawjournal.com/issues/pdf/96-5/Posner-Sunstein.PDF
If you go to page 38 of the following UN doc, you’ll read where a modeling target of some researchers is calibrated to achieve convergence of per-capita income between certain areas.
http://www.ipcc-wg2.gov/AR4/FOD/Ch20_FOD.pdf
From IISC:
” in the coming decades the world expects to see substantial economic development including, by 2030,some US$16 trillion investment in energy infrastructure (IEA 2003). Much ofthis will be in developing countries as they develop with a view to enjoying the standard of living of today’s industrialized
countries.”
http://ces.iisc.ernet.in/envis/sdev/climate_which_way_forward.pdf
From the Prince of Wales:
“The CDM has already demonstrated the potential
to funnel large amounts of Western capital into investment in the infrastructure that will enable developing countries to avoid the carbon intensive economic path that the developed world has taken.”
http://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/content/documents/Accounting%20for%20Sustainability%20PART%20II.pdf
Here’s an IPCC doc that has a little blip about GDP convergence:
“Weyant concluded that the SRES scenarios are probably correct when climate change or its impacts are of interest, whether PPPor MER was used. However there could be significant differences for mitigation cost projections depending on the method of GDP convergence.”
http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/supporting-material/expert-meeting-2005-01.pdf
Here’s a site that talks about income convergence between developed and developing countries:
“Market mechanisms for reducing global greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental goals provide additional revenue streams to developing countries, and contribute to the convergence of incomes between developing
and industrialized regions. ”
http://www.tellus.org/documents/Great_Transition.pdf
Another UN link that talks about wealth redistribution and development in developing countries:
“Specifically, the CDM can contribute to a developing country’s sustain-
able development objectives through:
• Transfer of technology and financial resources;
• Sustainable ways of energy production;
• Increasing energy efficiency & conservation;
• Poverty alleviation through income and employment
generation; and ”
http://uneprisoe.org/CDMCapacityDev/CDMintro.pdf
Here’s a paper from Canada that talks about redistribution:
“Suppose, for example, Kyoto is replaced by a far more comprehensive international agreement by 2012. A so-called “contraction and convergence” scheme (scenario 3, above) “contracts” the world’s GHG emissions by 2050 to stabilize the climate, while letting developing nations increase their per-capita emissions until they “converge” with those of the industrialized world. Such a scheme would offer attractions to both the United States and the major developing nations. The former would find it appealing because of its very long-term horizon, which provides enough flexibility and time to achieve the desired goal. Developing countries could support that approach because it offers them the opportunity to grow their emissions to match the levels of industrialized countries on a per capita basis.”
http://www.policecouncil.ca/reports/CBOCPerformanceandPotential06.pdf
And finally, here’s another mention of income convergence from Obama’s Dr. Stranglove et al.:
“Box 1.1. Description of IPCC Scenario B2
The IPCC’s B2 scenario family is based on projections from 1990 to 2100 of moderate population growth (growing from 5.3 billion to 10.4 billion people), intermediate levels of economic development (world gross domestic product (GDP) grows by a factor of 11), and moderate, but relatively diverse, technological change. The B2 storyline is oriented toward environmental protection and social equity (that is, assuming a tendency to a more even distribution of per capita income, quantified by dropping the ratio of income in developed to developing countries from 16 to 3 over the 21st century), and emphasizes “local solutions to economic, social, and environmental sustainability” (Nakicenovic and Swart, 2000).”
http://www.globalproblems-globalsolutions-files.org/unf_website/PDF/climate%20_change_avoid_unmanagable_manage_unavoidable.pdf
These links above are just a sample of what I’ve found over the last few years. The picture I’m getting is that we are to be taxed (via cap-and-trade or some other means) to help fund infrastructure development in third world countries. Once these countries have it, jobs will be sent to them (offshoring, mainly from the US) to help start their economies. These countries want to build things to sell to us like China is doing. The end goal seems to be a convergence of incomes both within countries and among countries by 2100. There also seems to be a goal of every nation having similar per-capita GDP’s by 2100. I doubt people in third world countries will be making 50 to 100 K by 2100. I think the scenario is a contraction of our income while theirs increases until they converge.
And by the way, if you buy Quigley’s book, you’ll read a few times where an English group has a goal of bringing the backwards people of the world into a modern lifestyle… just like many behind AGW are doing today. This group is based in England, where it seems to me that most of the AGW schemes are coming from.
I believe I have enough information to make the case that we are being downsized via AGW in the economic interests of foreign nations and I wonder what the general public would do if they knew what I know? I doubt they’d sit on their hands.
And I believe Monckton is pretty much on the mark with his comments above.
Tarpon, I’m with you on this. I get the feeling that the term “Public Servant” somehow offends Obama.
Anthony,
I your notes on the treaty at the bottome of the article, your blog software is using the copyright symbol in place of “c” in parenthesis.
-Dave
Zero-carbon society. Here it is:
53 minutes of eye-popping info:
Hell is always at your doorstep.
Mod: Did my post go to spam?
REPLY: Yes it is restored, refresh and you’ll see it.
My own bet:
— There will be a watered down “treaty” coming out of Copenhagen
— The US will “sign” it
— It will never be ratified by Congress, hence will never be put into effect in the US
— Politicians will go on talking about climate change, GHG emissions will go on rising, the Copenhagen Treaty will have little effect.
— Climate will do what it would have done without a treaty
Many here are playing down the world government threat. “Nahh, it aint gonna happen.”
DO SO AT YOUR OWN PERIL, you sleepwalkers.
It’s happening before your very eyes!
Lord Monckton is not overstating the danger here.
IT’S REAL, AND I SUGGEST YOU ALL WAKE UP REAL QUICK!
Not long ago posters here were belittling my references to the Sons Of Liberty, etc.
But soon you will understand the threat.
I’m withdrawing all my capital from the US until this threat blows over, if it does at all.
DennisA (06:17:05) :
Excellent analysis and data.
Did you see my post under “The Top Ten Reasons why I think Catlin Arctic Ice Survey data can’t be trusted” about the connections between Obama and the Marxists UN personnel running/owning all the carbon exchanges? This is and will increase as a huge source of $$ for the shadow Marxist UN/Gov. trying? to run the world via dictatorial edict rather than “Rule of Law.” It’s NOT that Obama doesn’t care about the American people, in his shallow thinking he perceives no difference between “Americans” (and applies no special status thereto) and the rest of the world. Therein lies the problem – he WILL do whatever he “thinks” is best for THE WORLD, which is whatever his UN and One World cohorts say, i.e., whatever will make THEM the most money, because he literally sees the world through rose colored glasses.
After all, aren’t we all equal? And all of us should HAVE only what everyone else has, no more, no less – well, except those that are smart enough to run the world. Of course THEY should have more….
Folks, we are already a long way down the path toward Global Animal Farm, and Snowball – opps, I mean Obama is knee deep in the movement.
And as for those who question this being posted on a science blog – ANYTHING that effects, especially in a negative way, correct and honest scientific inquiry AND publication needs to – MUSY HAVE a bright light shown on it in ALL communication arenas.
“Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it”
George Santayana
I, also, am dismayed that WUWT would post this article.
If I were a first-time visitor to WUWT I would, immediately, come to the conclusion that WUWT is just another ill-informed, nutter outfit, and I would leave, and not come back.
Dave B,
I don’t think that raising income and prosperity in third world countries is the real aim, if so these global governance people would be pushing free market solutions with a minimum of interference. The real objective is the destruction of the sovereignty of the United States and a means of control over production and population through regulation imposed by non elected officials with no accountability to real live constituents.
Dave B. you show the problem with the UK Tory party to be parochialism. Lord Monckton was talking to the US of A, I’m sure the idiots in Tory HQ were the last thing on his mind.
tarpon (07:37:07) : While I agree with you in theory, I sometimes believe it is our ruling elite in DC who “need to brush up on their Constitutional theory and history.” When you review what has happened to many of our rights, say property rights taken under the guise of government regulations by the EPA, it becomes clear that our rights have eroded through the years. And unfortunately, the “sovereigns” have done nothing to stop it.
Look also at the way Obama has chipped away at our 1st Amendment Rights with his colloraboration with Egypt in the UN. While the resolution he introduced is not binding on the US, it certainly makes our 1st Amendment appear to be fatally flawed.
“The U.N. Human Rights Council approved a U.S.-backed resolution Friday deploring attacks on religions while insisting that freedom of expression remains a basic right.
The inaugural resolution sponsored by the U.S. since it joined the council in June broke a long-running deadlock between Western and Islamic countries in the wake of the publication of cartoons depicting the Muslim Prophet Muhammad.
“Egypt’s cosponsorship of the resolution on freedom of expression is not the result of a real commitment to upholding freedom of expression,” said Jeremie Smith, Geneva director of the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies.
“If this were the case, freedom of expression would not be systematically violated on a daily basis in Egypt,” he said.
Others warned that the resolution appears to protect religions rather than believers and encourages journalists to abide by ill-defined codes of conduct.
“Unfortunately, the text talks about negative racial and religious stereotyping, something which most free expression and human rights organizations will oppose,” said Agnes Callamard, executive director of London-based group Article 19.
“The equality of all ideas and convictions before the law and the right to debate them freely is the keystone of democracy,” she said.
Although the resolution was passed unanimously, European and developing countries made it clear that they remain at odds on the issue of protecting religions from criticism.”
I never thought I’d live to see the day when a President of the USA would put forth a resolution at the UN that basically says that our First Amendment guarantees too much freedom of expression.
I have to think the American people will be handing climate/cap and trade/carbon tax treaties and legislation the same rejection they gave amnesty, or was it a guest worker program.
When it comes to policies riding a tsunami of BS the people stand up.
That said, disparaging Monckton for his stretch on treaty signing is a stretch itself. He’s not committing the offense some here are portraying. Proportionately his misunderstanding of treaty signing and our Constitution is a minor point with some legitimacy. That being the ability of our own current politics to skirt and undermine our own Constitution.
His warning is valid when all things are considered.
I also question the wisdom of relying on the limitations of power and restrictions written in the Constitution. As an example, look at the people and government of Honduras, who correctly followed their constitution and removed from office a President who violated one of the six unchangeable tenets of their constitution. This properly deposed President, who committee an act of treason, has gathered widespread international support demanding his reinstatement.
What their constitution states is, apparently totally irrelevant to the demands of the international community. I don’t believe our Constitution would get any more respect–it has been referred to recently as a ‘quaint historical document’. I believe the only member of congress that actually takes it seriously is Rep Ron Paul and he is ridiculed.
Have any of you read Team media buddy George Monbiot’s book? Here’s the cover.
Green Taliban + Third Way (radical centre) Politics = You tell me!
The biggest threat to humanity has always been its own ego when fanatics run away with it using subversion and indoctrination. Doesn’t matter how well intentioned the delusion initially or what label you attach: left, right or centre; communism, fascism or globalisation. It always leads to repression, misery and conflict in the end. History repeats over and over, same old stuff.
The usual hallmarks seem to be present. Time to root out and disperse the comrades hitting the cheap booze and wittering in corners again, maybe.
O/T…
California to vote on TV ban for energy savings:
LA times has an article referenced by Drudge, but it doesn’t give any details.
This article (older) on Wired covers it pretty well:
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/03/california-tv/
JimB