There Is Nothing I Can Do About It

The Frustration of the Voiceless

A phrase I heard recently gave voice to the frustration I think many are experiencing over the abuses perceived to be inflicted by an identity-centric, monolithic, establishment government, sympathetic CEOs and Directors of the multi-national mega-opolies more concerned about inexpensive labor and market share than the liberties which grounded their own opportunities, and a sycophantic lame-stream media, which sounds more like a propaganda arm of the establishment rather than an investigative press whose job it is to help keep government accountable for its action: “There is nothing I can do about it.”

I had to chew on that a bit. I deeply respect the person from whom I heard this. And, I suspect there was an eschatological aspect to his statement, as well. Is there, indeed, nothing we can do about it? In the immediate moment, perhaps not. Strategically, perhaps so.

Resistance to and Fighting Unrighteousness are Expected

Eschatologically, the message to the seven churches in John’s Revelation was one of resisting, overcoming, holding on to the Spirit’s truth, and not succumbing to cultural compromise. Fundamentally, they are messages of resistance and fight. The two witnesses are another example of resistance and fighting against evil, and the unrighteous.

Paul warned us we are in a battle. The warning he gave, however, was to identify the real enemy, rather than to encourage surrender or resignation: “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Eph 6:12 ESV).

The battle is against unrighteousness, tactically and strategically. Our immediate threat is a government pressing an unrighteous agenda, buttressed by like-minded oligarchic forces of commerce and press. Government has the potential to direct change upon commerce (anti-trust action). A press focused on trumpeting its own unrighteousness disguised as virtue is likely harder to address. So, it seems we focus first on government.

Article V: A Convention of States

“The Congress . . . on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress” (Article V of the Constitution of the United States).

Article V of the U.S. Constitution gives states the power to call a Convention of States to propose amendments. It takes 34 states to call the convention and 38 to ratify any amendments that are proposed. Convention of States Action (COSAction) would only allow the states to discuss amendments that, “limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, impose fiscal restraints, and place term limits on federal officials.”

Voting Integrity

The Constitution states State legislatures shall establish the times, places, and manner of elections for Representatives and Senators (Article I, Section 4). It also states State legislatures are responsible for directing the appointment of presidential Electors (Article II, Section 1).

As citizens who are represented in our state legislatures by those whom we elect, it is we who must stress to our state representatives and senators that we will hold them responsible for ensuring the voting integrity in our state.

From my perspective that means paper ballots, in-person voting on election day, voter ID, strict control and scrutiny of absentee voting, absentee ballots to be received prior to election day, and a prohibition on ballot harvesting, and ballot drop-boxes.

“There is nothing I can do about it.”

While there is little that can be done to immediately effect change at a federal level, we can affect North Carolina’s legislative effort over the long haul.

Find out who your state representative and senator are. Call or write to them to express your views. Get engaged locally: school boards, county commissioners, election boards, and so on. Don’t like who represents you locally? Run yourself, or find someone who will. Yes, there is stuff we can do about it, although that “stuff” may require a strategic approach rather than immediate.