Announcing the first LBCCS Community Picnic!

Time:
Friday, July 17 at 6pm

Place:
The Biery House
8 Race St
Catasauqua, PA 18032

The Liberty Bell Center for Constitutional Studies is proud to announce our first community picnic! All are welcome! Come with your friends and family. You will have a great time and we will have all sorts of free resources available for you to take home. Tell everyone you know! This is not about politics, it is about networking, fun, and introducing people to the LBCCS. We ask that you bring a dish for your own family and then a second dish to share with the group.

The picnic will be held behind the Biery House in Catasauqua along the canal.

We hope to see you there!


Questions? Contact Ryan at 484-553-0956.

Founding Director's Commentary

Just a few observations on our excellent Study Group/Discussion Session this past Friday evening June 19th. To begin with, Let me thank all of you who attended, what I hope will be the first of many wonderful Study/Discussion Session meetings at our new home, the Historic Biery House in Catasauqua, Pa. More importantly let me especially Thank Cliff and Janice Lathrop for gaining us permission to use this beautifully restored building.

Now down to business: This was an extremely diverse open ended session, that at times went way off the scale from the proper purpose of why we are there. Believe me I was just as guilty as anyone in perpetuating some of this. We are not suppose to totally focus on today's problems, or debate these issues. Please re-read our Mission Statement. I did just to remind me.

So here is a remedy that I think will work well for us:
1. Ryan gave me a copy of the Heritage Guide to the Constitution that
we can use in conjunction with the 5000 Year Leap's 28 principles.
2. We will start by studying and reviewing each one of the 7 Articles
in September, using both publications as guides. Taking an Article per
session or more if necessary, untill everyone's understanding is
satisfied.
3. Cathy Coffee brought up a very good point Friday night. Where is
the Making of America showings by Dr. Earl Taylor? I suggest, if time
allows, we play a brief portion after each study/review segment.
4. We can also choose a night in which we apply what we are learning
to today's current events, having a discussion without heated debates.
Save that for the street, or other such events that you attend. People
will be amazed at how wise and learned you have become.

More to follow from Ryan on a surprise agenda for the Friday, July 17th get together.

Again, I am proud to be associated with all of you, and am especially pleased at our growth as an organization thus far. These things take time and due diligence with trial and error till we get it right and comfortable.

Faithfully Yours in Freedom and Liberty,

Paul J. Fiske
Founding Director - L.B.C.C.S.
paulfiske@gmail.com

LBCCS Meeting Review and Resources

Meeting Date: June 19, 2009

Thanks to all who attended our recent Discussion Group Meeting in Catasaqua. I would like to put out a special thank you to Cliff and Janice Lathrop who arranged for us to use the Biery House. Here is a quick review of what we covered in the discussion:

The meeting started with a reading from "The Law" by Frédéric Bastiat. In short, "Each of us has a natural right — from God — to defend his person, his liberty, and his property... If every person has the right to defend even by force — his person, his liberty, and his property, then it follows that a group of men have the right to organize and support a common force to protect these rights constantly." That is the basis of civil government, it is the banding together of individuals to make a common force strong enough to consistently protect each person't life, liberty, and property. As an individual can not plunder another person, so an organized group of individuals (government) can not lawfully plunder a person. The founders of our country understood the concept and danger of government plundering of its citizens, and Frédéric Bastiat understood it also. Now we need to learn this concept.

Our first discussion was led by Art Illiano and the topic was the founder's views on Democracy. We handed out a sheet with quotes from our founders on the topic. Their views can be summed up by Thomas Jefferson, “A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine.” Our founders wanted our country to be a Republic, a nation of laws. In a democracy, the leaders can do whatever they want as long as "the people" are behind them, but in our Republic, our leaders are bound to the law and "the people" hold them accountable. Hence the name "democratic Republic." Be very wary when a politician starts using the term "Democracy" to describe our nation and using "the will of the people" as justification to do what is wrong. For more information on the topic, read the chapters on principles 8-12 in the "5000 Year Leap" by W. Cleon Skousen.

Our second discussion was led by our Founding Director, Paul Fiske, and the topic was the founder's views on Foreign Policy. George Washington said, “The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nations is in extending our commercial relations, to have with them as little political connection as possible.” He pointed out later that the nation which "indulges toward another an habitual hatred, or an habitual fondness, is in some degree a slave. It is a slave to its animosity or to its affection, either of which is sufficient to lead it astray from its duty and its interest." Our founders wanted our country to stay detached from the squabblings of other nations and instead be a beacon of freedom to the world. This vision did not include America as the ultimate parent or policeman for other nations. For more information on the topic, read George Washington's farewell address and Thomas Jefferson's first inaugural address. Also, you can read the chapter on principle 25 in "5000 Year Leap" by W. Cleon Skousen and "The Revolution: A Manifesto" by Ron Paul.


Further personal study:

To download *FOR FREE* the entire 5000 Year Leap audio book, visit:
http://www.nccs.net/5000-year-leap/_jkgFoe95jlsf4poG/

George Washington's Farewell Address:
Text: http://www.bartelby.net/124/pres16.html
Audio: http://freeaudio.org/gwashington/

Thomas Jefferson't Inaugural Address:
Text: http://www.bartelby.net/124/pres16.html

The Law, by Frédéric Bastiat
Text: http://bastiat.org/en/the_law.html
Audio: http://freeaudio.org/fbastiat/thelaw.html

Websites:
http://www.campaignforliberty.com
http://www.libertymaven.com
http://www.nccs.net
http://www.brainyquote.com (Art pointed this out as a great resource for finding historical quotes)


Our next meeting is scheduled for July 17 and our next movie night will be in September. More information is coming.

You fellow student of liberty,

Ryan Burgett
Chairman - L.B.C.C.S.
ryan_burgett@hotmail.com

Meeting Agenda

Friends of liberty,

Here is the agenda for the discussion group on Friday:

1. Pledge of Allegiance
2. Invocation
3. Excerpt from "The Law" - Ryan Burgett
4. The Founders' views on Pure Democracy - Art Illiano
-Discussion on our democratic Republic
5. Coffee and snacks
6. The founders' views on Foreign Affairs - Paul Fiske
-Discussion on Foreign Affairs
7. Closing Remarks
8. Benediction

I hope you all can attend. If you are coming, please be sure and RSVP so we can make the proper arrangements. Also, coffee and water are being provided by Paul, but we need some people to bring in snacks. If you can bring a snack, please let me know.

Thanks,

Ryan Burgett
Chairman - L.B.C.C.S.

Announcing our next Discussion Group Meeting!

Time:
Friday, June 19 at 7pm

Place:
The Biery House
8 Race St
Catasauqua, PA 18032

Come and join us as we learn and discuss the history and philosophy behind the founding of our country. We do not talk about the Right or the Left, we talk about history and truth. In the world of politics, there is nothing new under the sun, so if we look at history it becomes clear what is going on today and where it is leading. We use resources from organizations such as the National Center for Constitutioal Studies and the Ludwig von Mises Institute among others. Politicians today talk of "re-MAKING" our country, but what we need to do is "re-BUILD" our country on the historical and philosophical foundation left to us by our founders. I guarantee you will enjoy yourself and learn a lot.

Finding the Biery House:
The house is on the left almost immediately after crossing the Race St bridge (heading East) in Catasaqua. Click here for a map.

Parking Information:
Follow the driveway beside the house all the way back to the parking lot.

Questions? Contact Ryan at 484-553-0956.

LBCCS Movie Night Review and Resources

Meeting Date: June 5, 2009

Friends of Liberty,

Thanks to all who attended the movie night on Friday! We were blown away by the turnout. What looked like a meeting of a dozen people turned into a gathering of around thirty. To review, we watched "A More Perfect Union" and learned about the writing of our Constitution. It truly is incredible that those men were able to come to agreement and that our Constitution came to be. But as my new friend Art told me, "They accomplished more good in those four months than our government has been able to do in the last century!" As the founders themselves acknowledged later, it was only by the grace of God Himself that they were able to accomplish what they did. Our Constitution is the greatest political document the world has ever seen and I hope you will take the time to read it. You can find its entire text at:

http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html

If you would be interested in purchasing the movie for your own, you can find it at:

http://www.nccs.net/ampu.html

For further personal study, we would suggest the following books for your consideration:

The Federalist Papers, by John Jay, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton
The Heritage Guide to the Constitution, by Edwin Meese
Liberty! The American Revolution, by Thomas Fleming
The Revolution: A Manifesto, by Ron Paul

Remember that the majority of our founding fathers were self-educated men.

Now, let me leave you with an excerpt from the Declaration of Independence,

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed."

Our federal government was created to "secure these rights" to us and our posterity. Today we have an out-of-control government that has been systematically taking away these rights piece by piece. We need to stand up and say, "NO MORE!" For this reason we hope you will join the LBCCS in getting the truth of our Constitution and our nations founding out to your friends, family, co-workers and anyone else who you come in contact with.

And be sure to join us for our next discussion group meeting on June 19 in Catasauqua. More information on that is coming soon.

Thanks again to all who attended the meeting!

Your fellow student of liberty,

Ryan Burgett
Chairman - L.B.C.C.S.

Natural Law

Why should you care about Natural Law? Well, it is the foundation of UNALIENABLE RIGHTS, HABEAS CORPUS, LIMITED GOVERNMENT, SEPARATION OF POWERS, CHECKS AND BALANCES, RIGHT TO SELF-PRESERVATION, CONTRACTS, THE FAMILY, RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS, THE AMERICAN CONSTITUTION and much more.

When our country was created, all other nations of the world were under a legal system known as “Civil Law” which holds that the government is the ultimate law and any rights the citizens have are granted to them by the government. Our founding fathers knew that was wrong and instead built our government based on the radical belief that the government is not the ultimate law. Instead, governments are under the law, Natural Law. But what is Natural Law?

The enlightenment philosopher, John Locke, wrote:

The state of nature has a law of nature to govern it, which obliges every one: and reason, which is that law, teaches all mankind, who will but consult it, that being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions: for men being all the workmanship of one omnipotent, and infinitely wise maker; all the servants of one sovereign master, sent into the world by his order, and about his business; they are his property, whose workmanship they are, made to last during his, not one another's pleasure.

Natural Law acknowledges that people's rights come from the Creator, not the government. No government has the right to deprive a person of any one of their rights “unless it be to do justice on an offender” of the rights of others.

Samuel Adams referenced Natural Law when he said:

The natural rights of the colonists are these: first, a right to life; second to liberty; third to property; together with the right to support and defend them in the best manner they can.

And Thomas Jefferson wrote in the Declaration of Independence:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.

Author Richard Maybury writes:

After 1776, America became the leader of this movement to Natural Law. Countries that adopted a Natural Law viewpoint came to be known as the “free world,” of which America was the acknowledged leader. These countries also became the most prosperous, with the most job opportunities, the largest middle classes, and the most investment opportunities.

The United States of America was the first nation in the history of the world to align their law system with the “law of nature and nature's God” and became the most prosperous nation the world has ever seen.

LBCCS Movie Night Resources

Meeting Date: June 5, 2009

"A More Perfect Union"

You can find the full text of the Declaration of Independence at:
http://www.ushistory.org/Declaration/document/index.htm

You can find the full text of the US Constitution at:
http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html

For further reading on the Constitution:
The Federalist Papers, by John Jay, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton
Decision in Philadelphia: The Constitutional Convention of 1787, by Christopher Collier
The Making of America, by W. Cleon Skousen
The Heritage Guide to the Constitution, by Edwin Meese
The Revolution: A Manifesto, by Ron Paul

Reading on the philosophy behind the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution:
The 5000 Year Leap, by W. Cleon Skousen
Two Treatises of Government, by John Locke
The Spirit of Laws, by Charles baron de Montesquieu
The Republic and the Laws, by Marcus Tullius Cicero
The Wealth of Nations, by Adam Smith

“The natural rights of the colonists are these: first, a right to life; second to liberty; third to property; together with the right to support and defend them in the best manner they can.” Samuel Adams, 1772

“A Wise and frugal government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, which shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government.” Thomas Jefferson, 1801

“The Political Fate of America”

From NCCS.net, May Newsletter

"Having recently read and studied the chapter in The Real George Washington entitled, “The Ratification Fight”, I have had the strong impression that Washington faced in his day some of the same intensity against the Constitution that we face in our day. The main difference is those who opposed the Constitution in his day felt the proposed plan of government would give too much power to the federal government and lead to tyranny. Today, those who express opposition to the traditional restraints on government as contained in the Constitution are from the other side of the spectrum..."

To read the entire newsletter, click here.

Meeting Review and Resources

Meeting Date: May 15, 2009

Friends of liberty,

Thanks to all who attended our recent meeting, and especially to our newest members, Gary and Les. Also a special thank you to the "Kids for America" and their wonderful presentation of the national anthem.

Here is a quick review of what we talked about:

At the beginning of the meeting, Paul presented three great websites for study and reference:
http://www.tenthamendmentcenter.com/
http://www.libertymaven.com/
http://www.tommullen.net/

Following that, Paul read an excerpt from Dr. Taylor's recent newsletter that can be found at:
http://www.nccs.net/newsletter/may09nl.html

After that we moved into a discussion of foreign relations and our founder's views on the subject.
For more information, read the chapter on the 25th Principle found in the "5000 Year Leap" pp. 267-278

George Washington:
"Observe good faith and justice toward all nations. Cultivate peace and harmony with all. Religion and morality enjoin this conduct; and can it be that good policy does not equally enjoin it? It will be worthy of a free, enlightened, and, at no distant period, a great nation to give to mankind the magnanimous and too novel example of a people always guided by an exalted justice and benevolence."
"In the execution of such a plan nothing is more essential than that permanent, inveterate antipathies against particular nations and passionate attachments for others should be excluded, and that in place of them just and amicable feelings toward all should be cultivated. The nation which indulges toward another an habitual hatred or an habitual fondness is in some degree a slave. It is a slave to its animosity or to its affection, either of which is sufficient to lead it astray from its duty and its interest."

We hope to get together and watch "A More Perfect Union" within the next couple weeks. We will be in contact.

Thanks,

Ryan Burgett
Chairman - L.B.C.C.S.

Topical Quotes

(This portion of the site is still under construction. Please check back later to find more quotes and topics)

Democracy

“A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine.” Thomas Jefferson

Foreign Relations / Military

“I hope our wisdom will grow with our power, and teach us that the less we use our power the greater it will be.” Thomas Jefferson

“Peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none.” Thomas Jefferson

“The way to secure peace is to be prepared for war. They that are on their guard, and appear ready to receive their adversaries, are in much less danger of being attacked than the supine, secure, and negligent.” Benjamin Franklin

“There is a rank due to the United States among other nations, wich will be withheld, if not absolutely lost, by the reputation of weakness. If we desire to avoid insult, we must be able to repel it; if we desire to secure peace, one of the most powerful instruments of our rising prosperity, it must be known that we are at all times ready for war.” George Washington

Government Power

“Power always thinks it has a great soul and vast views beyond the comprehension of the weak, and that it is doing God's service when it is violating all His laws.” John Adams

“A 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.” Thomas Jefferson

“The spirit of the times may alter, will alter. Our rulers will become corrupt, our people careless... From the conclusion of this war we shall be going downhill. It will not then be necessary to resort every moment to the people for support. They will be forgotten, therefore, and their rights disregarded. They will forget themselves, but in the sole faculty of making money, and will never think of uniting to effect a due respect for their rights. The shackles, therefore... will be made heavier and heavier, till our rights shall revive or expire in a convulsion.” Thomas Jefferson

“Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force; like fire, a troublesome servant and a fearful master.” George Washington

“Whenever the legislators endeavor to take away and destroy the property of the people, or to reduce them to slavery under arbitrary power, they put themselves into a state of war with the people. Who are thereupon absolved from any further obedience, and are left to the common refuge which God hath provided for all men against force and violence.” John Locke

Money

“All the perplexities, confusion and distress in America rise, not from defects in the Constitution or Confederation, not from want of honor or virtue, so much as from downright ignorance of the nature of coin, credit, and circulation.” John Adams

“History records that the money changers have used every form of abuse, intrigue, deceit, and violent means possible to maintain their control over governments by controlling money and its issuance.” James Madison

“If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation and then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around them will deprive the people of all property until their children will wake up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered.” Thomas Jefferson

Natural Law / Natural Rights

“The principles on which we engaged, of which the charter of our independence is the record were sanctioned by the laws of our being, and we but obeyed them in pursuing undeviatingly the course they called for.” Thomas Jefferson

“When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.” Thomas Jefferson

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.” Thomas Jefferson

“Life, liberty and property do not exist because men have made laws. On the contrary, it was the fact that life, liberty, and property existed beforhand that caused men to make laws in the first place.” Frederic Bastiat

Educate Yourself

Online Videos:
"The Constitution and Freedom" Short video series by Judge Andrew Napolitano.

"The Philosophy of Liberty" 8 minute video on natural rights and the basic philosophy of liberty.
"Federalism, Freedom and the Constitution" 6 minute video.

"Constitution Class" Seven hour course on the U.S. Constitution by Michael Badnarik.
"Liberty! The American Revolution" An Excellent six part PBS documentary series.

"Money, Banking and the Federal Reserve" 42 minute documentary produced by the Ludwig Von Mises Institute.
"The Incredible Bread Machine" An incredibly entertaining 30 minute documentary on individual liberty and the parasitism of government.

Classic Texts:
The Declaration of Independence (Text, Audio)

The Constitution (Text, Audio)
The Second Treatise of Civil Government, by John Locke (Text, Audio)
The Rights of the Colonists, by Samuel Adams (Text)
Common Sense, by Thomas Paine (Text, Audio)
Farewell Address, by George Washington (Text, Audio)
The Federalist Papers, by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton and John Jay (Text, Audio)
The Law, by Frédéric Bastiat (Text, Audio)
Civil Disobedience, by Henry David Thoreau (Text, Audio)

Contemporary Texts:
The 5000 Year Leap, by W. Cleon Skousen (Audio)
The American Revolution and Classical Liberalism, by Murray Rothbard (Audio)
What Has the Government Done to Our Money? by Murray Rothbard (Text, Audio)
Economics in One Lesson, by Henry Hazlitt (Text)
The Case Against the Fed, by Murray Rothbard (Text, Audio)
Conceived in Liberty - Vol. 1, by Murray Rothbard (Text, Audio)
Conceived in Liberty - Vol. 2, by Murray Rothbard (Text, Audio)
Conceived in Liberty - Vol. 3, by Murray Rothbard (Text, Audio)
Conceived in Liberty - Vol. 4, by Murray Rothbard (Text)

Articles:
Life, Liberty, and Property Are Inseparable, by Tom Mullen
Natural Law Provides the Answers, by Tom Mullen
What Is The U.S. Constitution? by Timothy Baldwin
Romans Chapter 13 Revisited, by Chuck Baldwin
Does the Federal Government have a right to take your property? by Ryan Burgett
Gold and Freedom, by Jacob Hornberger

Lecture Series:
The Truth About American History: An Austro-Jeffersonian Perspective
The Politically Incorrect Guide to American History
The History of Liberty
Economics 101

Understanding the Declaration of Independence Seminar

We are very excited to announce that we will be hosting a seminar in association with 9-12/Tea Party of the Lehigh Valley on "The History, Philosophy, and Lasting Significance of the Declaration of Independence." During this seminar, we will answer many questions including: What did Feudalism have to do with the founding of our country? How did the Declaration of Independence come about? What are the laws of nature and nature's God? What is the purpose of human government? How do the principles within this document apply to the world, our nation, and my life? Come and join us as we learn together!

Cost:
$13/ticket (tickets must be purchased no later than July 20)
Click the "Buy Now" button below to purchase tickets online.

Time:
Saturday, July 24 from 9am to 12pm

Place:
Calvary Chapel Living Water
2224 Industrial Drive
Bethlehem, PA

Directions:
Exiting PA-22 at Airport Road North (toward L.V.I. Airport), turn right at Ave A, then turn right at Ave B. Finally, turn right onto Industrial Drive and the church is .2 miles ahead on your right (immediately next to Unclaimed Freight).

If you have any questions, please contact:

Ryan Burgett - Chairman, L.B.C.C.S.
484.553.0956
ryan_burgett@hotmail.com

Join Our Mailing List

To join our mailing list and be notified of upcoming events, please send your email address to:

ryan_burgett@hotmail.com

Your email information is secure with us and will not be shared with anyone outside of LBCCS leadership.

Contact Information

Ryan Burgett - Chairman
484-553-0956
ryan_burgett@hotmail.com

Paul Fiske - Founding Director
610-820-7049
paulfiske@gmail.com

LBCCS History

“Zeal without knowledge is like fire without light.” And US Air Force veteran Paul Fiske had both – for our nation’s Constitution. So in 2005 he created The Liberty Bell Center for Constitutional Studies. The entrepreneur and forward thinker noticed with growing concern the dangerous decline in people’s knowledge and understanding of the Constitution. Both political parties had left the Constitution far behind, focusing themselves and their constituents on temporal issues instead of on the eternal values in our founding documents. So with resources from the National Center for Constitutional Studies, Paul took his passion and knowledge and began LBCCS. But being ahead of his time, educational enthusiasm hadn’t caught on – yet. Then in 2009, with the surge in people’s awareness of governmental control seeping into almost every area of life, Paul resurrected LBCCS with the help of now Chairman, Ryan Burgett, and others. The fire once again had light! LBCCS seeks to stand in the gap and rebuild our educational foundation in the United States Constitution.

LBCCS Mission Statement, Purposes, and Goals

Mission Statement, Purposes and Goals

The Liberty Bell Center for Constitutional Studies exists to educate all of our Lehigh Valley residents, young and old, to the original intent of our founding fathers when they finished creating the U.S. constitution in September 1787, and to teach the 28 principles that guided them when crafting this most precious document. (We are currently not formally recongnized by the State, but are working towards incorporating as a 501 (c)(3))

-We accomplish this task by:

1.Holding a monthly study/discussion group meeting.
2.Presenting historical movies/documentaries in a separate monthly gathering.
3.Coordinating with local organizations to best educate the public.

-We use the book The 5000 Year Leap, by Dr. W. Cleon Skousen and the Heritage Guide to the Constitution which present the principles and documents upon which we base our governance.

-We are an apolitical organization, not affiliated with any of the country's political parties or associated P.A.C. groups therein. Our meetings are not political forums for disruptive discourse related to current events. Instead, ours is to educate and leave policy decisions to personal choice.