By passing HR 5825 and HR 6166 and S 3930 and S 3931 the president of the United States can now suspend habeas corpus, define who a terrorist is, conduct surveillance on individuals without a warrant, and try accused individuals of criminal activity in a military court room. By approving these bills the congress also defies Article V of the United States Constitution outlining the amendment process if the Constitution needs to be altered.

The United States Constitution was established to protect the citizen from the naturally tyrannical power of government while government officials went about their constitutionally authorized assigned duties. The founders understood that there is no security for the individual with government officials possessing unlimited power over the citizenry. They experienced that scenario like many individuals around the globe do today.

They understood that for the individual to be secure, the individual must at all costs be able to retain the inalienable right to defend his life, his liberty, and his right to pursue his own happiness. Therefore government officials cannot suspend habeas corpus, must secure warrants from a judge to search an individual's personal papers and files including those on a computer. The individual is to have a trial by jury in a civilian court room, not a military tribunal, and the individual is presumed innocent and must be proven guilty of any crime.

With the bills congress recently approved jury trials composed of ordinary citizens become non-existent. Military tribunals decide guilt and innocence of the accused and evidence acquired by hearsay and torture are permitted. Anyone could be named a terrorist in order to be tried in this manner. The reliance of fairness and the prevention of usurping an individual's inalienable rights are now left in the hands of individuals, not by law.

The United States Constitution covers situations no matter who holds power in government. All government officials, including members of congress and the president, must obey the United States Constitution. A terrorist is a criminal and in this country, until proven guilty, the accused has legal rights that government officials cannot deny.

The more decimation of the United States Constitution occurs, tyranny is not too far behind. Yes, President Bush is not a dictator, but there is a presidential election in two years. The German people elected their dictator in 1933 and many other dictators today have likewise been elected.

If the United States Constitution is not abided by elected officials, then the United States of America no longer represents the individual liberty she purports to support. Daniel Webster warned, "Hold on, my friends, to the Constitution and to the republic for which it stands. Miracles do not cluster, and what has happened once in 6000 years, may not happen again. Hold on to the Constitution, for if the American Constitution should fail, there will be anarchy throughout the world."

Mr. Ricardo Valenzuela, advisor to recently elected president of Mexico, Felipe Calderon, president of Liberty Americas Foundation in Tucson, and former rancher, banker, and editorial writer, will be the featured guest at The Freedom Library Annual Education Forum November 2 at 7 PM at the Booth Machinery conference hall located at Araby road and 30th Street. His topic, "The Future of Freedom in Mexico and Its Impact on Arizona and the United States" is a very timely one.