The Value of the 5th Amendment

Author: JoAnn the Plumber

I plead the Fifth. We all know the phrase. Most of us think of the 5th amendment as the right not to incriminate ourselves in court. We see it used on television and indeed, read about it in news reports of court cases. It is the most oft-used provision of the amendment.

Below is the actual text of that amendment, with important words for us personally in bold.

Article [V.]

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

This is usually reserved for eminent domain, in the cases where the local government wants to take your land for public use, traditionally. We all know it's been used against land owners recently, perverting the intent and giving the land to private owners in hopes of more tax money. But for those unhappy about this administration's attempts to shove "healthcare" down our throats, it is a way for us personally to strike back.

We all work for our earnings (i.e. money) to spend as we see fit, or at least it has always been that way. Now, the federal government is attempting to force us to "buy into" a promise. We're to be forced to pay into the system, on a promise that we will get "healthcare" in a few years.

Just how is this promise "just compensation"? Would you pay your grocer for food promised to you several years from now? What about a car or a house? What are you willing to pay for now, hoping that item will still be there in 3 or 4 years? Are you guaranteed you will be alive several years from now? Are you immune to disease or fatal car accidents? Do you think the feds will return your prepaid premiums to your beneficiaries? Think again. They don't do it for Social Security now in many cases.

I have a solution, for those not fortunate enough to live in a state asserting their 10th amendment rights against this outrageous legislation and protecting their citizens.

The minute your paycheck is dinged for this "promise", you are then harmed, by the federal government. (You're currently being harmed for the Social Security deducted now, since you may not live to receive your benefits.) Once harmed, you can file suit in federal court, based on the 5th amendment. I'm not a lawyer, but a patriot and citizen. And I can read the English language and comprehend it. I can't think of anything that purports to be "just compensation" in a promise. It seems to me individual, not class action, lawsuits would win hands down.