Political Fallacies

There is a term that all of us have heard over and over in political speeches for at least the past 100 years.  The politician stands behind a (usually bullet-proof) podium and tells us that the government is going to empower us. 
A rather odd thing to say when you look at the Constitution. The government is empowered by us, not the other way around.  The Preamble to the Constitution itself makes that concept very clear.

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." (Emphasis supplied.)

Note that we, the people, created the government.  It didn't exist before this document was debated and approved by citizens and their representatives at the state level.  Any power that the government has came by way of us giving it to them.  Actually, I suppose the proper word should be loaning it to them.  We could take it back if we chose to.
Any politician who uses the formulation that the government will "empower" us has no understanding of the foundational structure of American government and is under the misconception that the government has unlimited powers.  He or she must also believe that the government holds those powers regardless of, or even in spite of, the wishes of the electorate. 

Read more: http://www.americanthinker.com/2012/06/political_fallacies.html#ixzz1xqqRCnOU