Over the past months Wisconsin has been embroiled in the recall of the governor over issues relating to collective bargaining and employment benefits. It has been a battle primarily along partisan lines.

But imagine a scenario in which the governor, on his own authority alone, mobilized the Wisconsin National Guard and started a war against another country of his choosing? One would think that people of all political perspectives would express unified outrage at such an egregious act.  Everyone would be supporting recall. It is so outrageous that one would think it could not possibly happen.

Yet this is just what the President of the United States has done, only on a much larger scale. The President initiated and conducted a war against Libya on his own authority. The Wisconsin National Guard was even used as part of the war. It makes no difference that he claims “international approval” for his actions. There was no order from congress. This despite the fact that the US Constitution, Article 1 Section 8, is explicit that only the congress can declare war.

Since the Libyan war took place the administration has continued the expansion of presidential power. It now arrogantly claims it can not only start and run a war on its own but that it may not even inform congress and would only do so “if they wanted to.”

These lawless and unconstitutional actions demonstrate the growing consolidation of power in the hands of only a few people. They fly in the face of the separation of powers that made America a free and prosperous nation.

If controversy over collective bargaining and benefits deserves consideration of recall, than certainly this issue, which is orders of magnitude more important and deals with the initiation of war and the control of our military, is deserving of such consideration as well. Representative Walter Jones has introduced congressional legislation, H. CON. RES. 107, expressing the sense of Congress that the use of offensive military force by a President without prior and clear authorization of an Act of Congress constitutes an impeachable high crime.

Impeachment would start the process of reigning in executive power. It would return power to the congressional representatives and could start a broader discussion in society about the proper balance of power. It is through the decentralization of power that citizens will regain control of their governance and start enacting policies that benefit our people.

Wisconsin has gained a little familiarity with “recall” recently. Perhaps it is here, in our great state, that people will take a stand against this abuse of power and place a proper check on a federal government that perceives no limits on its power. Those who are concerned about this issue should contact their U.S. Representatives and encourage them to support Rep. Jones’ legislation. They should also contact their Wisconsin representatives and encourage them to adopt similar state resolutions in Wisconsin. It should be clear that this type of action will no longer be tolerated.

We have already spent enough money in two days of raining down missiles on Libya to cover the next year of the Wisconsin state budget deficit that has cause so much debate these past weeks. Will there be protests in Wisconsin about this issue? People must realize that there are finite resources. Money spent on bombs is taken from other uses.

One would think leaders would pursue policies that benefit their own people. However, the agenda of our modern day rulers does not have any place for sane policies like slowing the economic destruction of our nation. Productive pursuits take a distant second to militarism.

It is sickening to hear this war described as a “humanitarian mission.” Washington cares nothing about humanitarianism. There was no oil in Rawanda. There is oil in Saudi Arabia where the U.S. government helps to prop up brutal dictators who suppress the freedom of their people. There is oil in Iraq where hundreds of thousands of civilians have died as a result of the U.S. invasion.

There is oil in Libya.

This fake humanitarianism would have us believe that killing people is an effective means of teaching evil people that killing people is wrong.

Will anything short of economic collapse bring an end to this militaristic policy? Must we be continually sucked into more and more conflict? How many more of our brothers and sisters have to die in unnecessary violence before people come to their senses and demand an end to the madness?

History shows that great empires end due to over-expansion and financial collapse.  The American military machine is driving us down that same path. Can we stop history from repeating itself?  People must take control of the agenda in our state and local governments and enact solutions that will end the use of violence and prevent the bankruptcy of our nation. The troops must come home. The wars must end. We must get our own house in order.

Viewers of the NFL playoffs this past weekend may have noticed the announcement at the start of the games informing the audience that the game was being broadcast on the American Forces Network to U.S. troops stationed in 175 countries and our ships at sea. Undoubtedly this information did not register with the vast majority of the audience. But take a minute to think about how truly remarkable this is considering that there are only 197 recognized countries in the world. The scope of the American Empire is breathtaking.

To put this in perspective, imagine if China started placing military bases around the world. Imagine if they had bases in Canada and Mexico and patrolled our coasts with battleships. If they expanded to even 5% of the empire we maintain we would hear pundits screaming about the communist scourge that is overtaking the world.

We who claim to stand for freedom and liberty are maintaining a military empire that extends over nearly 75% of the planet. Does any of this make us safer in the long run? Is this policy moral? Is this financially sustainable in the long term? No on all accounts. The prosperity of our nation is being squandered on this gargantuan military machine.

Our country is going bankrupt. It is time to bring all those forces home and have them defend this country. Let them spend their money here and support our economy.  All who care about the future of freedom and prosperity in our land should dedicate themselves to bringing this system under control. It is time for people to use their state and local governments to enact policy that is in line with our values and brings benefit to our people.

As the nation continues to ponder the recent Tucson shootings it may be helpful to consider their context. America has been at war ever since Mr. Laughner, the deranged shooter, was a young boy.  At 22, he spent his late childhood, formative teenage years and early adulthood with a constant background of violence. Daily news reports of predator drone strikes, coalition battles, casualties, bombings and torture all wrapped in a flag and sold as patriotism. This has to have a profound effect on a developing child.

People are expected to solve their differences peacefully, yet the actions of the federal government provide tacit support for a culture of murder and violence as solutions to problems. Today an entire generation is being raised that has never known an America at peace. The problem is not merely about vitriolic political rhetoric. It is about endless war. If people are serious about changing a violent culture it is time for them to take a moral stand and use the state governments to put and end to militaristic policy. It is time to replace violence and occupation with peace, diplomacy, friendship and commerce.