Sometimes, standing your ground means using the Constitution

A pushy traveling salesman came to my home and insisted that I allow him to do as he wished to sell me his wares. When I said no thanks, he continued to push his service. When I explained that I decide who and when and why I might do business with anyone, he continued to act as if he was making all my decisions for me, like it or not. There comes a time when standing your ground becomes an issue in who has the power to decide.

There are times when I have no choice in who I do business with. I prefer to keep my business dealings with local folks, but sometimes that is just not possible. When I spend money locally, I am helping to keep my friends and neighbors gainfully employed so they will have better lives. I think of all the money for internet services and insurance coverage on everything that corporations collect every month, it’s amazing that anything gets to hang around town at all.

When Susanville had a lumber industry, times were better for jobs that brought money into the local area. As they say, those were the good old days, when America was great and most things were as they should be. The trains even ran on time.

This idea that “Corporations are people, too!” is harmful to small towns and the people who live there. The U.S. Constitution directs the law to bring forth justice for We, the People. It also directs the Congress to regulate commerce so it complies with the goal of establishing justice, and ensuring the domestic tranquility … for all of ‘We, the People’.

Sometimes, standing your ground means using the Constitution as intended. I became so enraged at this pushy salesman standing at my door, refusing to respect my rights, that I called the sheriff and requested assistance. I asked the officer to explain that when a citizen says no trespassing on his or her land, trespassers have to respect that decision, even if a corporate interest says otherwise. I did not request anyone be harmed or arrested.

The officer said I made sense, and he would see what he could do. He did it well.