Thursday, January 14, 2010

A.R. II - America's Second Revolution

A.R. II
America’s Second Revolution



It was less than 250 years ago that our founding fathers led the 13 colonies in an effort to break away from the control of England. The residents of America were not united. Less than a majority were backing the idea of going to war with England. From what I have heard, the people were divided into three categories: about one third did not want to change the relationship with England, another third was prepared to go to war in order to gain independence for America, and the last third did not care either way.

"... it does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen to set brush fires in people's minds..." Samuel Adams

What is our situation today? We have a government (though domestic) which has basically abandoned the Constitution in some areas and has twisted its meaning in other areas by the concept of it being a “living document”. That term sounds acceptable until you understand what they mean. Yes, the Constitution, as the foundation for the existence of our very nation is as though it is alive. But, what the liberals mean by a “living document” is that it is ever-changing and must be constantly re-evaluated and interpreted in light of current trends and philosophies. This opens the door to fluctuating meanings of the various clauses and amendments within the Constitution.

The Constitution was never meant to be interpreted in the light of changing trends. If it were, it could not be a suitable foundation for a nation. The foundation must be solid, immovable, steadfast and dependable.

A “living document” caters to the whims of the current majority. It cannot be counted upon to be the guide used the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. If this document were meant to change with each new generation, it would not have been written with black and white statements. It would be a shady grey without absolutes. Our Constitution is not wishy-washy, it lays down limits and boundaries. What the leftists do not like is that the boundaries it contains limit the government, not the people.

The Founders recognized that the natural trend in men, who gain a position of power, is to desire to expand upon their authority and gain control over the people. So, as they debated the wording and wrote this document, they did their very best to save America from such men and their selfish ambitions. The people then took it even further. Even though the Constitution was written to limit central government, the people insisted upon further clarification of the freedom of the people and the boundaries on the government. They added the Bill of Rights. These Rights do not explain what rights the government has over the people. They explain some of the rights of the people and the limited power of the government and the boundaries within which it must operate.

Our government was further set up to self-control itself. There are checks and balances built into the framework of all three branches – Executive, Legislative, and Judicial. Each branch has a proper part to play and each working within its own responsibilities imposes a balance on the whole. As they established our new system of government, they knew from the beginning that there would be those who would want to stretch the boundaries and discard the limits.

On September 18, 1787; as the Constitutional Convention came to a close in Philadelphia, a lady asked Benjamin Franklin, “Well Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?” Franklin answered, “A republic if you can keep it.”

If I remember correctly, it took a couple years for a sufficient number of the states to ratify the Constitution and add the Bill of Rights. With this accomplished, the new foundation for the new nation was laid. It provided the beginning for what would become the greatest nation on earth.

Over the 220 years since then, generations have allowed the redefining of this document into a loosely held set of suggestions. It has been attacked from all sides, undercut at every junction, and watered down in an attempt to limit its limits. As this gradual process has taken place for many decades, if not centuries, the assault upon the Constitution has never been more intense than during the past 50 years with the apex reached with the current administration and Congress. Presently, they are in an all-out effort to abandon the principles that made America great. We are being force-fed anti-Constitutional legislation, regulation, and legal opinions. All three branches are shredding the parchment as fast as they can.

A Republic is a government based on laws, with the Constitution being the supreme law of our country. We hold democratic elections where the majority of the people select their representatives, but we were not intended to evolve into a Democracy where the majority changes the rules based on how they currently feel. Our basic system of government has been and is being hijacked. The leftists are altering the system as fast as they can with the intention that it will never return to the roots we hold so dear.

When you consider the issues with England that resulted in the American Revolution, they pale when compared with what our current government is doing to exercise unlimited control over each of our lives. England imposed taxes that the colonists believed to be excessive and where the colonies had no input. England insisted that some of their soldiers be housed in private homes. England laid claim to natural resources, etc. These examples of control over men who wanted to be free were unacceptable.

When will free men reach the point where burdensome taxes, restrictive regulation, punishment for achievement, and dereliction of the rightful responsibilities of our government become unacceptable? How far will we allow them to push us? When will we the people declare our independence from an evil and oppressive bunch of politicians? How many Rights must we lose before it is too many? What is the breaking point?

Or, will there ever be a point that is too far? Will we the people surrender to the power and control that a small number of men and women impose upon us? Will we become just like the socialist European countries or the communist nations of the world? Is a Republican form a government something that exists only in history books or can it be revived in America?

The men who signed the Declaration of Independence were willing to risk everything to be free, to live in liberty. That document ends with the following words:

“…we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”

These were not just words on paper. This was the reality of what they were facing by this declaration.

What price freedom? Is our liberty still of any value? If so, how much?

"But a Constitution of Government once changed from Freedom, can never be restored. Liberty, once lost, is lost forever." -- John Adams, letter to Abigail Adams, July 17, 1775

The Founders recognized the dangers of government going too far. They understood the selfish ambition of men (and women). They warned us to protect our Liberty. Will we, before our liberty is lost forever?

1 comment:

  1. Okay, so I really took my time and read your two American Revolution entries. They really are fascinating. You must have put in a lot of effort researching this! You will be ashamed to call me your daughter after you hear this, but I didn't really know what the American Revolution was, short of a breaking away from England. I'm glad you're applying your interest in these things in your writing so that I can get up to speed on some of this stuff that I would otherwise know and care nothing about.
    It's interesting to see that, if enough people (or even a few people with enough passion) disagree with how the high-ups are doing things, that there are things that can be done. I am so quick to say, "well, I could spend all the time and effort getting informed and worked up about the current situation, but what good will it do/what will change because of it?" Maybe nothing, but then again, how devestating would it be if everyone took on that mindset. I do think it's important that we who strongly disagree with this administration speak up, or at least, keep abreast of what's going on. I need to do better because it is important!

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