What’s Wrong With America, and How Can We Fix It?
” The spirit of 1776 is not dead. It has only been slumbering. The body of the American people is substantially republican. But their virtuous feelings have been played on by some fact with more fiction; they have been the dupes of artful maneuvres, and made for a moment to be willing instruments in forging chains for themselves. But time and truth have dissipated the delusion, and opened their eyes. ” -Thomas Jefferson, In a letter to Thomas Lomax, March 1799
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The United States of America is undoubtedly the greatest country in the history of the world. However, it seems that many of us have abandoned the conservative principles upon which the foundations of this great country were laid.
In the midst of a depression, we have endeavored to preserve economic prosperity for our country and ourselves. Yet in doing so we have made great sacrifices to liberty. Have we forgotten that a republic cannot survive if the people do not have liberty? Have we forgotten that without liberty there is despotism, and under despotism there is no prosperity? We have asked for benefits that we did not earn, nor have the means to fund. We must earn our prosperity. We are not entitled to it. We must remember that in exchange for these benefits our government acquires greater authority over us. Our future generations will suffer the consequences of these irresponsible actions. They will toil under the tyranny of an excessively powerful federal government in an endless effort to pay off our debts. They will scorn us for our fiscally irresponsible decisions. They will despise us for our un-American actions.
The principles of our founding fathers’ are being dismissed by a disproportionately left-wing media, an ever-growing mass of misinformed citizens, and by the administrations that they are placing in power. We must not let an unrestrained government implement socialist policies under the guise of “leveling the playing field” and “social justice”. In truth these policies are nothing more than an instrument used to further the power of the federal government and render the population managable. We can no longer sit idly by, waiting for the issues at hand to work out naturally. Americans have too often taken their liberties for granted. Liberty is woven into the very fabric of our lives, so much so that it is hard for us to imagine that it could be lost. Make no mistake, our freedom can be lost. And if we do not speak up, it will be. We must wake up! We must speak out!
“What can I do about all of this, I am just one person?” That is the question that burns in the hearts and minds of so many Americans today. Many of us feel helpless against such a powerful government. We feel as if we are powerless to influence the direction of the country. How could we feel any different? We have been taught to be submissive. However, if we would take the time to study the Charters of Freedom, we would know what our founding fathers knew:
“….governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, ” – The Declaration Of Independence
The government derives its power from our consent. They do not govern with unbounded control.
One of the most important things that any citizen can do is to arm himself with knowledge. Study the history of our country, and of our founding fathers. Study the history of the world, and be able to correlate between the failures and successes of past civilizations and present day America. Know what our founding fathers intended for this country. We should also be in constant contact with our representatives and senators. Do not be scared to voice your opposition to any policies that you do not agree with. It is your right to speak out against the government. Indeed, it is much more than your right, it is your duty. It is the duty of every American generation to protect their inalienable rights, and preserve the republic. If we do not stand up against tyranny, we will deservedly lose freedom.
“Republics decline into democracies and democracies degenerate into despotisms.” -Aristotle
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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2473984/posts
What’s Wrong With America, and How Can We Fix It? [Reader Post]
When reading this, keep in mind that its intent is to contribute to an INTELLIGENT political CONVERSATION. This means that if you are going to respond to my comment, please do not blindly quote someone else’s rhetoric. If you make a claim, justify it. If you want to insult someone, don’t. If you want to argue, volunteer for your local high school’s debate team. Finally, please do not call me an “Obama loving hippy”… unless you are willing to admit that three years ago you were one of the people who called me a “Bush worshiping warmonger”. Everything I am saying in this post I would have said without halt under past administrations.
The entire conversation falls back to the principles on which the Constitution was created. In all honesty, liberal-versus-conservative aside, no individual can claim that they know the mindset and predisposition of the founding fathers. The best we can do is interpret their ideas from the documents they have left behind. It is only when it comes to the deluge of interpretation that we divide ourselves into “conservative” and “liberal” organizations. Every American can agree to the creed coined by John Adams and Thomas Jefferson: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Any other inherently American value can be assimilated into these three ideals.
Conservatism is the foundation of America. No, that isn’t a pro-republican sentiment, that is an unbiased fact. A large percentage of this nation’s population, and a large basis of our local and state wide legislatures, descends from the pillars of Puritan, Quaker, Presbyterian, and Lutheran faiths. Each of these faiths prides itself on the simplistic and individualistic philosophies of life. Therefore, it would not be nye in assuming that these philosophies have filtered their way down into the forefront of modern society. Laissez-faire economics, small government, and strict constructionism; do these not properly exemplify the characteristics of what one would call a “conservative”? There is nothing wrong with wanting to follow the Constitution verbatim and following in our founding fathers’ footsteps. It is merely the nature of the ideology.
However, one must be willing to accept the opposite perspective. By “accept” I don’t mean “act on”, simply “understand”. The broad constructionism approach to interpreting the Constitution does just that: interprets it. It looks beneath the direct words and sentences and chooses to act on the ideas that provoked the words. Social equality, government regulation, and receptiveness to outside thoughts; do these not properly exemplify the characteristics of what one would call a “liberal”? There is nothing wrong with wanting to follow the meaning behind the Constitution and act on the reasons for its writing rather than the writing itself. It is merely the nature of the ideology.
Can we all agree that both sides want what is best for the American people, and the discrepancy comes only when trying to act on it? Can we all agree that it is not the politicians themselves that are the reason for argument, rather the actions the politicians take? If not… well… there really isn’t any reason for us to be talking is there? You’ve made your decision, and obviously no sense of logic will be able to defer you from it. Everyone else, please read on and respond whole-heartedly. I honestly want to know your legitimate input.
The following is my personal opinion and justification thereof on political matters today.
I believe that both sides of the aisle have strong ideas; however, in recent years I have found the left to perform better than the right. In plain and simple language: times have changed. In the past two centuries, it was a perfectly acceptable concept to follow the word for word instructions of the Constitution. It was perfectly acceptable to let, as Calvin Coolidge said, “the big business of America be business” and to let the market regulate itself. However, there is no way that the founding fathers would have been able to anticipate the availability of resources and information and the increasing international involvement that came with the 21st century. It is for this reason that the left has had an increasing appeal towards the public. The thought process becomes “If there is nothing in the Constitution about public health care, we must take into account what the country’s basis would be willing to accommodate.”
Bear with me for a moment. The reason I support liberalism is because my thought process is as follows:
What is wrong with government regulation of health care?
It increases the size of government.
What is wrong with increasing the size of government?
It reduces control over my own actions.
What actions would I lose control over?
My will to buy insurance that would cover my medicinal costs.
What is right with government regulation of health care?
It guarantees an insurance plan that is based on protection, not profit.
What would come of an insurance plan based on protection?
Reduced costs and continuing coverage.
Why would this benefit me?
It would make sure that I would be financially secure in case of a medical emergency.
Therefore the argument becomes “Is my ability to choose wether or not I want insurance greater than the ability to be financially secure in case of a medical emergency?”
Health care becomes like a driver’s license. Yes, it is a nuisance to have to go to the DMV to make sure that I am a safe driver. But isnt it worth it if it means that I wont go out and kill myself in a car crash?
Responses (by sane people) welcome! =]