Title: Back to where we belong Source:
me URL Source:http://none Published:Jun 4, 2005 Author:racj42 Post Date:2005-06-04 23:44:29 by rack42 Keywords:belong, where, Back Views:210 Comments:7
Well, how will we defend our freedom?
I've held the belief that at least 90% of the US population is terminally stupid.
Anyone got a plan to get us back to the founder's vision?
The founders didn't have any "vision". They were classically educated men born into the culture of English Common Law. They set about to create a government that would lesson or minimize the dangers that all Republics face.
They failed. We should admit that. The Articles of Confederation actually offered a far better bulkwark against a central government. It is time to admit that the Constitution itself is a deeply flawed document and has over and over lent itself to centralizing philosophies, some very different from each other- but at the end of the day- the Constitution, as a docuemnt that protects our liberties and restricts government power- has failed- or actually we have failed.
That we have any semblance of liberty or freedoms left is merely because culturally some things are still taboo for our govenrment to do, but with poor education even those taboos are fast disappearing- like "freedom of the press". Further- that our current federal power isn't more repressive is only because it doesn't feel the need to be. Certainly nothing is stopping it from becoming more repressive if it so wants- especially not a piece of paper like the Constituion.
It is, after all, a piece of paper. In order for it to work, the habits and mores of a free citezenry are needed. We have neither the habits or mores any longer much less the education or even basic historical understanding that all the founders expected every voter to have (and they didn't expect voters to be everyone who achieved the stunning accomplishment of managing to live to their 18th birthday.)
What should be done? If you mean "action" of a collective national sort to "save" or "Restore" the Constition I would have very little faith in such a movement. In fact it is doomed to fail. I basically distrust any large political organziation, even one dedicated to "Restoring the constitution". Generally- large orgs or movements like that offer the excuse to not really do anything yourself.
Plus I feel the inevitable is the inevitable. Macro historical forces can't be altered. It is vanity to try. Basically what we all should do- is focus on the micro- forget about DC, forget about "restoring the constitution", heck- forget about even getting a flat tax. Not going to happen. DC will sooner fall and burn before the Constitution ever means what is says again.
Instead? Run for town selectman. Deal with the pot holes. Join your church group- make your presence know on the local level. Do what you can to be a decent person who upholds the values of a free person. Lead by example in your daily lives. Look to the physical world directly around you- real people- and engage that world. Don't waste your time and energy on Macro events.
Create a world and network around you that will protect you from the malestrom to come.