Ben Thompson
Are we guarding our freedoms?
By Ben Thompson
By current standards, our Founding Fathers would be considered ultra conservative radicals.
Neither of today's major political parties truly reflects the spirit of 1776. Yet, that is exactly the spirit necessary to keep our constitutional republic alive.
"Federal courts represent the greatest threat to American liberty," Thomas Jefferson said. Modern politicians just don't have the courage to make such statements, much less act accordingly.
President John Adams said, "Always stand on principles even if you stand alone." Such principled politicians are rare indeed today.
Ronald Reagan was the last such president.
So why are we in this situation and what should we do about it?
Why? We are complacent and lack of commitment. What? We need to actively and intelligently participate in this great experiment started by our courageous and inspired founders.
When We the People fail to educate ourselves on important issues and to participate in electing dedicated, unselfish folks to office, we deserve the tyrants and marshmellow officials we have elected to office.
It's easy to sit in our Lazyboy and yell at the T.V. or complain to our neighbors at the local coffee shop, but these are decidedly ineffective methods of creating positive change.
In the Spirit of '76, each American citizen has the solemn responsibility to do his or her part to guard and protect the freedoms we should hold so dear or they will continue to be lost and only regained at the same price our Founders paid.
© Ben Thompson
By current standards, our Founding Fathers would be considered ultra conservative radicals.
Neither of today's major political parties truly reflects the spirit of 1776. Yet, that is exactly the spirit necessary to keep our constitutional republic alive.
"Federal courts represent the greatest threat to American liberty," Thomas Jefferson said. Modern politicians just don't have the courage to make such statements, much less act accordingly.
President John Adams said, "Always stand on principles even if you stand alone." Such principled politicians are rare indeed today.
Ronald Reagan was the last such president.
So why are we in this situation and what should we do about it?
Why? We are complacent and lack of commitment. What? We need to actively and intelligently participate in this great experiment started by our courageous and inspired founders.
When We the People fail to educate ourselves on important issues and to participate in electing dedicated, unselfish folks to office, we deserve the tyrants and marshmellow officials we have elected to office.
It's easy to sit in our Lazyboy and yell at the T.V. or complain to our neighbors at the local coffee shop, but these are decidedly ineffective methods of creating positive change.
In the Spirit of '76, each American citizen has the solemn responsibility to do his or her part to guard and protect the freedoms we should hold so dear or they will continue to be lost and only regained at the same price our Founders paid.
© Ben Thompson
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