The Consent Of The Governed
I often find myself wondering how our current government relates to the founding principals of this nation. Having been a history major, and one who sees great value in the lessons of history I cannot help but wonder how this nation of individuals, whose heritage going back to Paine, Franklin, Washington, and Jefferson, to name a few, could find itself in the fiscal and social disarray it does today.
As a proponent of the political philosophy the government which governs least governs best, I blame this dislocation from our founding document on the government. However, in all fairness to reality... we are a democratic republic and as such the people wield a great deal of power over the institutions that govern us. But only if we chose to effectively exercise this power.
One only needs to look to the dismal voter turnout (with the possible exception of the last national election) to realize that voter apathy has played a large part in our current state of affairs. Basically the American electorate has abrogated their responsibility to "govern themselves." At least in recent times.
The following is an excerpt from one of America's defining documents, The Declaration of Independence:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. -- That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, -- That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."
"Deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed."
As a proponent of the political philosophy the government which governs least governs best, I blame this dislocation from our founding document on the government. However, in all fairness to reality... we are a democratic republic and as such the people wield a great deal of power over the institutions that govern us. But only if we chose to effectively exercise this power.
One only needs to look to the dismal voter turnout (with the possible exception of the last national election) to realize that voter apathy has played a large part in our current state of affairs. Basically the American electorate has abrogated their responsibility to "govern themselves." At least in recent times.
The following is an excerpt from one of America's defining documents, The Declaration of Independence:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. -- That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, -- That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."
"Deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed."
If We The People expect our government to be responsive we must be educated at all times with respect to our history as well as the current affairs of government. We must be concerned about the conditions that affect our nation as well as our business and personal lives. We must be active and involved in shaping our government in the best way that fits not only our individual situation, but that of our nation as well. Above all else we must be independent and true to our values at all times.
With the challenges confronting America these days it is admittedly difficult to remain focussed on national concerns. It is by far easier to just "let the system" roll along functioning as it always has and blame someone else's representative or senator for our problems. But this is as it has been for many years. I ask you... 'What has been the results of this lack of citizen involvement'?
As would be expected given todays political climate a recent Rasmussen poll found a significant disconnect between the public's view, and the government elite's view on government responsiveness. A sixty three percent majority (super majority) of the political class believes it is responsive to the consent of the governed. Compare this with the dismal, and telling poll results showing only twenty one percent of the American electorate believes the federal government enjoys the consent of the governed.
These poll results are discouraging as well as compelling. Within the ranks of the ruling class elite only sixty three percent, or triple that of the general population (but yet only two thirds of the political class) believe the current federal government to be legitimate based on our founding document.
Even a brief and cursory consideration of these results should raise deep concerns for our republic. If our government ceases to rest on the concerns of the governed it is likely, and probable our government will rest on the concerns of the governing class absent the concerns of the governed. Take your pick... this leads to a form of government that is either monarchical, fascist, communistic in the modern sense of the word, or dependent on the elite class of society as in moneyed interests. All lead to the loss of individual rights and liberty. The protections for the smallest minority on earth, the individual ceases to be important and become extinct. Only the will of the few in the ruling class are of concern. Simply put it is a path to the return of the feudalistic state as existed in Europe for hundreds of years.
There is still time America to stop this evolution back in time. In order to do so however will require Americans, particularly the generation just coming of age as well as the generation that spawned them, and all future generations to educate themselves in the nations governing philosophy as defined by our founding principals. A philosophy grounded in reason and the belief that to be legitimate any government must serve, and govern, only by the consent of the governed. To understand these principals requires both an education and concern for the rights and responsibilities of the individual.
Via: Memeorandum
Les: I’m in 100% agreement that "we must be educated at all times with respect to our history" however, this is a challenge unto itself considering the history books in our public schools are leaving out or distorting facts plus inserting opinions, which I don’t believe belong there.
ReplyDeleteA few weeks ago my 12 yr old said, “Mom, my history book says that FDR was a great president.” I looked at his history book and sure enough, that’s what was printed! How are we to teach our youth the FACTS when they are printing opinions? What business do opinions have in History books? And how do we get facts to children who don’t have parents who are involved or who aren’t educated themselves?
We aren’t just faced with a generation of uneducated adults; we are also faced with an entire generation receiving information that is skewed. How do we combat that?
Pamela - Good questions all, for which there are no real easy answers.
ReplyDeleteSome ideas... 1) start taking children to the public libraries at an early an encourage they read books that support your values, 2) guide children home in use of the internet to access information the effectively counters the mainstream government/media complex, 3 teach kids at home the value, importance, and art of of effective research, 4) teach and encourage children to use critical thinking and be independent and driven by crowd group-think, 5) And the granddaddy of them all... work to shut down the Department of Education. This department is now, and has been for several generations ran by progressive socialist/statists who have effectively given us revisionist history. The majority of which is designed to indoctrinate rather than educate the youth of America.
As I see it the Department of Education should be dismantled and control of school systems returned to the states and local municipalities.
The big battle to radically change our nations direction is being waged in academia, the weapon is control of the minds our our youth through indoctrination, revisionist history, and the government educational and media complex.
It is neatly intertwined and geared to further the progressive agenda going back to Woodrow Wilson and FDR. The crowning achievement by this movement was the successful marketing of, and eventual election of BHO to the Presidency of the United States. He is, as expected filling the government with progressive ideologues that will continue, and rapidly so, the extension and reach of this movement.