Posted on 04/25/2020 4:05:32 AM PDT by Kaslin
Editor's Note: This piece was coauthored by Mario Diaz.
The genius of the U.S Constitution is that it was designed to withstand the pressures of crises. It was a document born of conflict, and the Founders wrote it intending to curtail the human excesses and abuses that tend to come to the surface in times like the one we are living right now.
Fear, insecurity, and perceived need shake us to the core as human beings and, if we are not careful, these times may push us to be willing to enter into oppressive agreements that will ultimately enslave us. It’s part of the human condition that men love power and find it difficult to resist overreach. That is why, now more than ever, we must cling to the principles of liberty embodied in our Constitution. In times of crisis, the overextended hand of nanny state makes citizens feel safe, but that same power can easily morph into a fist.
“We the people” must vigilantly guard against the attacks that will inevitably come with the challenge of Covid-19.
The tension between the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches, between the states and federal government, is by design. It is supposed to be challenging to “get things done” in government. Sure, crises require sacrifices, but we must be careful to preserve the structure that protects our liberties in the long run.
The late, great Justice Antonin Scalia once said, “It isn’t the Bill of Rights that produces freedom. It’s the structure of government that prevents anybody from seizing all the power. Once that happens, you ignore the Bill of Rights. So, keep your eye on the ball.”
The genius of the U.S Constitution is that it was designed to withstand the pressures of crises. It was a document born of conflict, and the Founders wrote it intending to curtail the human excesses and abuses that tend to come to the surface in times like the one we are living right now.
Fear, insecurity, and perceived need shake us to the core as human beings and, if we are not careful, these times may push us to be willing to enter into oppressive agreements that will ultimately enslave us. It’s part of the human condition that men love power and find it difficult to resist overreach. That is why, now more than ever, we must cling to the principles of liberty embodied in our Constitution. In times of crisis, the overextended hand of nanny state makes citizens feel safe, but that same power can easily morph into a fist.
“We the people” must vigilantly guard against the attacks that will inevitably come with the challenge of Covid-19.
The tension between the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches, between the states and federal government, is by design. It is supposed to be challenging to “get things done” in government. Sure, crises require sacrifices, but we must be careful to preserve the structure that protects our liberties in the long run.
The late, great Justice Antonin Scalia once said, “It isn’t the Bill of Rights that produces freedom. It’s the structure of government that prevents anybody from seizing all the power. Once that happens, you ignore the Bill of Rights. So, keep your eye on the ball.”
It is a great tribute to our Constitution that these checks and balances are working to create the friction necessary for Americans to take notice of the deeper issues at stake here. But we must take note and demand much better from our public officials. Federal and state executives would be wise to take a step back and consider the long-term implications of the actions they are taking. They must preserve and respect the constitutional structure that guards our liberty.
The American spirit in 2020 still shouts, "Give me liberty, or give me death!" as Patrick Henry did in 1775. No exception for Covid-19.
The forefathers knew that when tyranny rears its ugly head again that it will have to be physically defeated. To preserve our rights in the Constitution we were ordered to retake the country. That was prescribed in another document of liberty, The Declaration of Independence.
Better to die on your feet than live on your knees! Time to rejuvenate the TEA Party
“...and the Founders wrote it intending to curtail the human excesses and abuses that tend to come to the surface in times like the one we are living right now.”
How in the world could our country go from having the genius of the original Founders...to having the muddle-brains we have now days.
Excellent point.
In the present context there could be a case made for showing the Georgia state flag as well or instead (I checked, and it’s red white and blue with unexceptionable wording).
Showing Old Glory at election time is helpful to the cause in any event.
When a society puts it's governing body in charge of it's educational system, this will inevitably happen.
It’s called the 17th Amendment. We the People wanted more democracy. We got it, good and hard.
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