It is easy but deceptive to discuss the decline of liberty without visiting the post civil war amendments, the income tax, direct election of senators and FDR’s appointment of rubber stamp socialist Judges. With rare exception, [as in Roe and probably upcoming homo marriage] neither the FDR nor later courts made the law. The courts were last in line to reject Constitutional limits.
The people elected the Congressmen, Senators, and President who drafted and enacted Social Security, agricultural price supports, minimum wage laws, etc. A country based on the sovereignty of the people cannot long turn aside their collective will, and their will long ago was to begin abandonment of limited government.
When a debauched electorate prefers safety over freedom, places Radical Leftists in charge as in 1932, LBJ, 1976, and 2008, we cannot expect Federalist Society members to show up in the list of Presidential nominees.
Thus, the need for a "virtuous" and "enlightened" people!
As long as the censors effectively erased the ideas of the Founders' from the minds of citizens, by censoring the textbooks, the public square, and even the places of worship in America, there was no counterbalance to the counterfeit ideas which took root, blossomed and now bear their fruits. They did this in the form of the New Deal, the Great Society and, worst of all, the "hope and change" transformation to full socialist policy today. All the while, the so-called "living constitution" idea (meaning a flip from "rule of law" to "rule by men") was allowed to prevail.
Now, however, through the miracles of technology and because of the arrogance of the tyrants who seek to overthrow the Founders' Constitution, new generations are able and eager to read the ideas underlying their Declaration of Independence and Constitution, THE FEDERALIST, the writings and speeches of the Founders. Will the resulting "virtue" and "enlightenment" be enough to enable us to "return to the road which alone leads to peace, liberty, and safety" (Jefferson)? Perhaps so, but the window of opportunity may be closing if we do not act quickly. With the aid of that same Divine Providence relied upon by the Founders, perhaps the light of liberty will continue to glow.
The tipping point for Supreme Court justices who will defend the Constitution's limitations on government and guarantees of protection of "Creator-endowed rights" is about to be reached, unless that same Divine Providence intervenes.
I never said that. I am a Constitutionalist and an Oathkeeper.
All I am saying is that in this case, the anti-Federalists did predict the outcome correctly.