Posted on 02/26/2014 10:34:20 AM PST by Kaslin
Normally these columns highlight the fact that something bad has occurred in American politics; in recent years, something usually relating to federal spending, privacy, government surveillance, loss of individual liberty, erosion of Second Amendment rights -- come to think of it, most everything this Administration does.
This week, however, something’s different. There’s a slight whiff of optimism in the air; not a lot mind you, but enough to justify sitting up and taking notice. After years of being buffeted by government’s relentless drive to increase its own size, scope, cost and power, there is some evidence the tide may be turning; or if not turning, at least beginning to negotiate such a maneuver.
Last week in this column, I wrote about a plan by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (commonly known as “ICE,” a branch of the Department of Homeland Security) to build a national database for tracking license plates, using data collected mostly by local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. Several other notable voices in the liberty movement also covered this dangerous program, helping to rally the voices of millions of Americans against its implementation. Within days of first being proposed, DHS announced it was scrapping the program.
“The solicitation, which was posted without the awareness of ICE leadership, has been cancelled,” said ICE spokeswoman Gillian Christensen with a straight face. Removing the veneer of bureaucratese that invariably disguises reality when government officials speak, what she really said was, “We’re sorry we got caught.”
But that wasn’t the only good news last week. A controversial program hatched by the Federal Communications Commission, which would have placed federal “monitors” in newsrooms across the country sniffing out “media bias,” also received the axe after being proposed. Like DHS, the FCC was on the receiving end of severe criticism from prominent privacy advocates like Judge Andrew Napolitano, and even one of its own, sitting commissioners! The FCC apparently has decided – at least for now -- the fight wasn’t worth it, and backed-down. Regrettably, the Commission already had wasted more than a half-million taxpayer dollars greasing the skids for the program’s implementation.
It is not simply a few small victories in the press, or an occasional constitutionally-correct decision rendered by a lone judge, which are becoming small but bright points of light beginning to shine in the long, dark tunnel of government power.
What is stirring a slight but very palpable sense of optimism is seeing a growing number of young people fighting back against the Big Government juggernaut -- a frightening vehicle that has accelerated markedly since Obama first raised his hand and mislead the American people into believing he actually was a supporter of the Constitution to which he swore feigned allegiance.
Just this past weekend, for example, a report surfaced about the rise of significant numbers of young, liberty-minded conservatives. In particular, the article focused on Young Americans for Liberty, an organization for young adults who seek to restore the Constitution in American politics, by electing pro-liberty candidates to office. “We are just getting started,” YAL Executive Director Jeff Frazee told US News. “Our hope is to raise between $10,000 and $50,000 per candidate.”
Polling indicates that groups like YAF could not come at a more opportune time. Attacks on America’s fundamental freedoms occur with increasing frequency, as Obama settles into his role as a second-term Commander-in-Chief unburdened by even a fig leaf of constitutional respect. Making matters worse is the near complete absence of constitutional push back from most members of Congress and the Department of Justice.
Yet, liberty is also in danger on college campuses as well -- a crucial ecosystem of knowledge where students often develop their first meaningful political identities. When schools try to manipulate this self-exploration, such as banning the distributions of pocket Constitutions on Constitution Day (a special thanks to the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education for intervening), they become dangerous battlegrounds for the minds of these students rather than a toolshed from which students identify and learn to wield intellectual principles objectively.
Fortunately, many students are fighting back against such bullying administrations, just as other Americans are fighting back against a bully government.
Recent victories over onerous government programs show progress is being won. Importantly, polls are showing that these new “liberty voters” tend overwhelmingly to favor Republican candidates. Ronald Reagan completed his final term in office before many of these voters were even born, but it is his vision and understanding of Liberty that guides them; even if they don’t remember its author.
their cones have fewer stripes than Barry and companies....
2014?
Good news; we’ll see what they achieve when they grow up....
I don’t think we have time to indulge in the luxury of squabbling between the Judean People’s Front and the People’s Front of Judea.
There we go. Thank you
Whew
its a very rainy cold day here..and for just a moment... I thought I might have recently gone Rip Van Winkle
It’s not a matter of being ridiculous. It’s a matter of what end of the telescope you’re looking. If one’s sole concern is the Obama administration and the current onward march of liberalism and where it’ll take us in the next five years then one would be foolish to reject making common cause with these people.
However, does any of that remedy the deep rooted moral and cultural problems that are enveloping western civilization? I’m not convinced of that. How would this be any different than the GOPe agitating during a particular election cycle for a candidate promising that if only they had the levers of power we can reverse these trends? It’s more of the same finger-in-the-dike, stop-gap strategy that has failed us.
I like the analogy and I do agree. I’ll jump into a foxhole with a millenial atheist libertarian to put a stop to such existential threats. But when their “war” is over when the NSA is dismantled, is when I’d part ways. My concerns are larger than those who suffer from Snowden Syndrome.
True, social liberals cannot preserve the constitution, only destroy it, the last 50 years of the ascendancy of the left/libertarianism has shown us how they are part of the same forces against America.
The practice of firing most of the US Attorneys upon (first) inauguration isn't unusual. Reagan did so, Bush did so, etc.
Bob Barr sort of resembles (as in how he acts, not how he looks) Larry Klayman, to me. Opportunist looking out mostly for himself. I have to confess, I never followed Barr closely, and my impression could be off base.
I am starting to see the new rebellion amongst the youth. It is Conservatarian.
Very true. And I must admit USA 2.0 is looking like paradise at this point and I’m very sympathetic to the ammo box solution. Personally, I can’t suffer this death of a thousand cuts much longer. It’s demoralizing. I find myself torn between that vision and what you’ve stated about these kids.
There is a part of me that says fight everywhere with whatever you’ve got no matter what and don’t let the bastards gain an inch. Then the other part that says hold back and when it’s time then blitzkrieg the SOB’s. I’m just waiting for that John Brown moment.
However, if this Children’s crusade is going to spearhead a rebellion I just hope they’ll take us Tea Party folks along for the ride and listen to wise counsel.
True. That could have promising long-term results once the current cult-of-personality fades away.
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