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.
It would be great if the GOP realized this
It looks promising. My only concern is that this movement seems to be of a secular/libertarian bent. In itself not bad but ask these young kids what they think about abortion and same sex marriage. I suspect there will be a divergence.
Supporting the Constitution is meaningless if they’re not willing to support the pillars of natural law and Judeo-Christian society on which the Constitution is based.
Ping.
Does anybody know where that photo is from? That’s awesome!
Young conservatives maybe. Young republicans not so much.
Young Republican official: Tea Party is full of drooling, senile angry bullies who are ‘mad at everything’; Update: Tweets deleted
bump
LOL! I certainly can’t argue with that. Like the soviet May Day parades of old.
Is this by the same Bob Barr that is now running for Congress again after having left there because of being outpaced in a newly redrawn district that included John Linder?
He was a three-term Congressman taking Buddy Darden’s seat in the 1994 era; he was a US Attorney but fired by Bill Clinton who fired all of them when he was elected (wonder why)....
I’ve seen Adventure Outdoors in Smyrna, GA hold fundraisers for him more than once. I remember him as largely conservative, but the very big question I have about him, one that I asked the owners of Adventure Outdoors more than once with no reply, is what are his reasons for going to work for the American Civil Liberties Union as a lawyer after he was essentially forced out of Congress.
That bothers me much more than just a little.
The March for Life, which, yearly, commemorates the roe v wade deal, grows every year. In that cold weather they lately get about 400,000 people, which, if it were a liberal cause, would gain much free media attn, but as it is it just garners their fear and loathing
I am guessing that’s where the photo is from
The median age of the attendees is early twenties, which, I paraphrase dub all’s apocalypse now character, must ‘scare the s out of the libs
It should be very encouraging
thanks....comrade barry looks SO much at home in that environment..doesnt he.
young communists for obama, perhaps
“Supporting the Constitution is meaningless if they’re not willing to support the pillars of natural law and Judeo-Christian society on which the Constitution is based.”
AMEN! Libertarians are basically anarchists...especially on moral issues.
Opps!
Ping to THIS thread
conservatism is now younger and more diverse than ever.
It could be a March for Life rally? Not sure about the one from this past January, as they had 4” of snow the day before the march.
2014 March for Life event.
I do take heart in the youthful participation in the March for Life. It is very encouraging. I believe that the youth as a whole will eventually come to the truth regarding abortion and will rightly denounce the generations that came before them that supported it.
It will take time I think. Decades. And perhaps this movement which was described in the article which is focused on the constitutionality of privacy and rejecting government surveillance will eventually evolve to encapsulate these moral truths. There is hope for that. Currently, however, it seems the attention they receive is because they advocate for what amounts to be “non-controversial” issues.
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