Posted on 07/10/2015 10:18:20 AM PDT by Kaslin
When Benjamin Franklin emerged from Independence Hall at the close of the Constitutional Convention, a lady asked him what kind of government had been formed. Franklin reportedly responded, "A republic, if you can keep it."
Franklin's answer has always been interesting because it revealed that he well understood the profound difference between a pure democracy and a constitutional republic. But far more intriguing to me was Franklin's implied concern that the newly crafted scheme of government was hardly self-sustaining and ultimately vulnerable.
He and the other framers understood that liberty was rare in world history and that it would be no easy task to design a system that would both maximize and preserve it. I believe that until relatively recently most Americans cherished this system precisely because it was uniquely equipped to accomplish those purposes. Now I am not so sure.
The framers established a federal government with sufficient power to ensure ordered liberty, but with a host of limitations on its power. Governmental power was divided between the federal government and the states, and federal power was divided among three branches that would each check encroachments by the others. They set up a bicameral legislature to further diffuse federal power and eventually drafted a Bill of Rights to expressly guarantee civil liberties against government intrusion -- and much more.
This system was vastly superior to the celebrated "democratic" systems of ancient Greece and the Roman Republic. It wasn't the first system to include popular participation in the decisions of government. It was unique because it was the first to impose significant limitations on government.
It is those limitations that ensure our liberties. It is those limitations that make America the greatest nation in world history and the envy of all mankind. It is the deliberate erosion and destruction of those limitations that existentially threatens this nation today.
Don't you see? Franklin knew as well as anyone the powerful safeguards he and the other framers had imposed to maximize and preserve liberty, and yet he knew that human nature was such that this system would still be vulnerable to abuse and attack. "A republic, if you can keep it."
No matter how ingeniously designed, the Constitution and laws are not immune from fascists who, under color of law, ignore their plain meaning. Checks and balances ultimately break down if those wielding power twist, pervert, ignore, selectively enforce and flout the law.
This is why character matters so much; this is why morality is foundational to government. Any system of self-governance, even one as glorious as ours, ultimately depends on the honor of the people living under it.
Anti-constitutionalists have been chipping away at the integrity of the Constitution for decades, for they prefer the forcible imposition of their own values and agenda more than they cherish liberty. But the process of dismantling our system has now accelerated to alarming levels -- it has reached a fever pitch -- as the puffed-up left is feeling its oats, intoxicated by a bitter president anxious to exact revenge on a nation he obviously believes was born in hell.
Why would President Obama have any hesitation in emasculating the Constitution and the rule of law when he resents its very formation and what it represents? Why would he protect our borders against illegal immigration when he doesn't believe in the system the legal immigration process is designed to promote -- especially when changing the demographics is virtually guaranteed to increase the power of radical leftists?
I don't expect to get through to people who, like Obama, believe America, as founded, is intrinsically unfair, but I challenge fellow freedom lovers to consider that Obama and his band of leftists don't really care so much about things like expanding people's access to quality health care; they don't care about putting people back to work; they don't even care about harmony among the races.
What they care about is consolidating their power and imposing their will, and they use these various hot-button causes to do so. They want to have their way, and they are using government in unprecedented ways to achieve it -- absolutely unconcerned about the destroyed liberties in their wake. They are showing their true colors as they freely trample on the Constitution and rule of law. They are not only encroaching on the liberties of their opponents; they are openly trying to muzzle them.
More and more people are starting to wake up to the extremism of the political left, which, incidentally, has taken firm control of today's Democratic Party to the point that pundits across the board are acknowledging that unapologetic socialist Bernie Sanders risks nothing in proudly advertising his socialist agenda to his base. In fact, his openness has forced Hillary Clinton to scramble even further leftward to compete.
I pray that freedom lovers and patriots will muster the same passion in defending this nation as those attacking it. The first step is to recognize what's going on. Is it possible that even some rank-and-file Democrats can set aside their allegiance to party affiliation long enough to open their eyes to it?
That's a long shot. But could at least those who call themselves Republicans wipe the sleep out of their eyes and rise up in defense of liberty and this our rapidly disintegrating America?
We are at the point that we have to take it back.
Because “keeping it” assumes we haven’t lost it.
We elected a majority of our own and are now in a worse situation than ever.
Some, like Dave Brat, have stood for what they ran on.
Most cowered to Boner and thus to Obama.
We need to send Dave Brat, Steve King, Louis Gomert and the 50 or so conservatives some reinforcements. There are only a half dozen Senators who are not Democrats in R jerseys on “our” side of the aisle.
PFLR
Not a this rate!
In their never-ending pursuit of the perfect “progressive” perpetual motion reelection machine, the delusional Democrats (but I repeat myself) have treated us to some 200 so-called “Sanctuary Cities”.
These are almost exclusively Democrat dominated enclaves where the so-called “authorities” have taken the position that illegal aliens may come there with no risk that their presence will be reported to the federales. Under existing federal law, cities are SUPPOSED to REPORT them and said federales are SUPPOSED to then collect them and DEPORT them whence they came. Note the use of the word “supposed”. Due to orders from the White House for several administrations (yes, Juanita, that includes the Bush operation!), the federales seldom, if ever, send these folks back home.
In their classic facts-be-damned, truth down the memory hole push to perfect society, the Dems have created the idiotic mantra that, because illegals feel more at home and comfortable in their sanctuary cities, they are more likely to come forth with INFORMATION about crimes and those fellow ILLEGALS among them who commit those crimes. As any rational citizen can see, here’s the problem with – and the LIE about – that: IF THOSE ILLEGALS WHO COMMIT THOSE CRIMES WERE NOT HERE, THERE WOULD BE NO NEED FOR WITNESSES TO PROVIDE THAT “INFORMATION”! (And that beautiful young woman shot – 3 times – by that ILLEGAL in SanFrancisco would still be alive!)
The politicians’ reasons for their failure to follow the federal law vary depending on their party.
G.W. Bush (a Republican) hails from Texas and grew up in a home where, as a baby and young boy, he and Jeb were cared for by a beloved Hispanic nanny. As the boys grew, I suspect they had numerous Hispanic friends. And, because Texas has a large Hispanic population, as adults, their contacts with folks from south of the border were almost certainly numerous and frequent. One would hope that their associates were here legally, but I digress. Those life-long associations with Hispanics produced warm, fuzzy feelings in G and Jeb – who is married to the daughter of a migrant worker and live in a home where SPANISH is their preferred means of communication – and those feelings persist until today.
Democrats Clinton and Obama have somewhat different reasons for their failure to follow the legislative mandates of Congress in this area. This brings us back to that perfect “progressive” perpetual motion machine at the top of this rant: Because the majority of those illegals are collecting taxpayer funded welfare benefits and working off the books and, therefore, NOT paying taxes, they reciprocate the warm and fuzzy feelings – not to the Bush boys or the GOP – but to the DEMOCRATS (and the RINOs) who keep the axles on their gravy train well greased. While it’s hard to pin down the numbers, the estimate is that, of those Hispanics who DO vote, 65% or more pull the “D” lever lest the nasty old Pubbies derail the train.
One additional element is required and the federal courts – inhabited by numerous Democrat appointed judges – are in the process of happily providing it with their increasing rulings that STATES CAN NO LONGER DEMAND PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP OF THOSE WHO SHOW UP ON ELECTION DAY! (Sounds like it’s time for a 10th Amendment gut check.)
You see, the donkey party and their “progressive” lapdog handmaidens in the media, are, in fact, on course to construct that perfect perpetual motion machine and, if the Pubbies don’t get out in front of this thing – and soon – they will never win another national election.
If you read in this that I’m a bigot or racist or both, you are wrong. I just understand that a nation without borders is NOT a nation. My and my wife’s ancestors were permitted entry to this country ONLY after standing in a long line and jumping through all the hoops then required for citizenship.
It’s long past time to end this madness before more of us are killed by people who shouldn’t even be here. We have more than enough indigenous criminals without importing more!
If you want to know why the whole immigration mess is a fraud and a sham, watch this 6 minute video by Roy Beck: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPjzfGChGlE
No, it can’t be kept; it’s already lost to the approval of the American people.
We are seeing the excesses of democracy every day.
Too busy. Too lazy. Not really that interested.
Not interested in the pain that comes with defending a contrary position.
Republicans know that a position contrary to the socialist agenda will be attacked by the socialist press, the pundits will call them mean names (like mean).
And yes defending a conservative constitutional view point is work, it is easier to go along to get along (be bi-partisan).
And defending jealously the congressional powers from the encroachment by the Executive and Judicial branch is also work. It also invites the partisan press’s ire and the Democrats will say mean things about you if you don’t go along to get along (I know that’s redundant).
It makes the job easy if you let the Supreme Court make all of the tough decisions and then you can say mean things about them (Yah, that’s sweet).
Yep, I think you pegged it when you said ‘Too lazy’.
That’s the question left out of the headline -
“have we?”
No
This article is spot on! The Republicans need to fight like Hell In order for the rank and file Democrats(Reagan Democrats) to cross over parties. They need to know we love freedom. Many Democrats do too. They have just fallen asleep.
I don't see how you can draw that conclusion from Franklin's remark.
Given the history of the last 2000 years he was far more likely thinking of the possibility of the Republic degenerating into a tyranny or monarchy.
As indeed the French Republic did only a few years later. After, to be fair, going through a series of upheavals associated in some cases with excessive democracy.
We have already lost the republic. It no longer functions to represent the people. It is run by 5 court members, an out of control executive, and a useless legislative.
We no longer have one.
Truman left the White House nearly bankrupt. Somehow since that time politics has become a mechanism whereby one could become fabulously wealthy. The first thing we need to do is to revoke Congress' ability to oversee themselves. Term limits is also necessary.
How such is accomplished is the question since it's those whores in the first place who would have to pass the changes.
The entire system is corrupt.
I doubt that it will be kept because Americans are now ignorant of how their freedom came about and under what system. Government education has brainwashed students and has steered them toward socialism and communism since the 1970s. A small very wealthy elite wants to rule over 99% of this society and they think they can do that through socialism which will naturally evolve into communism. I wish I could have hope but when the people win elections, nothing changes. And, look at the Supreme Court rulings as of late. It is likely that white people will either die off or be killed off and then the browns and blacks will fight it out for supremacy. Sad.
Can we kill or deport all the leftists and start over? < /sarc >
We need to send Dave Brat, Steve King, Louis Gomert and the 50 or so conservatives some reinforcements.
You didn’t understand my post. That’s ok, too.
I am 100% for it.
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