Liberty: A Uniquely American Concept

by Michael Oberndorf

Here’s a novel concept, especially given the manner in which America has been run for the past two-and-a-half years:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.

It seems an odd notion, especially coming from a man, Thomas Jefferson, whom the Left falsely claims invented the phantasmagorical “wall of separation” between God and government. But he goes on, and this is the part that is indeed novel, both then and now:

That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…. (Emphasis added.)

In Jefferson’s time, the world was still ruled by the divine right of kings, and the common folk, the unwashed masses, had no say whatsoever as to who controlled every aspect of their lives, including life or death. The totally radical notions that people had basic rights that came not from a ruler or government official, but from God, and that government’s existence was dependent upon the willingness of the people to obey it, turned the world right-side up.

But Jefferson, speaking for all men in general and Americans in particular, continued, setting forth one more, truly novel and earthshaking concept:

That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it (italics, mine), and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

We have seen over the past few years, and most egregiously in the last two, a government running roughshod over the will and wishes of the governed. We have witnessed a judiciary branch, dominated by leftist political ideologues, interpreting laws and the Constitution in ways that even the dullest legal scholar can see are aimed at implementing a political agenda, and bypassing the legislative and executive branches. It has become commonplace for state laws and referendums, passed by overwhelming majorities, to be summarily tossed out by a single judge, using the most specious of arguments. Indeed, the power of “environmental” groups to dictate government policy on everything from energy to interstate commerce, is the result of judges making up the law as they go along.

We have also witnessed the legislative branch trying to sneak or ram-rod through legislation that is opposed by large majorities of the people, such as the many amnesty bills, so-called “health care reform,” “fast-track” trade agreements, pay and benefit raises for themselves, et cetera, ad infinitum, ad nauseam.

And while past executive branch administrations have ignored the Constitution, the current one is the first to do so on an industrial scale. It seems that hardly a day goes by without Obama-Soetoro flagrantly ignoring his oath of office, which, if you will recall, he botched during his swearing in ceremony. He and the Marxists and neo-fascists who make up his administration, pick and choose which laws they will or will not obey, which racial groups they will favor (and which they will not), which citizens to bestow government largesse (read: hard-earned taxpayer dollars) upon, and which to tax the life out of.

Moreover, and perhaps most dangerously, to avoid having to follow the Constitution and let Congress make our laws, the would-be dictator has taken to legislating by executive order, findings, and administrative rules.

And to underscore their contempt for the governed, people in government cannot open their mouths – and this goes for congressmen, senators, judges, political appointees, and career bureaucrats, too – without lying, and lying , and lying, even under oath.

One would think that the willful and wanton destruction of the Rule of Law by the neo-fascist Democrats would elicit some sort of reaction from Republicans. However, one would be wrong. The silence from the right on Capitol Hill speaks louder than any words.

Thus, it seems that We the People, have been relegated to the status of medieval serfs, our existence tolerated as long as we do as we are told, and keep producing more and more tax revenue for our betters to dispose of as those who are obviously enlightened and superior to us see fit.

On this 235^th anniversary of our Declaration of Independence, I will end this piece by repeating the novel concept put forth by Thomas Jefferson, that hot July day so long ago:

That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.