Democracy's Struggle

They that give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.         Benjamin Franklin, 1759


Democracy faces a struggle with a growing number of totalitarian systems. These systems, regardless of origin or stated purpose, tend to be fascist and may be disguised with a number of names or descriptions. In every case, exclusive power resides in one person or small group. The regime is supported by a state bureaucracy and its police/military/intelligence apparatus. Finally, it is backed by a strong central bank. Despite their claims to greatness, these abusers of power have never admitted to being wrong or evil.

We know the nature of man; we are subject to temptations. Jefferson warned that absolute power corrupts absolutely. After enough time those still in power (with “seniority”) begin to conclude that it is they who know best. Our opinions are no longer taken into account after our votes are cast. We begin to notice that the government acts in ways that have nothing to do with our interests, liberty, or needs. Thus, many Democrats and Republicans became independents.

The United States is the only nation that was founded on the premise that our government would be OF the people, FOR the people, BY the people. The government was given limited power and specific areas of responsibility in order that we might enjoy a maximum of liberty, as is our natural right. No nation-state on Earth, in all of recorded history, has been structured as such. In all others, the government and its sovereign have all power and authority and grant obligations (“rights”) to the people as it sees fit. Those vying for these equivalent powers in the United States clearly do not believe in the tenets of the Declaration of Independence nor do they uphold or protect the US Constitution.

Single acts of tyranny may be ascribed to the accidental opinion of a day; but a series of oppressions, begun at a distinguished period and pursued unalterably through every change of ministers, too plainly proves a deliberate, systematical plan of reducing us to slavery.          
Thomas Jefferson, 1774

For nearly 100 years the people of the United States have fallen victim to the Progressive Movement. While it has infiltrated both political parties, it has made most of its headway since the 1960s within the Democratic Party. They were called “progressives”, then “liberals”, and now “progressives” once again. They created the Federal Reserve, they created our unfunded entitlement programs; they continue to strive for a New World Order, and Progressives do not support, defend nor preserve the US Constitution. Throughout the 20th century educators focused on that which was modern and represented “progress”. The Founders’ revolutionary principles were systematically set aside. We the people began to notice that, Republican or Democrat, nothing much seemed to change. Taxes and deficits continued to go up, government became ever-larger, and our liberties and quality of life continue to decline. The loss of individual liberty affects all of us regardless of our origins. It is time for traditional liberals, conservatives and moderates to realize that their labels have been usurped and perverted by Progressives in both the Republican and Democratic Parties.

If a nation values anything more than freedom, it will lose its freedom; and the irony of it is that if it is comfort or money that it values more, it will lose that too.             Somerset Maugham