I am humbled and truly impressed that our Founders understood the need to tolerate each other’s differences but united on a common goal: to build the United States of America on sound principles that work when practiced with consistency.
As an illustration, have you ever heard of a 3 yr old’s basketball team? I went to a practice a few years ago. Listen, they dribble, baby, dribble. The kids trip a few times while retrieving runaway basketballs. They take no shots. It’s just practicing the basics. The point is, even 3 yr. olds can dribble when you give the proper instruction with illustrations, patience, and consistency.
And so it is when building and maintaining a nation. Here are a few sound principles that work in the USA when practiced with consistency:
Sound Principles That Work
Do not define governments by political parties, i.e., Communists on the left and Fascists on the right. Political parties and their platforms shift from one generation to the next. (Wouldn’t you agree)? Our Founders wanted liberty under the law, not a police state defined by political parties.
Author W. Cleon Skousen said that political power defines governments. For example, draw a line. On one end of the line, write the word “tyranny,” and on the other end, “anarchy.” Authoritarian governments are established by conquest, with the people subservient to the Ruler. Anarchies are lawless governments. Our Founders saw this dichotomy throughout world history. Their challenge was to form a government that provided freedom for the people, that is, a government of the people, by the people, for the people. You would place “The People’s Law” right in the center of your drawn line.
The Founders looked to Anglo-Saxon Common Law and the People’s Law of ancient Israel to help formulate the American government. They looked to historical and biblical examples that reinforced self-government by the people’s consent. There was to be no concentration of earthly power in any one person or group. This is demonstrated by the structure of our three branches of government-legislative, executive and judicial, and the fact that we don’t have royalty in this country.
The Human Inclination
One thing our Founders clearly understood: humans’ inclination to run from anarchy to tyranny. History shows that statement to be accurate, even today. Our Founders didn’t always like each other. (That’s to be expected in a room full of strong personalities). They disagreed about the small things but were united in principles and objectives. Our Founders shared a broad knowledge base of sound reading from ancient and contemporary literature. They all basically “sang from the same songbook” when it came to nation-building fundamentals.
What would happen if each one of us adopted the American principles of our Founders with consistency? What if we stopped being influenced by those who would divide and conquer us? Think of the effect on us, our families, our communities, and our nation.
This is Common Sense Civics and Citizenship. 🇺🇸
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