by Bridget Geegan Blanton

The Founding Fathers were well acquainted with the coercive power of government when gathering on May 14^th, 1787 in Philadelphia for the Constitutional Conference. They approached this daunting task of creating a form of government for these United States with equal doses of optimism and trepidation; knowing full well that they needed to get it right. Not only were their fellow Americans paying close attention, but so too was the world at large.

Fortunately, the delegates in attendance were well versed in various political philosophies, as well as government systems. Over the ensuing four months, they debated the tenets they held dear, at times bitterly, until having arrived at the end of another muggy, summer day, the decision was made to either to call for a vote or to shelve the issue for a future date. At the very heart of these debates was a resolve to legally bind the abusive power potential of government while preserving liberty for the individual.

Among the delegates were Revolutionary war heroes, fiery proponents of liberty, Harvard educated scholars, and signers of the Declaration of Independence. While these men may have differed on issues such as how a tripartite plan of government should address the question of proportional representation of each of the sovereign states in the Congress, they agreed without hesitation on the key issues. A collective dedication to liberty underscored the shared core belief that private property, be it land or the fruit of one’s labor, was directly bound up with the freedom of the individual.

The government seizure of private property through burdensome taxation was viewed as a form of tyranny; and still is! John Adams is quoted as saying that private property “was a right of mankind as surely as liberty.” In fact, private property was considered to be a critical foundation upon which freedom is secured. It follows to reason that the purpose of the Constitution is to provide this inalienable, God given right to freedom while protecting the individual from the abuse of those in power. “The founders looked upon government as a volatile instrument of explosive power which must necessarily be harnessed within the confines of a strictly interpreted Constitution, or it would destroy the very freedom it was designed to preserve.” (‘Miracle at Philadelphia’, by Catherine Drinker Bowen)

Contrary to the Leftist belief that freedom is antiquated, a notion shared by adherents of thought control, a.k.a. “eunuchs in the politically correct harem” (Mark Steyn), freedom will never, ever be an outdated idea. It is our birth right as Americans and as children of God. Individual liberty must never be allowed to fall as a casualty of some ill-conceived and abusive policy masquerading as a ‘good cause’. Freedom is an eternal light that empowers individuals to follow their dreams. It is the fiery inspiration that inflames courage in the hearts of the oppressed. As our Founding Fathers demonstrated, Freedom is worth fighting for and one must remain ever vigilant in protecting this inalienable right.

If you think about it, we’re actually doing the Leftists a favor by rejecting their flimsy and disproved theory that the Constitution is a ‘Living Document’ and that life is better all around when everyone is reduced to being a ward of the state. We’re doing them the favor of preserving for them their freedom, as ungrateful and unwilling as they may be to embrace liberty and live free.

Big Government is inherently unconstitutional because it requires the violation of personal property rights to even exist. The suffocating nature of Leftist Progressive policy spawned by the tyranny of Big Government is a frontal assault on our freedom as individuals, as well as constitutionally protected State’s rights. A perfect example of this annihilation of freedom is the threat of nationalized health care. Once the government becomes involved in our health care they will have endless access to every aspect of our private lives. In essence, we will be trading our freedom for severely retracted medical choices that are not free and never will be free because we will be taxed ad infinitum to prop up this unaccountable, bureaucratic monstrosity.

Speaker of the house, Nancy Pelosi, on the heels of being caught in a crazy, blatant lie ran off to China, to hawk Congress’ cap and tax policy of green livin’ to our benefactors, the Chi-Coms. While in Beijing speaking about the joys of coercing Americans out of their cars, Pelosi stated that the cap and tax policy will force Americans “to inventory every aspect of their lives”. If that statement alone doesn’t cause a chill to run down your freedom loving spine; sadly, nothing will.

How can you tell that the tenets of true Freedom are completely meaningless to the present administration? By the glaring fact that this administration does not even consider for a fleeting moment, the reality that there is a free market solution to the problems of health care and energy. They revealed their fundamentally Statist approach by not permitting the auto industry giants to fail. A fatal combination of corporate greed and union greed created this disaster. The government crossed the line by throwing billions of our hard earned tax dollars at this mess. A colossal waste of money on an industry swallowed up by greed from every direction. The solution unfortunately will only create more of an unsustainable problem as the administration seeks to intervene once more with a hostile takeover that will trespass once again on our private property rights with an endless, irresponsible toll on tax dollars.

Although the mere mention of the word ‘resistance’ will automatically add my name to Big Brother’s list of right wing extremists, I cannot avoid discussing Thomas Jefferson’s take on the issue. In a letter to Abigail Adams while she was living in London, Jefferson wrote, “the spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on occasion, that I wish it to be always kept alive.” Resistance can take several forms; most important of those is the act of standing up to the lies of the Left. Exposing their intolerance and their quest to silence freedom of speech is the responsibility of every free American.

What will it take to rouse Americans from their passive indifference? One at a time, we can answer the clarion call to action and preserve freedom for generations to come. We can educate those who cross our paths in everyday life. Find your niche in the fight to preserve freedom, be it large or small and never let an opportunity pass when you can enlighten a fellow American, not yet awakened, to the peril we face as our freedoms are legislated out of existence.

Steep yourself in the history of our great nation. The hallmark of our American journey is that it has been imperfect, yet always striving towards true freedom. Sit down and read the Constitution, know your rights and never allow a Leftist touting bloated tyranny to repeat lies without confrontation. Clarify for yourself if you love your freedom or if you’re satisfied to quietly watch as your freedoms are determined null and void by an overreaching government. I trust that Americans will find the strength to do what is right and stand their ground by saying NO to Senate Democrats as they speed-legislate our way of life into the hopeless pit of Socialism.

If you’ve never considered putting a freedom-themed bumper sticker on your car, maybe the time is nigh to rethink that policy; as you never know whom you might inspire. I reside in Southern California where the intolerant Left is entrenched and hell bent on forcing their oppressive way of life on every city, business, school and citizen. I can’t tell you how uplifting it is to sight a bumper sticker that makes it crystal clear the driver of that vehicle is not on board with the unconstitutional turn of events in this country. It’s one of those small ways in which freedom is marketed for a new generation.

Forego a couple of designer coffees this week and instead purchase a cache of pocket-sized Constitutions to pass out to people as you practice free speech in defending this miracle that came out of Philadelphia in 1787. Engage in the political process by holding your elected representatives accountable. It is our responsibility to know the issues and to take necessary action. The Founding Fathers foresaw a need for an educated electorate as a necessary protection against the loss of freedom. Educate yourself and share the love within the circles that you travel in as you work, play, shop and relax in life. We don’t have to become annoying, name-calling battering rams like Leftist ideologues but we don’t have to suffer fools, liars and those who get their news from entertainment television.

There are times when we feel powerless, overwhelmed and angry despite our efforts and it is in these moments when prayer is our next best endeavor. Just as Benjamin Franklin reminded his fellow delegates after a long day of debate in the hot and stuffy rooms where they gathered in convention to draw up our Constitution, I remind you to look to God who indeed has a hand in the affairs of man.

Franklin had sought to lift the dourness that had settled over the room with this enlightening statement: “In this situation of this Assembly, groping as it were in the dark to find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when presented to us, how has it happened, Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understandings?” Franklin here reminded the Convention how at the beginning of the war with England, the Continental Congress had had prayers for divine protection – and in this very room. “Our prayers, Sir were heard,” said Franklin, “and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a Super-intending providence in our favor. To that kind providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful friend?…I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth – that God governs in the affairs of men.” (‘Miracle at Philadelphia’)