Before the framers of the US Constitution even finished
their work on designing a government “of the people” they realized all
governments had the potential to become authoritarian as the separation grew
between citizens and rulers. It was
this concern that led to the formation of the first ten amendments, known
collectively as the Bill of Rights.
As I’ve previously written[i],
several of these safeguards are critical to our individual rights, while a
couple are relegated to the dust bin of society and see little use in guiding
court decisions. Everyone has heard
about the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th amendments,
and almost everyone forgets about the 3rd and 10th. Unfortunately, it appears to me, those who
should be most concerned with the guarding protections of these safeguards display a
willingness to abandon them to gain some short-term political advantage.
When a society chooses not to support the concepts behind
the amendments there is little the government will do to stop that move, for it
is in the ruling class interest to consolidate as much power and wealth as
possible. Each time the society casts
aside one of the principles – those in power will take advantage and bring more
authority to themselves.
A vocal segment of today’s young look longingly at the advertised
benefits of a socialist or communist form of government, where wealth is
controlled by the government, and benefits of that wealth are distributed to
all based on need. I suspect the reasons
for this are two-fold. First, they have
spent their lives sheltered from the physical and emotional realities of those
forms of government, and our educators have dismissed the idea of civics debate; opting
for the easier course of political indoctrination.
In the course of those today’s social debate, they are willingly
abandoning the ideal of a government “of the people” for the idea government
will always be “for the people.” What history
should teach is with the growth of any government as the people surrender power, the elite will care for themselves, sending just enough scraps to
the population so as to keep them subservient.
The analogy is of the Emperors of Rome and the great circus.
History should also help us understand the elite will use
all the tools available to dissuade the people from questioning their
legitimacy. Is there really much difference
between a fawning church hierarchy supporting the idea the rights of the King
come from God, and a loyal and unquestioning press declaring only one-party
cares about the people, when in truth no party cares? The political parties exist for one reason
only, to consolidate power and wealth to dominate the political conflict they
use to justify their role.
As we become a society focused on what is in it for me, we abandon
the ideas and ideals of our founders. I
offer this one small piece of advice – be careful what you ask for, for you may
receive it.
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