As Americans, we often take for granted the liberties and freedoms that our Founding Fathers fought so hard to secure for us. Our nation's founders envisioned a country with limited government, individual liberty, and a society where the minority would not be ruled by the majority. These principles are clearly outlined in the Declaration of Independence and enshrined in our United States Constitution.
The Declaration of Independence boldly declared that all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This revolutionary document laid the foundation for the American Revolution and inspired a nation to fight for independence from Great Britain.
The United States Constitution, written a few years later, further solidified these principles by establishing a government with limited powers and a system of checks and balances to prevent tyranny. The Constitution granted the federal government certain powers while reserving all other powers to the states or to the people themselves. The Bill of Rights, which includes the first ten amendments to the Constitution, further protected individual liberties by guaranteeing freedom of speech, religion, press, and assembly, as well as the right to bear arms and to due process of law.
However, despite these protections, our country has not always lived up to the ideals of it’s founders. Throughout history, we
have seen the government expand its powers and encroach on the liberties of its citizens. From the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798 to the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, we have seen examples of government overreach and the erosion of individual liberties.
In recent years, we have seen a renewed interest in limiting the power of government and protecting individual liberties. The Tea Party movement, which emerged in 2009 in response to government bailouts and the Affordable Care Act, called for a return to limited government and fiscal responsibility. The Black Lives Matter movement, which gained momentum in 2014 after the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, has called for an end to police brutality and the reform of the criminal justice system.
Despite these movements, however, we still face challenges in protecting our liberties and limiting the power of government. The Patriot Act, passed in the wake of the September 11th attacks, greatly expanded the government's power to conduct surveillance on American citizens. The recent controversy over the National Security Agency's collection of phone and internet data highlights the ongoing tension between national security and individual privacy.
Moreover, the increasing polarization of our political system has made it difficult to achieve meaningful change. With both parties more interested in scoring political points than finding common ground, it is often difficult to make progress on important issues.
In conclusion, our nation's founders envisioned a country with limited government, individual liberty, and a society where the minority would not be ruled by the majority. While we have made progress in protecting these ideals, we still face challenges in maintaining them. We must remain vigilant in protecting our liberties and limiting the power of government, and we must work to bridge the political divide and find common ground in order to achieve meaningful change. Our founders gave us the gift of liberty; it is up to us to ensure that we keep it.
Written By: Stephen Despin Jr.
Stephen Despin is a libertarian-conservative, blogger, and grassroots organizer, who’s worked extensively in grassroots advocacy, campaigns, and lobbying for the past 6 years. As the founder of Talk Policy, he’s become a voice in libertarian-conservative politics and has helped to shape the conversation around a variety of issues. Stephen is highly skilled in digital organizing and social media management and has been recognized for his ability to build effective and engaging online communities. He’s a tireless advocate for limited government, personal freedom, and individual responsibility, and will continue to play an important role in shaping the libertarian-conservative movement.
originally posted at: Are We Keeping the Liberty Our Founders Gave Us? | Talk Policy
