Editorial
By Don Jans
There was a time when you could be an American and be a Democrat. That correlation has been under assault for at least 11 decades. To be an American has commonly meant that you believe the individual should be free from the constraints of a tyrannical superior power, commonly referred to as government. The American Revolution was as a result of a group of people believing firmly in this concept that each individual is the sovereign of themselves and that the people are sovereign over the nation. The government was to only act as a servant to the sovereign people.
The American believes that they should be free from the dictates of government to live their lives as they deemed best. The American believes the individual should be able to speak freely and to learn free from censorship and government restrictions. The American believes they are individuals and should not be viewed as part of any group based on physical characteristics. The American fought a war, was willing to die, to enforce this critical fundamental. Martin Luther King, Jr. an American, stated to the nation and the world that he dreamt of the day when his children would be judged on the content of their character and not the color of their skin.
The American believes that all individuals should be self-reliant. The American believes that individuals should be free to make their own decisions and then they must take responsibility for the consequences of their decisions. Ronald Reagan told us that actions were choices of the individual and not mandated by society.
The American has always believed that government must be limited, and the individual must be empowered. James Madison said, “I sir have always conceived—I believe those who proposed the Constitution conceived—it is still more fully known and more material to observe, that those who ratified the Constitution conceived—that this not an indefinite government…but a limited government tied down to the specific powers.”
The Democrat today believes exactly the opposite of what the American believes. The Democrat today believes in big dominant government. Barack Obama wanted people to believe that “government was their friend.” The Democrat today believes that all things should be under the control of the government, including how much of what you earn you can retain or your finances, your health, how you raise your family, your religious beliefs, how you think, what you can read, what you can hear; the Democrat today believes in a tyrannical government.
We must ask ourselves what is liberty/freedom (that which is American) and what is tyranny (that which is Democrat)?
Liberty/freedom:
Second Treatise on Government
“The natural liberty of man is to be free from any superior power on earth, and not to be under the will or legislative authority of man, but to have only the law of nature for his rule.”- John Lock (Second Treatise on Government)
We must understand that natural law states that my individual freedom ends where your freedom begins. You have the right to life; I do not have the right to take your life. You have the right to property: I do not have the right to take your property. You have the right to liberties such as religion, speech, and assembly; I do not have the right to restrict your liberties.
Virginia Bill of Rights
“That all men are by nature equally free and independent, and have certain inherent rights, of which, when they enter into a state of society, they cannot, by any compact, deprive or divest their posterity; namely, the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.”- Virginia Bill of Rights
Declaration of Independence
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” – Declaration of Independence
Tyranny defined:
government by a ruler or small group of people who have unlimited power over the people in their country or state and use it unfairly and cruelly: a situation in which someone or something controls how you are able to live, in an unfair way.
It is not supposition or demagoguery on my part to state “No longer can you be an American and a Democrat”. The American believes in liberty/freedom. The Democrat believes in tyranny.
The Democrat party has become a party advocating for the collectivist (Marxist, communist, socialist, progressive, Democrat, – all virtually the same) philosophy. This philosophy says that the state is supreme. It further states that all must strive for a society that is totally conforming to the collectivist philosophy. The Democrat now stresses that it is the state that must dictate how each individual lives their life and how they think. This philosophy believes that this total conformity will result in a totally harmonious society, forsaking that we were created as individuals with real and meaningful differences.
The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of Citizens Journal.
Don Jans is a national acclaimed author and speaker. He is also a lifelong student of history, with a special emphasis on Russian history. His study of Russian history led to 1917 which led to the study of the teachings of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. Don has written five books on the topic of Collectivism (Marxism, Communism, Socialism, Fascism, and Progressivism).
Don has been a guest on numerous nationally and regionally broadcast radio programs. He is a weekly guest on a nationally broadcast radio program where he discusses collectivism and how it is impacting the United States, relating current happenings to the collectivist agenda.
Don has spoken to numerous groups across the nation on the topic of who and what is the United States and who and what is collectivism. The collectivist movement has called for a transformation of the United States. What is critical for all to understand is what is the transformation; what are we now and into what will we be transformed.
Don’s speaking approach is the same as his writing approach, and that is to be direct and straight forward with no regard for the current mandated approach of political correctness.
Samuel Adams said, “It does not take a majority to prevail… but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men.” If we are to remain free, we must be about setting brushfires of freedom.
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