American Constitutionalism

What does it mean to have an American form of Government? I bet there are a lot of people who cannot answer that question. Let's look at constitutional Americanism. The founders defined this with very specific limits for government and characteristics that differentiated it from other forms of government in the past and present.

Study the graphic I have included in this letter.

If a governmental system does not conform to the characteristics that the founders had in mind, then by definition, you no longer have American constitutional government. You have something less. If you look at the various ‘isms’ of the world you'll find that there are some characteristics that define them, we are going to look at some of those characteristics and we are not going to be concerned about the country of origin or the time that this governmental system was developed. I have heard some people quibble about the country of origin or the time saying that that is in the eastern European thought or something else so that it doesn't apply to us. Again, it is not the origin of the term or time that matters. Rather it is the character and characteristics of that form of government that do matter and make a difference.

Look at the graph I have attached. You will find the governmental system that gives the most liberty and freedom is American Constitutionalism, then look at the bottom of the scale. You see that an authoritarian dictatorship gives the least freedom to man. In between, you find all of the other known ‘isms’ of government, The problem today is that we as a nation have slipped from American Constitutionalism down the scale towards those governmental forms of socialism, nationalism and tyranny.

A lot of people are ignoring the fact that when you begin a journey you have to start on a road.  You have a beginning before you get to the end.  In this case the end is a nationalistic or a socialistic state.  To get to tyranny you have to make the change from American Constitutional government to one that embraces nationalism and socialism, that change has started.  The issue is that our government is less than constitutional Americanism.  If you no longer have the freedoms that the founders tried to guarantee through this new governmental form that then embodied the best principles known to man and which have NOT been replaced, you no longer have the governmental form they created – American Constitutionalism. 

The redistribution of wealth is unconstitutional. It was not until 1936 (the Butler case) that the Supreme Court began reinterpreting and distorting the meaning of the General Welfare clause. Before this time the court had declared the following:

“No man would become a member of a community in which he could not enjoy the fruits of his honest labor and industry. The preservation of property, then, is a primary object of the social compact…. The legislature, therefore, had no authority to make an act divesting one citizen of his freehold, and vesting it in another, without a just compensation. It is inconsistent with the principles of reason, justice and moral rectitude; it is incompatible with the comfort, peace and happiness of mankind, it is contrary to the principles of social alliance in every free government, and lastly, IT IS CONTRARY TO THE LETTER AND SPIRIT OF THE CONSTITUTION. (2 Dall 304, 310[Pa. 1795]; emphasis added. P. 176 ‘The Five Thousand Year Leap” W.C.S.

Our current government does not recognize that the individual has rights that are God-given. You have a big effort now to ensure that the government grants rights. Property rights are now granted by the government and controlled by government. There are many more examples that can be named.

What to do: become very well versed in the founders thoughts on property rights, individual responsibilities and rights. Realize that we are now in a Nationalistic form of government. Decide to work to bring back those freedoms we once had.

Suggested reading: “The Five Thousand Year Leap”, W. Cleon Skousen. This is not a hard read and is well presented.