Op-Ed: The Case for the Constitution

Our liberty, our rights and our freedom is solely based on one document: The United States Constitution. This is the greatest document on the face of the Earth. Most people don’t seem to care about it much anymore especially when comments such as: “it’s an irrelevant document because it was made 300 years ago and doesn’t affect us anymore” are made. The United States Constitution gave us the guiding principles of the rule of law and common sense. A non-interventionist foreign policy, limited government, sound money and, most importantly, freedom. When people make comments it flames me because these are the same people who vote for politicians who basically destroy the Constitution. It’s been a very long time since the U.S. has had a leader who has followed the Constitution word for word. We need a leader who understands the tenth amendment or even just following and comprehending article two. Voters want solutions to the problems by adding more government to solve our problems. However, that is what has gotten us into the troubles we are facing now. The only solution to our problem is to follow the Constitution. We would have never gone into Iraq if we followed the Constitution and the advice of the founding fathers, “commerce with all, alliance with none.” We would have never been given an income tax if we followed the 16th amendment before 1913. We would have gold and silver legal tender if we followed Jefferson and section 10 clause 5. The list goes on and on about the problems that could be solved or never even would have occurred if it wasn’t for the lack of obedience to the Constitution. The people’s apathy is a direct insult to the first three words of the Constitution, “We The People…” These are the most important three words in any document in the history of the world. “We The People” is exactly that. We the people have the power to control our own lives. We the people have a right to our liberty and freedoms. We the people have the right to take down our own government if it becomes gigantic. During the 20th century indifference of the Constitution grew more and more during each presidency. Whether it was President Woodrow Wilson’s neo-conservative ideology of “democracy for the world” and creation of the Federal Reserve or President Nixon getting rid of Gold and Silver as legal tender or President Clinton involving us in Grenada, Somalia, Bosnia, Kosovo and Iraq and defying our founders’ advice of staying out of other nations’ business. Until we have respect of our Constitution, we will never again escape the oppressive nature of Government and maintain our liberties, which, under the Constitution, is our right. Sure, the Constitution is not perfect but if you want it changed then amend instead of acting like it is not there. Benjamin Franklin’s words come to mind, “Here’s a Republic…if you can keep it.”