There are many facets to the definition of “liberty.” One of the timely ones defines liberty as a condition in which an individual is protected from tyranny and the arbitrary exercise of authority.
Notice the word arbitrary. A society cannot function where there is no law (anarchy) but neither can it prosper where individual liberties are ignored by those who seek to gain power over others (tyranny).
Throughout history there have been those who desire power over others with no regard to the consequences that the governed must suffer. America’s founders wisely diffused governing powers between three branches (executive, legislative, judicial) so that there would be checks and balances to prevent too much power from falling into the hands of a few.
Unfortunately, in the past several years an erosion of liberties has taken place. Because this has been a gradual change, those of us who have no desire to exercise power over others, who have been content to “live and let live,” have not been as diligent as we ought to have been. All three branches of government have been seizing power and exercising authority in ways that circumvent the U.S. Constitution, hence the attempt to justify this by calling the Constitution “a living document” or “an outdated document.”
“Liberty is the prevention of control by others. This requires self-control and, therefore, religious and spiritual influences; education, knowledge, well-being.” --Lord Acton
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Sadly, the current individuals who are in power appear to have little to no concern for what the Constitution says when it comes to everything from separation of powers to state's rights to right to keep and bear arms. Thus, it becomes nearly impossible to debate them on the basis of whether something is Constitutional or Unconstitutional. Because they were voted into office (whether legitimately or with the help of the media and ACORN), they feel that they now ARE the Constitution. Our only recourse may be to vote them out, because reason and fair discussion isn't working.
ReplyDeletePerhaps more than anything, I fear the "career politician", and we have so many of those in Congress, and have always had them in the courts, it seems only a matter of time until the Constitution is changed or ignored to make way for the "career president". That would almost certainly result in the kind of tyranny that you're describing.
Amen to both of you. It's time to get some "Common Sense", as in the pamphlet by Thomas Paine:
ReplyDeletePhiladelphia, February 14, 1776.
OF THE ORIGIN AND DESIGN OF GOVERNMENT IN GENERAL, WITH CONCISE
REMARKS ON THE ENGLISH CONSTITUTION
SOME writers have so confounded society with government, as to leave
little or no distinction between them; whereas they are not only
different, but have different origins. Society is produced by our
wants, and government by wickedness; the former promotes our
happiness POSITIVELY by uniting our affections, the latter
NEGATIVELY by restraining our vices. The one encourages
intercourse, the other creates distinctions. The first is a patron,
the last a punisher.