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The Nation's Pulse
Are Some Americans More Equal Than Others?
We’re about to find out.
All men are created equal. This was the noble sentiment expressed by our founders at the birth of our nation; a statement of a religious truth, yes, but also a profound hope that it might someday be a governing reality as well. Now these words appear only in the Declaration to the world that we desired to live in a different manner than any other people had up until that time.
But what was deemed more important than Thomas Jefferson’s soaring rhetoric were the principles for governance as drawn up in the supreme law of our land, the U.S. Constitution. So while the Declaration proclaimed that all men are created equal by their maker, the Constitution was crafted to ensure that those in this country might have a chance to stay that way. Sadly, as evidenced especially by the blatant deal making undertaken to pass the Healthcare Reform Bill, this is not the case.
Pandering for votes in this country is nothing new of course; that practice, along with the language we shared in consanguinity with the British, was something we unfortunately inherited. Yet our founders sought ways in which to curb the more egregious instances of political corruption, and the fruit of their labor resulted in the most perfect governing document ever crafted by man.
At the time of our founding, most states only gave the vote to property owners — some counted livestock or even a minimum of money as property — and this practice is often vilified because it is so misunderstood. But they did so because they knew that if a man counted on another man for his subsistence, he would be likely to vote in the same way as his employer; a prediction that has become all too true with today’s union rank and file.
Likewise, women, unless they were property owners (usually widows or unmarried heirs), did not need to vote because it was incomprehensible that a wife’s interests would not be the same as those of her husband.
Of course, those were different times and over the years the Constitution was amended to preclude the individual states from denying certain groups the right to vote, although a strict interpretation of its tenets should have rendered this unnecessary. By creating special status for certain classes, albeit via the amendment process, Americans lost the sublime sense of equality across the board, as so wonderfully foreseen in the Declaration. Also gone was the idea that we are a nation of sovereign states, with virtually the only vestige remaining being the Electoral College.
This has opened the doors for disaffected groups from every quarter in America to claim special rights based in part on the distinctions spelled out in Amendments XV, XIX and XXIV. Affirmative action, Title IX and hate crimes laws all trace their origins from them, and serve to polarize our nation in ways that would have horrified our founding fathers.
Equally horrifying would have been the extent to which huge chunks of political payoffs have been doled out to these special interests, as most recently evidenced by the healthcare reform debacle. Again, this is nothing new in itself. The difference is, that for the first time in our history, these minorities — unions, for example — are being allowed to actually write legislation rather then just heavily influence it; not exactly the idea our founders had in mind when they wrote Article I. But that is how far away we have lurched from the unifying ideals that launched this country.
However, maybe there really is an angel riding in the whirlwind who directs our nation. The outcome of the special Senate election in Massachusetts — which as of this writing is yet unknown — will go a long way in telling whether the American people will continue to put up with the selling of their future to unelected groups of individuals, or throw out those in either party who represent anyone but their own constituents. And the profound hope here is that they will do just that.
But if we continue with the status quo, this country may never be restored to the lofty goals of equality and unity that once enlightened American minds; until it is once again understood that the limits placed on the federal government by the U.S. Constitution were meant to protect the rights of minority groups and not empower them to cancel out those of the majority.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (38) | Leave a comment
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Ret. Marine| 1.20.10 @ 7:13AM
The Mao mumblers headed by the snake obama and Co. just got *itch slapped along side their larger than life ego heads. The fact that they allowed these special groups of "victims" to write and sway their theft of the American working class's liberties and fruit of their labor will have a hugh impact on the mid-term elections.
One thing needs to be done for sure. We the People need to make a charge right to the finish line over "term limits" for everyone in the three branches. Over the course of the history of these United States, many of men and woman who made promises to do this and do that have never done what they campaigned on, and who has held their feet to the fire, certainly not We the People. This must change or like the sands of time the only difference will be the shifting from one spot over to the other.
The teachers union and labor unions must be disolved back into the fold of ordinary working folks with skin in the game. Term limits will be a good start, we must overturn the XVI and the XVII amendments, that will help greatly. The addiction of We the Peoples largess to victim class of this Country must end.
The Government is largely charged with up-holding the Constitution and the liberties we already have secured, the overall safety to secure an inviroment conducive to the free market enterprise, securing our borders of the hordes we are witnessing these days and for the common defense of this Nation nothing else, nothing less. It's time to get these career politicians another job or We the People face an uncertain future. It has been mortaged to the hilt already and unless this trend is stopped in it's tracks, our children will damn us all to hell and for good reason.
At most, we are about five years of less before this Country will crumble under the weight of debt the crooked politicians have saddles us with and if we don't start making headways in this direction, the Constitution will be nothing but a piece of paper left to history with the dreams of our forefathers. The world will truely be dangerous for all and that shiney city on the hill will be nothing short of a rock of crumbled aspirations. Give me liberty or I'll give you death needs to be our next battle cry and We the People must mean it.
Alan Brooks| 1.20.10 @ 10:15AM
This piece is puffery. Only thing matters is Darwinism. Don't like it? then go to church more.
Pingback| 1.20.10 @ 8:23AM
Must Know Headlines 1.20.2010 — ExposeTheMedia.com links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
NonMarine| 1.20.10 @ 9:50AM
First of all, let me suggest you pay more attention to the teachers whom you rail against, they may help you improve your writing to the point that people will understand what you're talking about. Secondly, why do you say that unions need to be dissolved, all the while saying we need to 'take this country back'? If we dissolve the unions, we give the power to the wealthy and the upper class, ie, those with enough money to run and win elections.
"Give me liberty or I'll give you death..." Didn't we try that with Bush2 and his slimeball sidekick Dick? Didn't work out so good for them. You need to be investigated for making threats, moron.
Alan Brooks| 1.20.10 @ 10:17AM
People just want power, nonMarine (what a strange handle for AS), or at least that is the case with men.
Ken (Old Texican)| 1.20.10 @ 11:15AM
OK folks, here is one of Obama's threat makers showing up right on schedule.
Non Marine
..... is making a direct threat to those of us who believe in the Declaration of Independence.
Hey Non Marine! Screw you and your communist paymaster.
I for one second the Real Marine's sentiment.
See...I know when or if it comes to a "killin' fight" you will be hiding in mom's basement.
...titty baby.
skullman| 1.20.10 @ 12:43PM
NonMarine: Like all libs, when you don't like the message, you dump on the messenger. Elitist snobs like you just got your clocks clean in MA, and you STILL have not learned your lesson. People like Marine, and I include myself, WILL take our country back, the country we love. We will do it one vote at a time, and along the way, we will give political power back to the people. As to 43 and Dick, history will treat them kindly, more so that the Messiah whose halo is now slipping. 11-02-10 can't get here soon enough. Who's the moron now?
canuckistani| 1.21.10 @ 2:13PM
What exactly has Obama done in one year that deserves such venom from the right? He hasn't passed anything, folks. Bush passed the tax cut that got us into the deficit mess in the first place. He passed the Senior's Drug plan, that is confusing as all hell and is costing more and more each year. The GOP congress from 94 to 06 did nothing to cut government costs, grew the size to record levels and undermined our fighting men and women by blowing trillions on a pointless military strategy. States budgets are a royal mess and cities are crumbling. Remember, it was Bush 41 that conjured up most-favored-trading status to China, and it was Greenspan (beloved by the right for 25 years) that encouraged the tax cut claiming government was almost becoming a competitor to private interests with so many surplus budgets starting with Clinton. A GOP congress made the changes to the lending rules for Freddie and Fannie, loaded the SEC with GOP cronies and did absolutely nothing to reduce the burden on the middle-class, by simply shifting it to the state and local levels. Inspired leadership? Careful where you look for it. Be wary of populists who can reduce complex issues to a billboard. They rely on the slumbering masses to continue their pillaging.
Maximumrandb| 1.20.10 @ 1:36PM
Name-calling? Ask yourself, NonMarine, would you call RetMarine a moron to his face? Doubtful. And if you were stupid enough to do it, you wouldn't do it for long.
The internet just brings out the coward in people. And what type of person can be more wretched?
Dave M.| 1.20.10 @ 3:22PM
Don't you know that in the newspeak of the left being called a moron by them is actually a compliment. Think about it. The left thinks Joe Biden is smart, John Kerry is nuanced and Obama is brilliant. Moron is the complete opposite of that. Thus, I proudly proclaim that I am a moron!
Pingback| 1.20.10 @ 9:55AM
Twitter Trackbacks for The American Spectator : Are Some Americans More Equal Than O links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
PolishKnight| 1.20.10 @ 10:05AM
NonMarine, Lisa's point is that the unions are just part of a corruptive system, not a check against it, that slushes money over to the wealthy and upper class. The unions are looking the other way, for example, as jobs are out and insourced and taxpayers foot the bill for shoddily made automobiles and overpaid civil servants.
Alan Brooks| 1.20.10 @ 10:19AM
"...as jobs are out and insourced..."
tell that to libertopians.
Pingback| 1.20.10 @ 11:16AM
Are Some Americans More Equal Than Others? links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Pingback| 1.20.10 @ 10:51PM
The Official Web Site – Colorado Avalanche | Colorado Avalanche NHL Announcer links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Howard Ino| 1.20.10 @ 11:06PM
NonMarine...
Well son... You exemplify the product of government education!
I suggest that you try to open a small business (the employer of 85% of America) and see what the realities of life are really like... See what increased taxes does to you when you have to fire employees to balance your books!
Or NonMarine... will you continue to live in mommy's basement and just like a garage band sing about how unfair life is... as you sit on the hood of daddy's BMW?
Oh BTW son...
The wealthiest class in Congress...
DEMOCRATS!
Gdamned fools!
Howard Ino| 1.20.10 @ 11:20PM
Well said Marine...
Sad that "Non-Marine" didn't get it.... Term limits... return the power to the people...
Or does he "Get it"... in the Obama way?
Scary actually!
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