Time and again the progressive Left succeeds in forcing people
to play by its rules. We see it in the halls of Congress, in
statehouses, and even in school boards, as principled politicians
run and hide to escape being labeled with one of the Left’s “ists”
or “isms.” By balkanizing the electorate with labels that obscure
the basic unifying principles of our Republic, progressives seek to
divide and conquer. And they’re winning.
There’s communism, socialism, fascism, authoritarianism, and
collectivism, all of which are kissing cousins that originate from
a basic belief in the centrality of the state to people’s lives.
Under these “isms,” man exists for the state; all of them are
therefore antithetical to a country founded on the fundamental
belief that government exists for the people. The Left uses other
“isms” to drive its agenda through intimidation (like false charges
of racism) or misinformation (environmentalism). And then, of
course, there’s relativism, secularism, multiculturalism,
liberalism, and, yes, Progressivism.
In all the “ism” talk, we lose the most important one, and
arguably the only one that really matters: Americanism. For years,
academics, philosophers, and political scientists on both ends of
the spectrum have argued about how to define Americanism.
Progressives believe that Americanism—very loosely understood—is
everything we are as a nation. Others on the Left argue that
establishing a concrete definition of Americanism is to be
jingoistic or insensitive to the larger world.
Further, Americanism has been polluted by other “isms,” and by
ideas brought from European nations that don’t seek to empower
individuals, as we do. Everything from the welfare state to secular
relativism has infiltrated America with help from progressives who
stopped believing in the supremacy of Americanism. We feel the
sting of their faithlessness every day as we watch our economy
weaken, our government expand, our businesses struggle, our taxes
shoot higher, and our cultural values become unrecognizable.
The American dream has long been seen in the pillars of our
communities, like service organizations, business associations, and
religious groups, which today are crumbling along with our bridges,
dams, and tunnels. At many local Rotary Club luncheons, for
instance, a large percentage of active members have long ago
retired or closed their businesses. Younger generations either
don’t see the value in such institutions or can no longer afford to
take time to participate in their good work. This provides openings
for progressives and pro-government forces to tighten their grip on
our nation’s communities. Apathy spells the end of the America we
love, and, quite frankly, crushes the essence of the American
spirit.
IT’S TIME TO FIGHT for the survival of Americanism, and to do
that we must understand its tenets. Americanism isn’t all things to
all people, nor is it jingoistic. You don’t have to live in America
to believe in Americanism; anyone on any corner of the earth can
believe in the values that have made us the greatest nation the
world has ever seen.
Americanism is freedom founded on the power of the individual,
and his ability to achieve without undue government interference.
It’s the idea that the state exists to serve man, to protect
God-given rights, and to allow the greatest amount of political
freedom within the bounds of ordered liberty. It’s the idea that
people truly own their property and are not merely renting it, and
that they are free to use their talents, initiative, and “can do”
spirit to make the lives they dream for themselves a reality.
It is indisputable that the Left has long had better grassroots
organization and has pursued its damaging statist agenda
relentlessly. After all, if you believe government should be all
things to all people, then you’re going to encourage its expansion
for your own benefit. Americans need to realize that we are up
against a group of agitators that have very well-funded—and
consequently very large—platforms for driving political debate: the
media, Hollywood, public employee unions, and progressive groups
backed by Leftist billionaires.
Meanwhile, the decline of the Republican establishment from
coast to coast has been a long-coming inevitability, as officials
give lip service to supporters, then vote for more spending, more
debt, more borrowing, and higher taxes. Discouraged, aging, and
dwindling committee members often lack the energy to run vibrant
grassroots campaigns at the local level. When Americans who share
our conservative values are content to work hard for an election
cycle, then pat themselves on the back and leave the fight to the
Washington think tanks, GOP establishment, and television talking
heads, they have in effect surrendered to the advancing Left. The
Left plays smash-mouth football, while the perceived conservative
movement plays tiddlywinks on the sidelines, more concerned with
form and appearance than substance.
WHAT’S REQUIRED IS a cultural shift among conservatives.
Republicanism has proved insufficient as a guidepost for American
values, as is patently obvious from the lack of political courage
exhibited by supposedly conservative politicians. Many to this day
participate in the expansion of government at a level that
threatens our future. We must view Republicanism as little more
than an institutional or legal vehicle through which to participate
in the political process. Our real platform must be
Americanism.
All who appreciate Americanism have to celebrate and defend it
in their daily lives. America needs everyday citizens to engage
continuously on local, state, and national issues. It can be as
simple as talking to your children, colleagues, friends, and
neighbors around your dining room table about America, its
greatness and its challenges, or as easy as joining existing
political or civic organizations and being unafraid to let people
know where you stand on protecting America.
Then Americans must reengage in the political process by getting
involved in their local committees and campaigns. That’s when real
people take back control from the establishment forces and the
Ruling Class that have blurred the lines between the parties and
brought Americanism to the brink of the abyss.
The magnificent story of America is only over if we choose to
let it be. If we’re willing to put our hands to the plow and
relentlessly pursue Americanism—and truly fight for it—this nation
can be renewed and climb to even greater heights of freedom and
prosperity in the 21st century.
