I was born on the 4th of July and have sworn an oath to the Constitution six times. It means something to me.
Those feelings can be summed up in the beginning language of the Declaration of Independence.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…
Powerful words put to paper 249 years ago this week. Even the capitalizations used stress the importance of men, all men (and women) over governments. Democracy over Autocracy and Monarchy.
The protections of the Constitution are found in its amendments. The first ten, written by James Madison (the Bill of Rights), were written to satisfy the anti-federalists that feared too much power aggregated in the hands of the government, particularly the executive. Today, Congress and, increasingly, the Judiciary, have given territory under the checks and balances landscape of our three-co-equal branches of government to the executive.
It's a dangerous path that would trouble the founding fathers. Luckily, all power the government (and executive in particular) has is dependent on a greater power. The power of the people. The power of the vote.
It’s not the first time, one branch has vaulted ahead. History is a lesson in swings. James Madison and Alexander Hamilton lobbied for the Legislative branch to be the strongest, feeling it to be the branch most accountable to the people. The Warren Court (1953-1969) expanded civil rights and civil liberties lurching ahead of its counterparts. Today, the executive seeks what many see as unrestricted power. It may accomplish that, but the pendulum will swing back. For every action there is a reaction. That is the beauty and strength of the Constitution.
So, when you read the news (right or left), it’s always good to have perspective. Today’s platforms to control speech, what is read, sexual orientation, media, culture, and thought will be the other party’s platform tomorrow (to the dismay of most in the middle).
The true meaning of the Constitution is to treat your fellow countryman with respect, whether you agree with their philosophies are not. Discourse over discord is what our founding fathers sought. We the people.