Awhile ago I read a post that talked about the evolution of the United States as a nation. I’ve been meaning to write about this, because the article had a huge impact on me.
I take personal sovereignty very seriously. For some reason, I’ve developed an enormous passion for all things humanitarian over the past couple years. Admittedly, I didn’t really care much about what was going on in the world until recently. That said, the events over the last few years (particularly 2015) have made me think a lot about America in general – giving me a soft spot for patriotism.
There’s a ton of content I could write about regarding this, but for now I’d like to focus mainly on what America is today versus what our founding fathers envisioned. I think beginning with some quotes is an appropriate way to create some context into what America was supposed to be. Prepare yourself, because this is going to get pretty wordy.
Samuel Adams: “It is the greatest absurdity to suppose it in the power of one, or any number of men, at the entering into society, to renounce their essential natural rights, or the means of preserving those rights; when the grand end of civil government, from the very nature of its institution, is for the support, protection, and defense of those very rights; the principal of which, as is before observed, are Life, Liberty, and Property. If men, through fear, fraud, or mistake, should in terms renounce or give up any essential natural right, the eternal law of reason and the grand end of society would absolutely vacate such renunciation. The right to freedom being the gift of God Almighty, it is not in the power of man to alienate this gift and voluntarily become a slave.”
The main focus of this quote: government is meant to protect our rights. How far have we strayed from this? We live in a world now where every move we make is monitored and even controlled in some cases. Perhaps the most powerful excerpt here is the part regarding fear, and how it can make us give up essential rights. Sound familiar? Patriot Act – perfect example. Fear is dictating our government’s actions, resulting in the sacrifice of personal liberties.
John Adams: “Government is instituted for the common good; for the protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness of the people; and not for profit, honor, or private interest of any one man, family, or class of men; therefore, the people alone have an incontestable, unalienable, and indefeasible right to institute government; and to reform, alter, or totally change the same, when their protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness require it.”
This one hits pretty hard. America has developed into a nation that reflects almost the exact opposite of what Adams is intending. Our politicians have created policies that benefit the interests of a small class of elites. The wealth gap today is greater than its ever been, and the middle class is struggling more than ever. Regarding the last part of the quote – what mechanisms do we have to alter or reform our government? The general feeling of today’s environment is one of helplessness and resentment, with a large portion of the country feeling let down by our leaders. This needs to change, and certainly doesn’t reflect what the founding fathers envisioned.
Thomas Jefferson: “I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs.”
I don’t even think I need to elaborate on this (but I will). Its stated so beautifully, and perfectly warns us against PRECISELY what we’ve done with our monetary system. Jefferson’s statement here elicits a very emotional impact for me, because he had such foresight and understanding of human nature. He knew exactly what the selfish, unsympathetic banking elites would do with our country, and yet we still allowed it to happen. The Federal Reserve is the kind of institution to which Jefferson was referring.
Want to see something funny? Here’s a quote directly from the Fed’s website:
“The Federal Reserve System fulfills its public mission as an independent entity within government. It is not “owned” by anyone and is not a private, profit-making institution.”
Not making profits, huh? Here’s the reality of the Fed (quoted from http://www.globalresearch.ca):
1. “The Fed is privately owned.”
2. “The fact that the Fed does not get “appropriations” from Congress basically means that it gets its money from Congress without congressional approval, by engaging in “open market operations.”
3. “The Fed generates profits for its shareholders.”
Anyway, enough about the Fed.
My point is that our country has evolved into something completely different in comparison to what the founding fathers intended. They wanted us to be a FREE society, governed by a small organization of the people, controlled by the people. What are we now? A very restricted society by many standards, and completely controlled by our government. Our government tells us what we can and cannot do. Marriage, commerce, drugs, travel, almost everything is dictated by the government.
This is NOT what was supposed to happen. Sure, no one can create a Utopian society – I admit that. But we’ve totally messed up, and completely strayed from the intended path. Its sad, and obviously effects me. And I know I’m not the only one who feels this way.
I truly hope our generation changes this as we grow older and inherit responsibility for each other. We need people that are wiling to step up and return true sovereignty to the people. The monitoring, spying, intrusion, fear-mongering, and control needs to stop.
Liberty, and justice for ALL.
How the World Should Work 