The history of mankind is that a few have ruled over the many.  Down through the ages, tribal chiefs, war lords, slaveholders, kings, Pharaohs, emperors and popes held power over the masses. In doing so, they helped themselves to the wealth and riches of the world at the expense and suffering of the many. Through the years people have attempted to throw off this oppression with little success. This begs the question, is it the plight of mankind that the few will always rule over the many, or if given the chance, can man govern himself?

The Great American Experiment

Our government is commonly referred to as “The Great American Experiment”. It is the grandest and most extensive test of this question. The United States Constitution is the bedrock laid down by the founding fathers to guide us in answering it.

After the Constitutional Congress, Benjamin Franklin was asked by a woman, “Mr. Franklin, have you given us a monarchy or a democracy?” He replied, “Madame we have given you a republic, if you can keep it”.  Since then, that has been a recurring test for Americans, “Can we keep the republic and the constitution upon which it is based?” Can we maintain that all men are created equal and sustain the God-given rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness? Can man govern himself, or will we succumb to rule by an elite few?

Subject or Citizen?

The founding fathers were acutely aware of the difference between being a subject and being a citizen. They had experienced being subjects where their rights and privileges were granted, or denied, by a king. They wanted the people of our new nation to be citizens, not subjects. They wanted a government “by the people”. Consequently, it was clearly stated in the nation’s founding documents that our individual rights come from our Creator, not from man or king! Citizenship, rather than subjugation, was part of the test of whether man could govern himself.

The Civil War

The American Civil War was a crucial test of the Constitutional idea of the equality of man. It challenged the oppression of the slaves. On one side of the debate were the Democrats led by Steven Douglas and James Buchanan. They supported slavery and it’s extension into the western territories.

On the other side was the newly formed Republican Party led by Abraham Lincoln and the Abolitionists. They opposed slavery and its extension. The Republicans defeated the Democrats in the 1860 presidential election. What began as a philosophical and constitutional debate became the hostilities of the American Civil War. The constitution prevailed!

The Security of Bondage

Throughout history there had been other attempts to throw off the bonds of slavery. The Israelites fled slavery in Egypt. Yet, after being freed, while wandering in the desert, many became discouraged and wanted to return to slavery in Egypt. They preferred the security of bondage rather than face the challenges of being free. Later, after being brought out of the wilderness, the Israelites badgered God for an earthly king. Again, they wanted the security of a king. He gave them King Saul.

Do we want big government and small citizens, or big citizens and small government?

The question today is whether Americans are becoming, or have we become, like the Israelites? Do we prefer the illusory security of “big government” by an embedded and non-elected deep state in Washington, DC? Do we want big government and small citizens, or big citizens and small government? Do we want the responsibility of self-government more than the security of a welfare state? These are crucial questions!

The Age-old Question

For the past 250 years Americans have chosen to be citizens, but today, there is a growing number who want to “return to Egypt”. These Americans appear willing to trade some, if not all, of their constitutional rights of freedom of speech, right to bear arms and freedom of enterprise for the security of a cradle to grave government controlled by an elite few.

They do this under the guise of equity and fairness, never acknowledging that forcibly taking from one person a “fair share” to give to another is the equivalent of how Abraham Lincoln described slavery – “You work and earn bread and I’ll eat it”.  That is what kings and slaveholders do! Today, this age-old struggle continues.

We are never more than one generation away from losing our freedom.        President Reagen

Every American generation must ask itself this question, what will we be, a nation of citizens or a nation of subjects?

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