Ultimately,
the 2012 presidential election is not about Barack Obama or Mitt
Romney; it’s not about Republicans or Democrats. It is fundamentally
about the nature of American government. Is the United States a republic
of limited powers or is it something else?
The American Founders created a government based on the idea that
the only purpose of government is to protect the equal natural rights of
individual citizens. These rights inhere in individuals, not groups,
and are antecedent to the creation of government. They are the rights
invoked by the Declaration of Independence: life, liberty, and the
pursuit of happiness — not happiness itself, but the pursuit of
happiness.
Before the American founding, all regimes were based on the
principle of interest — the interest of the stronger. That principle was
articulated by the Greek historian Thucydides: “Questions of justice
arise only between equals. As for the rest, the strong do what they
will. The weak suffer what they must.”
The United States was founded on different principles — justice and
equality. No longer would government be based on the idea that some men
were born “with saddles on their backs” to be ridden by others born
“booted and spurred.” In other words, no one has the right to rule over
another without the latter’s consent. This is the true meaning of
equality.
Of the two candidates in 2012, Mitt Romney more fully embraces the
principles of the American Founders. In contrast, Barack Obama has shown
himself to be the legitimate heir of Woodrow Wilson and the
progressives, who called the Founders’ principles into question.
1 comment:
Whoever wins this election, little in a real sense is likely to change. Now is the time for the citizenry to lock arms and march towards the next election determined to break the domination of the Republican and Democrat over the political process. Look carefully at their collective efforts over the past 50+ years and you will find that, once in office, there is precious little difference between the two. It is now time for us to establish a strong, vibrant third party with principles that clearly distinquish it from the other two. We cannot wait to do this until a year or two before the next election. Please think on this proposal and if you agree act upon it at the grass roots level. We must start now making our voices heard by creating a third party that has widespread support and the strength to muscle its way into respective pre-election debates and onto ballots across all 50 states. Hopefully it is not too late.
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