Home of Today's Common Sense

Published Brownsville Herald 3/7/2004
I recently watched the movie “Goin’ To Texas”, one of the many about Sam Houston’s participation in the independence of Texas. It brought to mind many of the others such as those relating to the defense of the Alamo.
The theme that rings so clear is that the only thing the folks wanted was the freedom from an interfering national government.
I have recently taken to reading such revolutionary material as the Federalist Papers, the anti-Federalist Papers, Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense”, and Levy’s “Origin of the Bill of Rights”.
In most of the debate it was very clear that the framers of the Constitution wanted the same thing. The major contentions were, how best to protect the people from the government. Contentions surrounding the “Bill of Rights” demonstrate it well. The “Federalists” contended that a “Bill of Rights” was not necessary as the Federal Government did not have the authority or power to do any of the things mentioned and that the mandates contained in Article 2 Section 9 were sufficient. Many also asserted that if they were specifically mentioned in the constitution, it would be inferred that the Federal government did have that power and that an activist court would take advantage of them. The opposition was so afraid of the power of an interfering central government they insisted on the “Bill of Rights” to protect them and possibly to even delay the approval of the new Constitution.

It would appear that the fears have been well founded as the national government now interferes with nearly every aspect in our lives, either to protect us from terrorism or the misdeeds of others, or as a condition of the financial supports that have become part of daily life.
What really scares me is that when you listen to the current crop of aspiring politicians, the basis that they are seeking election is to develop more programs to provide more payments and opportunities for more control over our daily lives. These programs, while very well intentioned and may benefit some of those who need it most, also often have unintended consequences and provide for controls to be placed on segments of society where, I believe this is dangerous.
In the attempt to help our schools, the federal government provides all sorts of aid and in every case there are astronomical reporting and other conditions that must be scrupulously followed. These things essentially determine what and how information is taught to our children.
In an attempt to provide help to those temporarily out of work or physically unable to support them-selves, a nationwide institution of public assistance has evolved. It has for the most part become unmanageable because the requirements are the same regardless of the local conditions, and doesn’t adequately help those who really need it. It encourages those supported to see themselves as unable to do anything else. There are now generations of folks who have lost the belief that they can succeed at anything unless they are given it by the government, and assume that those who do succeed have some unfair advantage that prevents their success. This same mindset prevails in many undeveloped countries that never move forward and are ruled by a central government that determines the direction for everything. When people from these countries come to the United States they do so with a belief that with the liberties available here they can create a better life; and they do! Recently, I spoke to a Vietnamese family who had originally settled in France and moved to San Francisco to open an American-style home cooking restaurant. They left because they felt limited by the federal social controls, everyone knew with certainty how much each other earned. The restaurant has been successful for a number of years providing better American home-cookin’. I have many Cuban, Pakistani, Indian, Filipino, Irish, Mexican, and Central American acquaintances who have arrived in the “promised land” and though they had less than the poorest among us, had a dream and made it real. We need to look back to our origins to what made us great- freedom from an interfering national government.
In this time of national election, the politicians in all major parties continue to bribe us with more programs and take the money from “the rich”. The national government should not be involved local communities and states should determine what is necessary and how it is to be managed.
I contend that a consequence of this is to consolidate power into the hands the national government which in my mind can lead to even further loss of freedom from an interfering national government. The federal government is no longer the servant of the people but the ruler.