“I know no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion.” –Thomas Jefferson, letter to William Charles Jarvis, 1820

Thomas Jefferson, one of the main authors of the Declaration of Independence firmly believed in the American people. The quote above expresses his belief that we, the people could easily understand the precepts of liberty and make the right decisions on how we are to be governed.  When we fail to inform ourselves what the Constitution really means and rely on others to judge the Constitutionality of laws, etc. then we are putting our individual freedoms in someone else’s hand.  It is our responsibility to know the rights, privileges, and freedoms that come with being an American citizen.

There are several simple principles that we must know and understand in order to obtain this kind of discernment.  Once we possess this knowledge then we can begin to impart it to our children so they can grow to love and respect this great nation.  Most of these principles are found in the Declaration of Independence and then practically applied as law in specific sections of the Constitution.  After all, the purpose of the Constitution is to protect our rights as citizens which is why it is so important that we know and understand it.

The first and most basic principle is that “all men are created equal”.  This is an eternal truth that the Founders recognized even though slavery as an institution was in place in the colonies.  The Founders knew that by inserting that truth into the Declaration that the British would throw it back in their faces because of slavery.  But it was the British Colonial system that first brought slavery to America over 100 years earlier and these men firmly believed it to be an evil system that needed to be banned.  They just didn’t know how to do it and keep unity among the states in order to form the new nation.

Most of these men sincerely thought that by putting in place laws that prohibited slavery from expanding into the territories and stopping the flow of slaves from Africa that there would be more new non-slave states added that they would outnumber the slave states and the entire institution would be banned.  Unfortunately, they could not foresee what would happen as they all died off.

Progressive thinkers, yes progressivism started way back then, spread a message that promoted slavery and the Democrats gained control of Congress which brought compromises that allowed new states to make their own decisions on slavery.  The important point to remember is that regardless of these mistakes slavery was a huge violation of natural law (the laws of nature and of nature’s God) which ultimately led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands in the Civil War.

The fact is that “all men are created equal” and in the criminal justice section of the Constitution this truth is reflected by the equal protection under the law clause – all men are to be treated equally under each law.  In the matter of taxes, the federal government was to apply taxes equally to all – much like a flat tax.  However, that changed with the 16th Amendment that allowed for a federal income tax which as we know has resulted in multiple tax brackets that directly goes against the whole idea of equality.  The Constitution does not single out any groups for special privileges because the underlying principle was that “all men are created equal”.

Sadly, today we know that special status has been granted to favored groups by lawmakers who have chosen to ignore this principle either out of ignorance or disdain for the Constitution.  They have also allowed unelected judges to make judicial laws to change the meaning of the Constitution without going back and passing laws to bring these ill-conceived changes back in line with the correct understanding of the Constitution.

It is vitally important for us to never forget that “all men are created equal” in God’s eyes and to remind those around us of this principle.  After all we are the only inhabitants of earth to have been created in His image.  Therefore, all things are possible for us no matter where we are born or into what circumstances if we fully understand this principle and ignore the abundant messages saying we are victims and need government to help us.

Next Week: Equal Rights
Dinner Table Discussion Question: What is it that causes one person to rise above their circumstances and another to fail?