Blue Owl Brewing
McDonald Knows Exactly What the Founding Fathers Were Thinking
RECEIVED Mon., May 19, 2008
Dear Editor,
Oh, how Louis tries to be objective. But his efforts often do not survive his own neo-leftist bias. His recent “Page Two” [May 16] is the latest example. While his explanation of constitutional authority protecting us with the rule of law from the rule of man (as long as personal ideology is kept out of the process) is correct, because he proceeds to then inject his dogma, he fatally contradicts himself. So while Louis is correct on intellectual definition he smacks himself destroying his entire point.
The founders’ awareness of these types of moral flaws of humanity, historical failings of previous attempts to establish a free society, and profound commitment to the Declaration of Independence forged in the crucible of revolutionary bloodletting reinforced perceived wisdom: Liberty requires an unbiased decentralized governmental structure. Otherwise, political power will centralize corrupting and suffocating freedom.
While there must be a core contractual political agreement governing the states for collective protection from factional domestic dissonance and international threats, the states must be responsible for their internal societal, cultural, and political decisions. This is the genius of constitutional federalism.
Where this brilliance fails is when ideological agendas are despotically imposed by abusing constitutional power. Indeed, explosive issues such as slavery, free speech, civil rights, and national security have been used to compel unconstitutional ideological dogmas through unconstitutional legal processes; via unelected judicial partisans and unprincipled elected legislators. In spite of this, liberty miraculously still survives – barely. But not forever will this continue.
The Constitution must be interpreted as written. All other social, cultural, and political issues not addressed in it are to be settled by the states, thereby decentralizing power. The founders knew this would perpetuate freedom, defeating anarchy and tyranny. The question is do we. Sadly, examples such as Louis’ are not hopeful.
Oh, how Louis tries to be objective. But his efforts often do not survive his own neo-leftist bias. His recent “Page Two” [May 16] is the latest example. While his explanation of constitutional authority protecting us with the rule of law from the rule of man (as long as personal ideology is kept out of the process) is correct, because he proceeds to then inject his dogma, he fatally contradicts himself. So while Louis is correct on intellectual definition he smacks himself destroying his entire point.
The founders’ awareness of these types of moral flaws of humanity, historical failings of previous attempts to establish a free society, and profound commitment to the Declaration of Independence forged in the crucible of revolutionary bloodletting reinforced perceived wisdom: Liberty requires an unbiased decentralized governmental structure. Otherwise, political power will centralize corrupting and suffocating freedom.
While there must be a core contractual political agreement governing the states for collective protection from factional domestic dissonance and international threats, the states must be responsible for their internal societal, cultural, and political decisions. This is the genius of constitutional federalism.
Where this brilliance fails is when ideological agendas are despotically imposed by abusing constitutional power. Indeed, explosive issues such as slavery, free speech, civil rights, and national security have been used to compel unconstitutional ideological dogmas through unconstitutional legal processes; via unelected judicial partisans and unprincipled elected legislators. In spite of this, liberty miraculously still survives – barely. But not forever will this continue.
The Constitution must be interpreted as written. All other social, cultural, and political issues not addressed in it are to be settled by the states, thereby decentralizing power. The founders knew this would perpetuate freedom, defeating anarchy and tyranny. The question is do we. Sadly, examples such as Louis’ are not hopeful.
Vance McDonald
