The basic needs of any person are food, shelter, and clothing. In modern society, people have expectations that needs include healthcare, education and sanitation. But people also have emotional needs: safety, security, comfort, and significance. In the Twenty First Century, many people are willing to sacrifice personal freedom for the sake of “needs” provided by Government. Of course, people who demand a king and assume “their side” will benefit, have historically been oppressed.
When the American nation’s founders established the basic framework in the Constitution, they knew their history: those subjugated by a king had little control in how they lived (general welfare); little experience of equity or fairness between the governing and the governed (justice); and few limits on role of Government in people’s lives ( safeguard of domestic tranquility and common defense). Because they understood that people given a taste of power and access to others’ money, always want more, they were deliberate in creating a balancing act.
In the third decade of the third century since the Constitution was established, the nation is losing the respect for the differences that made it unique in world history. Unity as an American, with a common language, culture, and history is all but extinct. Respect for civil authority, freedom to worship as one pleases, and hold differing opinions, is rarely exhibited today. Contempt for opponents, and ever-increasing Government control is common. Worse still, officials who have publicly-stated intent to abrogate the fundamental balance provided by an Executive, Legislative and Judicial separation of powers, and personal liberties guaranteed in our Constitution – have been appointed (not elected), elected and re-elected. As Benjamin Franklin once said, the USA is a constitutional republic, which he understood, to keep in check, its citizens would have to be informed and involved in its affairs whether local or international. In contrast to other forms of government, the citizens can (when exercised) direct our representatives to compromise and cooperate to get things done.
One can only mentor, teach and ultimately, hope, people who now believe that anyone who arrives – by whatever means – in the territory should be a citizen, that “socialism” despite many aspects that indicate fallibility, is superior to capitalism, and in distribution of other’s wealth, will pause to reflect. No social construct is perfect. And those who achieve power, wealth and influence, in the post-Constitution world, may not tolerate any disruption to “domestic tranquility”.
We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Preamble, United States Constitution ( reprinted in https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/preamble
Truths, Half-truths, and Sea Stories 