AMERICANISM FOR NEWCOMERS

DISCLAIMER

This article is not about immigration policy. It is not about controlling the borders. It is not about dealing with the millions of residents who are here illegally. It is intended as a simple instruction pamphlet for people who may want to know about the fundamental principles of Americanism. This article is not intended to prepare you for graduation from the School of Americanism. It is a brief list of ideas.

I just want to get you started. Dozens of lengthy books have been written on this subject, and I would not want to suggest that this brief review should substitute for their study. For those who wish to read it in a single sentence, Americanism is about Peace, Prosperity and Freedom.

I: FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES

In 1896, Utah became a state in America. At that time, the fundamental principles of Americanism were considered extremely important, and they were widely known and understood. They were so important they were mentioned in the Constitution of the new state. They were so widely known, however, they were neither referenced, nor listed. But, in the new Constitution, Article I, Section 27, the Founders wrote: "Frequent recurrence to fundamental principles is essential to the security of individual rights and the perpetuity of free government." These principles were considered so important; no one could imagine anyone not capable of immediately reciting them from their source.

UTAH PREAMBLE

In fact, in the Preamble to the State of Utah Constitution, they said, "Grateful to Almighty God for life and liberty, we the people of Utah, in order to secure and perpetuate the principles of free government, do ordain and establish this CONSTITUTION." Again, the principles are expected to be common knowledge, as much as the names of the Sun and the Moon.

II: PURPOSE OF THE PRINCIPLES

Before discussing the Principles of Americanism, we should touch lightly on their purpose. This is not just a list of facts for Grammar School or Sunday School. It was intended as a path to the achievement of the three physical ideals of mankind. First is PEACE, and peace comes in two forms, domestic tranquility and a common defense. Second is PROSPERITY, or the "general welfare." It was accepted that an essential part of government was to provide an economic system that would make as many willing participants as wealthy as possible, subject to the limitations of skill, time, and unclaimed resources. Finally, came that great principle of FREEDOM, in which everyone would be free to do as they wish, as long as they respect the equal rights of others. These purposes are listed in the Preamble to the US Constitution:

US PREAMBLE:

"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 prosperity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

For over a hundred years, during the 1700's, the best minds of the Western World had been hammering out those principles. They are most eloquently stated in the second paragraph of The Declaration of Independence:

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world."

III: LOGICAL RESULTS OF A PUBLIC WILLING TO FORCE GOVERNMENT TO SECURE THESE RIGHTS.

1. Peace through Religious Freedom.

The Declaration of Independence is most eloquently obscure about the "creator." The words "created" and "creator" allow each individual to determine who or what that creator is. There is no authority in those words to tell anyone their idea is wrong. They can believe in the Christian God or Darwinian evolution. It is most interesting that these words were published 33 years before the birth of Charles Darwin, and, yet, they allow one to consider their "creator" as the process of evolution. When we all learn to allow each other this freedom, most organized violence will end. Religious freedom is an essential part of the process of peace.

2. Prosperity through Equality.

The concept of equality means each of us has the same rights, regardless of our race, culture or economic status. The wealthy have the same right to their production as the poor. The poor, likewise, have the same right to ingest harmful substances and suffer the natural consequences.

The notion that we are all equal means none of us has any right to the labor of another. This principle is clearly presented in the 13th Amendment to the Constitution: "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction." This is the key to prosperity. If I am free to keep and control all or nearly all the fruits of my labors, I am more likely to produce value for others and thus increase the prosperity of society. This principle forbids any government program that provides material benefits to some through the unwilling labor of others. Unless the benefit is universal, such as national defense, the principle is violated, and society is likely to be less prosperous.

3. Freedom to act without causing harm.

The principle of freedom, or "the pursuit of happiness" comes second after the principle of equality. Thus, you are free to do anything that you think will make you happy as long as you do not interfere with my equal right to the pursuit of my happiness. This balance between your freedom and my safety is the justification for organized government.

4. Government's only purpose is to establish peace, local and national, and freedom.

I realize there can be conflict between providing peace and providing freedom, thus, the need for a Constitution, and a way for the people to make group choices without destroying individual freedoms. For example, I do not want to drive on an open highway where I am not allowed to drive more than 20 miles per hour. On the other hand, I do not want to drive on a highway where you are allowed to drive more than 120 miles per hour. Thus, we need legislative bodies continually to analyze the situation and establish an appropriate balance between safety and freedom. Appropriate speed limits change according to the condition of the roads and the condition of the vehicles. Thus, the details need constant adjustment, all the time following these fundamental principles.

5. All authority of government comes from the people.

This statement is extremely important. Before 1776, as far as I know, government authority was imposed upon the people either in the name of some religion, the inherited power of some monarch, or the power of the biggest bully. Now, the government must look to the people for its authority. This also places a serious responsibility on the people. No longer can we be children who are taken care of and told what to do. It is the government that must be taken care of and told what to do. Just as we must surrender some of our property to sustain the proper functions of government, we must also give some of our time keeping the government under our thumb.

6. The Duty of the People to fix errant government.

The Declaration of Independence not only recognizes the right of the people to fix government, it calls it a duty. If you live in this country and benefit from the system, you have a moral duty to participate in the selection and constant supervision of the leadership. Shirking this duty is the road to serfdom.

We have reached the same situation faced by our Founders in 1776. Those who put power above principle have corrupted us. Now, it is our job to turn the situation right side up. First, we need to depose our King and elect a President who will be ruled by his or her oath of office. Then, we need to repeal our rules for tyranny and replace them with Constitutional laws. This might take a generation as we use a peaceful, political process, and find the proper balance between freedom and responsibility. Finally, we need to eliminate the tyrants in black robes and replace them with judges who will understand and uphold these principles.

When all the members of our species understand and apply these Fundamental Principles of Americanism, we will have worldwide peace, prosperity and freedom.

Now, let us go and teach each other, one mind at a time.

Dr. Ken Larsen

Dr. Larsen is the  Moderator for the Personal Choice Party
www.personalchoice.org