A New Constitutional-Republican Majority Being Born

The Progressive Democrats are doomed to failure. Why? Because Socialism does not work and Americans rejected slavery long ago. Progressivism is State Sponsored Slavery. The GOP, may be going the way of its Whig predecessor. Why? Because they show no backbone in critical debates, and are prone to compromise on matters of principle. Changes are coming. Fasten your seat belt. Be inspired!

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Constitutional-Republicanism is growing. The Constitutional-Republican movement embraces all Conservative: Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, and Traditional Americans. Constitutional-Republicans are firm believers in American Exceptionalism. Constitutional-Republicans are coming soon, or already active, in a neighborhood near you! We just have no formal organization yet. I happen to be a believer in American Exceptionalism. What a great term! We are called and destined to be an Exceptional Nation. We Americans are called to have and to keep a fire in our belly driving us to ever renew our love for this country, its Founding Documents, its Heroes, and the Truth who is the Cornerstone and Author of our greatness. We are the most prosperous and free nation in the history of the world. What does it mean to be an American? One cannot answer this question meaningfully without being a student of our History, our Founding Documents, and a scrutiny of American beliefs and values. It is time for the Constitutional-Republican movement to shed our frustration. No more settling for compromise candidates. No more sated and bloated Party Machinery that perpetuate the problems. Call me a dreamer, but I truly believe this is possible. So, I offer up a few bones for the reader to chew on with me. I am no supercalifragilistic famous politician. I am just an older, retired soldier. I have no ownership of any “project,” or “movement.” I have been venting with trusted friends and family for years. I really don’t care who gets the credit for any of this. I just want to see a new, reformed, Conservative Constitutional Party for the Republic: the Constitutional-Republican Party. Thanksgiving, Christmas and a New Year are fast approaching. It is time to ponder our blessings of Faith, Family, and country. It is also the time of year to nail Theses on Church doors or to go to the polls. So here we go. The ten bones on which I have been chewing:　

Thesis 1: The Individual, the Solitary Citizen, must be Sovereign in America.

We Americans have taken our freedoms for granted for too long. Foreign ideologies have crept in and threaten our freedoms as a result. We must re-instill the understanding of American Freedom and its responsibilities. It is found in our Declaration of Independence and United States Constitution and in The Federalist Papers. We must right the ship. Respect for Life comes first, then Liberty. The Pursuit of Happiness follows naturally when the first two conditions are firmly established. Parents must teach their children the responsibilities of citizenship and what it means to be American.

Thesis 2: “We the People” must firmly re-establish a Constitutional Republic; reject Charter Democracy

The Principles of Federalism articulated in the US Constitution are the blueprint for American Governance. Politicians cite powers that do not exist in order to pass collectivist programs, declare phony “Declarations of National Emergency.” Contrived exigencies of the moment supersede Constitutional requirements and abridge the rights of citizens. Hamilton warned in “The Federalist” [#84]: that a Bill of Rights becomes the object of lawmakers' and judges' mischief. They twist them to restrict and limit, rather than protect the rights of citizens on the one hand. On the other hand, the Bill of Rights is used to discover rights that are not present! We must assert Constitutional restrictions on our judges as well as our politicians. Lifetime appointments and the tenured power of incumbency are cancers in a Constitutional Republic. Careerism and seniority have nothing in common with statesmanship and legislative competence. Judicial temperament and wisdom has nothing in common with judicial activism and constitutional dementia. It is time to change the way we think about Judicial appointments and powerful Politicians.

Thesis 3: Modern Political Parties present alien and un-American ideologies and economic theories that did not exist when our country was Constituted

Bear with me here and pay close heed: “Capitalism versus Socialism” is the primary example of this perversion. Left versus Right is a second Perversion. The term "Capitalism" is a Marxist construct borrowed and introduced by 19th Century Progressives and Socialists into American Politics. The Left-Right debate is the 19th Century European political trap that accompanies and supports Marxism. Capitalism is not the same thing as Free Enterprise. "Capitalism" is the whipping boy of the Left. "Free Enterprise" more correctly describes our economic system and is unassailable. Progressivism, however, is undeniably Socialism. Progressives delight in using Marxist Theory to denounce the “Capitalist excesses" of our Free Market system.. This is intellectually dishonest and does not own up to their Marxist intentions. It is perversely ironic that the Progressives “tar and feather” the very goose that lays the Golden Eggs is it not? Is it any wonder that we have lost our way? Remedy: Use correct terminology of this debate and quit proceeding into this blind alley. Adam Smith, Milton Friedman, and Friedrich von Hayek show the true way to prosperity. Karl Marx and John Maynard Keynes are the “bridge to nowhere.” Similarly,the Left-Right debate is a European Class warfare shibboleth that necessarily accompanies Marx in their discussions. It is a debating trap and a phony discussion. The Left is the Left. We are Right, but we are not "the Right." Change the debate. Neither of these two constructs have any place in our Constitutional Republic. True prosperity and freedom is impossible under such constraints. Change the terms of the debate. Let’s quit pretending to be a European Socialist Democracy.

Thesis 4: The Election process should give us more than a choice between the lesser of two evils

The dominant Political Parties’ unending, factious quests for dominant political power long ago replaced sound statesmanship. Two, four, and six year election cycles and campaigns, endless fund-raising, and mass politics have replaced sound policy formulation and law making. Special and moneyed interests have corrupted the one-time legitimate functions of lobbies and lobbyists. [I suggest P. J. O'Rourke's book "Parliament of #" for a full discussion.] Propaganda, political rhetoric, partisan “media talking points” and “sound-bites” have replaced logic and reason and informed debate. Politicians no longer vie for votes over ideas, but rather for “pork barrel” projects and “ear marks “ in legislation. Lengthy 2000 page bills assembled hastily by lawyers and special interests, neither read, nor debated by the legislators we elect to do just that, become bad laws. This is not rocket science folks. The truth is, Congress members’ staffs and budgets are bloated. Today, no politician ever loses an election. The losers are simply placed into some make-work job within the bureaucracy of their political affiliation, or yet into a Lobbyist Organization. It’s time for that whole mess to go, time to clean house.　

Thesis 5: A Political Party Platform must become meaningful once again

Once a reliable blueprint for governing, Party platforms have become purely pretentious documents, filled with vague, “feel-good” policy positions and empty promises to constituencies. These platforms commonly give way to business as usual, political trench warfare and interest group paybacks after a Candidate or Party is elected to office. Party Platforms are political blueprint and more an exercise in empty political rhetoric and postulation. Allegiance to Political Parties has replaced allegiance to our nation for too many. Please: if we must have this corrupt two-party system, can we at least demand that a Party Platform spell out accurately what the agenda will be? Platforms should be short, sweet, and to the point.

Thesis 6: National Security Interests and Intentions must be specifically defined

National Security equals National Survival. National Security is too often confused with the projection of broader American political, economic, cultural and social interests. America’s vast resources and powers are there to protect America first. Charity and humanitarian gestures are good. But America’s Treasure has limits. Are we to take up every non-critical military intervention, nation-building job, or humanitarian mission that presents itself? Are these missions not supposed to be the raison d’etre for the United Nations, NGOs and Church Organizations? Announce National Goals clearly to the world. Articulate and prioritize our National Interests and Spheres of Influence and inform the American citizenry. American Forces should no longer be the policeman for wealthy European and Asian “allies” who bear no proportional responsibilities for their own defenses. Likewise these same wealthy nations should give far more non-military help and resources in their respective regions of the world. Modern technology affords the United States the ability to deploy highly mobile and lethal Systems and Forces worldwide. Our Missions, locations of bases, and basing agreements of Forward Deployed Forces deserve scrutiny. Increase demands of South Korea, Japan and the wealthy NATO countries to step up their own contributions and take more responsibility for their own regional self-defense. Strong, prepared, globally capable Armed Forces are essential to protecting American National Interests. Basing our National Interests on a long history of entangled alliances, confused diplomacy, unwilling allies, and ill-conceived military missions declared in the political campaigns is a poor way of doing the business.

Thesis 7: National immigration policy requires serious reform

Over the last 50 years, immigration has become a legitimate and serious National Security issue. We must make it a high priority, in this Post 9-11, World to formulate a fair immigration policy, but secure our borders against enemy infiltrators, and enforce existing immigration laws. We must also, like every other First World Nation, seek immigrants with special skill sets who wish to emigrate to the United States and become citizens. Foreigners with less-needed skills should be able to obtain work visas. There are solutions to this immigration mess that are both sensible, humane, and beneficial to immigrant and the United States alike. We simply must stop illegal immigration, let's have the resolve to get it done.

Thesis 8: American Military Forces deserve better

Many families often eschew and disdain military service as below their status. The military draft is no longer in place as a great leveling force. The task of defending America is largely performed by middle America and poorer Americans seeking opportunity. Notwithstanding hard economic times bring more volunteers from time to time, America must decide if she is willing to man the size of force required to perform all missions at hand in accordance with our National Interest needs. Certain circumstances could demand we return to a Universal Draft with no exemptions. At present, our Armed Forces are over-tasked, under-manned, under-supported, underpaid, and under-appreciated. As a corollary to this, the inattention and level of services budgeted for our Active Duty, wounded and disabled Veterans, Military Retirees and Military Families is disgraceful. This is not some egalitarian argument. It is an argument for all Americans to embrace responsibilities. Americans owe a special obligation to those who serve and sacrifice for their country. Lip service does not count.　

Thesis 9: American Education must once again become a model for free and public education throughout the world

Public schools no longer teach children “how to think” but rather “what to think.” Teachers Unions have not demonstrated increased teacher quality and professionalism, but have without doubt, politicized that profession. Bureaucratic certification processes do not necessarily result in competent, qualified teachers. School Boards must make student performance benchmarks for union negotiations beyond cost of living adjustments. Integrate technology within the curriculum, but emphasize basic learning in reading, writing, math and science. Classes on computer and audio-visual support technology should be ancillary to basic education, not an end. Schools should build productive and self-sufficient citizens. Studying Political Philosophy and Engineering Sciences is appropriate; Political indoctrination and social engineering is not. Rigorous instruction in Western Civilization, American History, Civics, and American Government will go far in building responsible citizens.. Students have far too much on their plates these days. They are over-scheduled and under-focused. Sports and extracurricular activity should not detract from scholastic requirements.

Thesis 10: America has a serious economic problem: government meddling

The budgeting process is out of control at the Local, State and Federal level. Tax increases, bloated budgets, “pork-barrel” programs, “ear marks” allow for political mischief and corruption. So many Politicians simply act immorally when they do the wrong thing when they play politics with the economy. Prudent economic policies are not rocket science. What Americans do around the kitchen table their home to make ends meet should be the same guidelines that apply to Congress. Congress cannot mandate good times, and they cannot create jobs. Spiraling cycles of “tax and spend” is destroying wealth, destroying the economy, destroying jobs and lowering our standard of living. Spreading the wealth does not make everyone rich, it makes everyone poor. American Markets are being strangulated by some of the highest corporate tax levels in the world. Businesses leave the United States for other countries for market factors of labor, management, tax advantages, supply, and demand. We must re-embrace the traditional economic theories of Adam Smith hat work. Jettison forever the failed Eighty-year flirtation with Karl Marx.　 Summary: Fundamental Ideological differences exist between Progressive-Socialist Democracy and Constitutional-Republicanism. Constitutional-Republicanism embodies American Exceptionalism, the other does not. I have listed below some demonstrable differences between the two philosophies. The first set of values are predominantly Reaganesque. The second set describes the same values as observed in the Obama Administration.

Constitutional Republicanism:

• Extol American Exceptionalism
• Conservative Monetary Policy: Friedrich von Hayek and Milton Friedman
• Holds to Traditional American Values on Great Issues
• Higher Standard of Living based on Opportunity and Productivity
• Trade Based on Reciprocity and Fairness
• Confidence in Traditional American Free Enterprise
• Provides Conditions Conducive to Success
• Strict Market Regulations that demand High Ethics and eschew Politics
• Job Creation through Industry and Entrepreneurship
• Lower, Simpler Tax Codes
• Modernizes Infrastructure through Modern Industry
• Provides a Robust National Defense based on Threat assessment
• Foreign Policy based on Realistic Assessments, not entangling Alliances
• Development of National Resources and Energy Independence at Home.
• Achievement and Innovation Rewarded
• Dignity of Life is a Sacred Obligation

Socialist-Progressive Democracy:

• Apology for “American Arrogance”
• Monetary Policy Based on Monetization of Debt: Keynes and Marx
• Vacillate Subjectively on the Great Issues
• Lower Standard of Living in Exchange for Green Economic Theory and Policies
• Trade Agreements based on Socialist Ideology
• Restricting the Free Enterprise System
• Government Mandates replacing Market Dynamics
• Government Control of Markets through Heavy Regulation
• Job Creation by Government Stimulus Spending
• Highly Progressive, and Extensive Taxation
• Modernized Infrastructure as a Political Tool
• National Defense Needs compete with Domestic Agenda
• Pessimism and Vacillation in Foreign Policy
• Natural Resource Development held hostage to Special Interest Ideology
• Collectivist Redistribution of Wealth and Freedoms
• Life is reduced to personal or governmental Choice

  Copyright 2009 William R. Mann

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