This might be hard to read. Please don’t hate me.
Even the most patriotic among us were taught—and still believe in—a fairy-tale version of American history. It’s a narrative intentionally woven to create a sense of religious reverence and loyalty to the powerful national government we now live under.
But this feel-good version of history is denying us the America that the great patriots of the Revolution wanted for us. We’ve all been fooled!
The truth is that the Constitutional Convention of 1787 acted against the will of "We the People." Many of those in attendance did not have the interests of regular Americans in mind. These special interests sought to increase the size and scope of government so they could continue to live off the backs of taxpayers, just as they had under British rule. Under the Articles of Confederation they actually had to have real jobs.
How can you know I’m not lying? Because most of our favorite heroes of the Revolution—the patriot militiamen, John Hancock, Samuel Adams, and Patrick Henry, leaders of the Sons of Liberty, and even Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence—were disgusted by the proposed Constitution, and they aggressively argued against it.
We still have their words as proof!
These patriots correctly predicted that the national government would take more and more power away from their communities and enforce policies that were not in harmony with the values of various communities in different states. They predicted that agencies, bureaucracies, and banks would capture more power, overriding the will of the voters. They predicted corruption of the courts and Congress. They predicted out-of-control spending, debt, inflation, taxes, and the endless wars of empire building.
If they hated it so much, why was the Constitution finally ratified, and why did it work so well for so many years? Two reasons:
This is why the Constitution worked in the past but won’t work in the near future.
There will be a time to stand, but not until that old spirit of liberty is restored in us!
Even the most patriotic among us were taught—and still believe in—a fairy-tale version of American history. It’s a narrative intentionally woven to create a sense of religious reverence and loyalty to the powerful national government we now live under.
But this feel-good version of history is denying us the America that the great patriots of the Revolution wanted for us. We’ve all been fooled!
The truth is that the Constitutional Convention of 1787 acted against the will of "We the People." Many of those in attendance did not have the interests of regular Americans in mind. These special interests sought to increase the size and scope of government so they could continue to live off the backs of taxpayers, just as they had under British rule. Under the Articles of Confederation they actually had to have real jobs.
How can you know I’m not lying? Because most of our favorite heroes of the Revolution—the patriot militiamen, John Hancock, Samuel Adams, and Patrick Henry, leaders of the Sons of Liberty, and even Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence—were disgusted by the proposed Constitution, and they aggressively argued against it.
We still have their words as proof!
These patriots correctly predicted that the national government would take more and more power away from their communities and enforce policies that were not in harmony with the values of various communities in different states. They predicted that agencies, bureaucracies, and banks would capture more power, overriding the will of the voters. They predicted corruption of the courts and Congress. They predicted out-of-control spending, debt, inflation, taxes, and the endless wars of empire building.
If they hated it so much, why was the Constitution finally ratified, and why did it work so well for so many years? Two reasons:
- The Bill of Rights: Ten amendments to the Constitution that were meant to chain the powers of the federal government to its enumerated powers, and also provide legal tools for the people of the various states to fight against that central government if it got out of hand. Examples include legal rights to assemble in secret, have secure communications and property, bear military-grade weapons, and organize lawful well-regulated militias. The right to override federal laws through jury nullification, and the rights to local government, which would be superior to federal enforcement, were also included. The Bill of Rights was/is more radical than most people realize.
- A Radical Spirit of Liberty in the People: Back then, politicians feared the people. Folks had already proven they were willing to overthrow any government—no matter how big—to secure their liberty. According to James Madison, this spirit was essential to fortify the Constitution with its Bill of Rights, a document he called merely a “parchment barrier.”
This is why the Constitution worked in the past but won’t work in the near future.
There will be a time to stand, but not until that old spirit of liberty is restored in us!