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What makes us great?

| April 9, 2008 12:00 AM

What is it that makes this country great? The cause is not, as many will answer, “the land of opportunity.”

To answer the question, one must consider the differences in our country compared to others. To answer, one must first understand our national character, the manner in which, we govern. To fully understand the structure of our government, take a look at how builders erect a framed building.

It begins with a substantial footing made of reinforced concrete, poured below the frost line, usually three feet deep. Next comes the foundation (also reinforced concrete), which rests squarely on the footing. What comes next is vital in much of this country: a barrier to prevent termites from devouring the wood structure. This barrier is simply a metal flashing, which covers and overlaps the top of the foundation, and bent downward at an angle to require the termite to bend its back in order to climb over it. Since the termite cannot bend in that manner, it is foiled in its attempted attack on the building. All of the wood used in the construction of a framed building is isolated from the earth and its invading vermin, as it rests solely and securely on the metal flashing, foundation and its footing.

As long as nothing is placed in contact with the earth and the side of the building, it never suffers the ravages of invading termites, and serves its owner for as long as it is maintained. Note that the building must be maintained, or otherwise the precautions provided by its supporting members will be so much wasted effort.

When the founding fathers wrote the Declaration of Independence, they laid the ground work for government. We can draw an analogy here, with the Declaration being the footing for future construction. It is plain to see in their words that they saw the need for government to protect the people. We will focus on this seminal passage: “…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 single statement defines for all time the very nature of our national government and its only legitimate purpose. It forms the footing for our form of government.

The Revolutionary War was fought and won under extreme conditions by men wholly unsuited to the rigors of winter combat. Their God-fearing Christian leaders were some of the most intelligent to be found in the fledgling nation. History tells us of the trials they endured, and their un-flinching triumph over superior forces.

Subsequently, the colonies wrote their respective constitutions and united under the Articles of Confederation as independent states. Eleven years passed, as they labored under the articles, which proved to be inadequate. To remedy this, the states sent delegates to convention to repair the defects.

The convention found no way to correct the defects and agreed to start anew…”to form a more perfect Union;” a union of sovereign states sharing a common bond by means of a Constitutional Republic; to be governed by means of a federal government with limited powers. This new government, established to operate through three separate branches having checks and balances among them, so that no one branch will be omnipotent, offered new hope for the nation's life among nations.

So there you can see how the analogy progresses: A Declaration of Independence providing the footing and a foundational Constitution for the United States of America resting firmly on it.

But what about the termites? Good question! Several states were concerned that a strong central government, such as the one proposed in the new organic law the convention produced, might not adequately protect Rights as set forth in the declaration. Anti-federalists published their concerns in opposition to the federalists, who supported this new constitution. After much discussion in and among the states, declaratory and restrictive amendments were ratified to extend the public confidence in the federal government. These first ten amendments are the “Bill of Rights,” which complete the basis for our form of government. A footing, foundation and a barrier to any pernicious attacks on our God-given Rights by government (or by any foreign entity) which, will serve us well (provided we do the necessary maintenance) for a long while to come.

Should a violation of the constitution occur, it will come within government. Since the constitution speaks to government, only government can violate it. Should anyone trespass the bounds of the constitution, it is the highest form of felony. When a murder is committed, the crime is against the victim and possibly his family and friends. However, when the constitution is violated, the offense is against every man, woman and child in this nation, because then the culprit has trampled the very foundation of this great nation!

Now you have the necessary perspective to understand the answer to this question: “What is it that makes this country great?”

Answer: “What makes this country great is that for the first time in the history of man, the individual's Life, Liberty and Property are taken as a sacred trust for government to protect, and that there would be nothing in our laws, which would make us fear our government.”

This is true of no other country.

Dick Wells

Thompson Falls