The New Media Journal | Radio & Freedom: Socialisms Totalitarian Tendency by Lance Fairchok

The New Media Journal | Radio & Freedom: Socialisms Totalitarian Tendency by Lance Fairchok: "First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.



At the heart of what it means to be American lay two freedoms that set us apart from the world; the freedom of speech and the right to bear arms. Both are sacrosanct in the minds of most Americans, guaranteed us by the genius of founders that understood both human nature and the nature of governments. The argument that “modern times require a modern Constitution” has not held much water outside of the echo chamber of academia and “living document” tinkerers, and does not get much traction with the public. Americans know where our success comes from, by adhering to the proven institutions of our unique system of government. We have adhered to Democratic principles more consistently than any other nation; they permeate all civic discourse and form the roots of our Constitutional Republic. They have empowered our citizens and made us, for now, a dominant world power. At a fundamental level we understand that you don’t fix what isn’t broken."

But that is rapidly changing. The fierce independence that once typified the label “American” has been watered down over the decades by the very people who now hold power in Washington. True freedom, the freedom to succeed or fail on your own merits without interference or coercion of government is being given away piecemeal, succumbing to the growing expectation that the government will provide for welfare, prosperity and health of the citizen, that America is a government with citizens, not citizens with a government. The independent spirit survives, but barely.