The People's Role

By Douglas V. Gibbs
Author, Speaker, Instructor, Radio Host

While the enemy seeks to divide and conquer, the key to restoring the Constitution is unity through biblical and constitutional principles.

Either we are a virtuous society, or we are not.  If we are not a virtuous society, we are not capable of the U.S. Constitution.  Therefore, the answer to restoring our Constitutional Republic is obvious.

As the Declaration of Independence declared, “with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”

We must, as Ronald Reagan said, paint with bold colors so that the American people can clearly see the classical, elegant palette of conservatism, rather than the slapdash, trash art of progressivism, thereby pressing the electorate to respond to those images either with vigorous rejection or passionate acceptance…so help us God.

The Framers of the U.S. Constitution spelled out our role in all of this quite clearly.  The document begins with “We the People.”

In Article I. the Congress is given the power to legislate.

In Article II. the President is given the power to execute the laws of the United States, and be the Commander in Chief when a leader is needed in terms of our military.

In Article III. the judges are given the power to act judicially.

In Article IV. and the Tenth Amendment we are reminded that the sovereignty of the States is an important part of the whole system.

In Article V. the ability to amend the Constitution is provided; a process that may begin with Congress, or the States.

In Article VI. it is established that the supreme law of the land is the U.S. Constitution, the laws of the United States made in pursuance of the U.S. Constitution, and all treaties which have been made or shall be made.  The States are instructed not to make any laws contrary to constitutional federal laws, and the judges are reminded that is it their job to judicate in a manner that supports the Constitution.

But, what about We the People?  What is our job?

Our responsibilities at this crossroads in American History cannot be clearer.  They are laid out as the five natural rights enumerated in the First Amendment, which is the beginning of the Bill of Rights.

1.      Freedom of Religion.

2.      Freedom of Speech.

3.      Freedom of the Press.

4.      Freedom of Assembly.

5.      Freedom to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Freedom of religion, in addition to the establishment clause which disallows the Congress from making any laws that establishes a state religion, the amendment says that Congress may also make no law “prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”

Freedom of speech includes both political and religious speech.  The clause is there to ensure that if we believe government, or our culture, is acting in a manner we disagree with, we may be able to speak out about it without fear of legal retribution.

Freedom of the press goes beyond journalism.  We have a right to write letters to the editor, or write our own opinion pieces and publish them however we wish; which includes online.

Freedom of Assembly means we can meet with who we want, be it a labor union, or a Tea Party group.  We may assemble at churches, meeting halls, or pubs with who we like, and without fear of any penalty of law.

Freedom to petition the government for a redress of grievances is more than allowing us to sign a petition, or provide any other paperwork to government offices in an attempt to speak out.  Freedom to petition also includes letters to our congressmen, verbal exchanges with our representatives, and speaking to your city council during city council meetings.  Freedom to petition includes protesting, rallying and shaking your fist at the board members during a school board meeting.

In other words, the First Amendment explains to We the People that our job revolves around the phrase, “consent of the governed,” and when we have a problem with what is going on it is our job to:

1.      Pray about it.

2.      Speak out about it.

3.      Write about it.

4.      Gather with others about it.

5.      And be activists about it.

If the First Amendment recipe for some reason fails to turn the government around, all is still not lost.  Failure of the First Amendment simply activates the Second Amendment . . . the right to keep and bear arms.

-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary