ARRA News Service
News Blog for social, fiscal & national security conservatives who believe in God, family & the USA. Upholding the rights granted by God & guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, traditional family values, "republican" principles / ideals, transparent & limited "smaller" government, free markets, lower taxes, due process of law, liberty & individual freedom. Content approval rests with the ARRA News Service Editor. Opinions are those of the authors. While varied positions are reported, beliefs & principles remain fixed. No revenue is generated for or by this "Blog" - no paid ads - no payments for articles. Fair Use Doctrine is posted & used.
Blogger/Editor/Founder: Bill Smith, Ph.D. [aka: OzarkGuru & 2010 AFP National Blogger of the Year]
Contact: editor@arranewsservice.com (Pub. Since July, 2006)
    Home Page
   

One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors. -- Plato (429-347 BC)

Monday, November 16, 2015

What Has Become of the Union?

. . . The Greatest threat to U.S. Constitution now comes from within!

Dr. Alan Keyes
by Dr. Alan Keyes: The Constitution of the United States directs that the president of the United States "shall from time to time give to the Congress information of the state of the union ..." These days, we take it for granted that this has to do with detailing the various causes that affect, for good or ill, the material condition of the country – mainly its economic prosperity and physical security. But just as the state of the body encompasses the wholesome integrity of the individual, doesn't the state of the union encompass the individual condition of the union itself?

I recently reread certain parts of the newspaper articles Hamilton, Madison and Jay wrote in favor of ratification as the people of the United States deliberated about adopting of the Constitution. They discussed the ways in which the government envisaged in the Constitution was to affect the material condition and well-being of the American people. But in urging its adoption the political union of the people (i.e., their congregation under a common government for purposes of securing the God-endowed unalienable rights they had defended during the War for Independence) was cited as the chief and essential prerequisite of their happiness.

If the union comes in for any discussion at all in our present politics, it mainly consists in claims and arguments about the condition of the U.S. government, as if the government and the union are the same thing. But, according to the principles of justice that justified the American Revolution, the union of the citizens, as they come together in light of their common good, is the source, ground and substance of the just powers of the government. The union does not, therefore, come into existence as the result of any exercise of its powers.

As a matter of historic fact, the state governments were the first focal points of governance for Americans. Those governments were the means by which the people elected the representatives who deliberated upon and formally articulated the common principles that informed the American Revolution, and by which the America people undertook together the arduous exertions of war in pursuance of those principles.

But those very exertions proved the existence and effective character of the American people as a whole. They came together successfully to defend the covenant of principle (the Declaration of Independence) that formally expressed their common sense of right and justice. They demonstrated their determination not to live under a form of government that failed to respect it. In this respect, the Revolutionary War was the first test of the union, and the effectual proof of the power justly derived from it. The American people passed with honors.

The U.S. Constitution emerged on account of the imminent failure of that union, as Americans faced their Union's second, and perhaps more difficult test. They had to prove the power of their principles when the advent of peace removed the necessities of war. For war, albeit harshly, often facilitates the exertions people undertake together, because it represents a stark alternative. They must work together as a community or be done to death as individuals. As Benjamin Franklin put it before signing the Declaration, "We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately."

But in the absence of the righteous indignation which alone impels decent people to endure and inflict the harsh vicissitudes of war, what remains to hold Americans together? Judging by the first stated goal voiced by the people in the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution, and by the inspiration people like Daniel Webster derived from it in the decades before the Civil War, the rational imperative of union is intended to replace the violent imperative of war. But if union has no rationale except the material benefits it produces, what becomes of it during the difficult times all human undertakings must inevitably endure? What becomes of it when material expectations fail, when threats arise and victory remains elusive, when material success itself has produced characters "enervated and impoverished by luxury" and "weakened by internal contentions and divisions"?

Time and again during our history, the American people have had to meet these challenges. But never before has the weakness bred by material success been so pronounced, or so encouraged at the national level by elitist forces bent on destroying constitutional self-government, for the sake of their own overweening ambition. Thanks to their current stranglehold on the political process in the United States, the greatest threat to the U.S. Constitution now comes from within. Finally and at last, however, more and more people are openly acknowledging this fact.

But if the threat from within seems likely to succeed, that's because it depends, as Franklin and other founders knew it would, on the failing character of the people. These days, this not only involves the loss of republican virtue, but a growing disease of "pragmatism" that leads people to deny that there is any virtue except in power, and the success that it depends upon and produces. America's future is now haunted by the prospect of totalitarian dictatorship, extending not just to repressing rightful speech and action, but even to repressing attitudes and tendencies of thought, with forceful intimidation.

Once again the union of the American people is in crisis. But unlike the era of the last Civil War, it is not just a disagreement over the nation's moral principles. Rather it is a disagreement in the absence of moral principle, a disagreement that begins and ends with the delusion that there is nothing more to human existence than the accidental effects of forces without reason, purpose or direction. Tragically this is reflected in the profoundly shallow blather that these days passes for political discourse, discussion and debate.

When it comes to our so-called politicians (I say so-called because fulfilling the vocation of citizenship, which is the root of politics, has so little to do with their ambition), I am constantly reminded of Jeremiah's lament in the Bible:They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace. Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? Nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall ... (Jeremiah 6:14-15)The politicians competing for the presidency today, without even one exception, preach "Unity, unity, when there is no unity." They are only ashamed when they oppose abomination. Otherwise, they shamelessly accept as "law" unreasonable opinions, or unconstitutional methods and agreements, intended to force people to praise or subsidize unrighteousness. Even those who profess to remember the reverence for God with which their nation began, have forgotten the invitation with which the Lord proffers His forgiveness: "Come let us reason together."

Instead, they invite us to consider what they will do (pragmatism), giving no thought to the standard of right that condemns both their doings and the tyrannical means by which they pursue them. There is and will be no true choice in elections that involve such people. There will be nothing but dissolution: first of the good character of the American people, and then of the constitutional union that can never endure without that character. So Publius foresaw as he contemplated the certainty that "whenever the dissolution of the Union arrives, America will have reason to exclaim, in the words of the poet: "Farewell! A long Farewell to all my greatness" (Federalist No. 2).
--------------
Alan Keyes served as Assistant Secretary of State for International Organizations and as Ambassador to the United Nations Economic and Social Council under President Ronald Reagan. He ran for president in 1996, 2000, and 2008, and was a Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate from Maryland in 1988 and 1992, in addition to his 2004 candidacy in Illinois against Democrat Barack Obama. He also writes for Renew America where he first shared this article and blogs at LoyaltoLiberty.com.

Tags: Alan Keyes, The Union,  Constitution,   To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. and "Like" Facebook Page - Thanks!
Posted by Bill Smith at 4:01 PM - Post Link

1 Comments:

Anonymous Jay Edgar said...

OBAMA HAS DESTROYED THE UNION...

11/16/2015  

Post a Comment

<< Home


View U.S. National Debt

Don't miss anything!
Subscribe to the
ARRA News Service
It's FREE & No Ads!

You will receive a verification email
& must validate you subscribed!

You Then Receive One Email Each AM
With Prior Days Articles / Toons / More


Also, Join & leave conservative posts & comments on
Facebook.com/ARRANewsService


Recent Posts:
Personal Tweets by the editor:
Dr. Bill - OzarkGuru - @arra
#Christian Conservative; Retired USAF & Grad Professor. Constitution NRA ProLife schoolchoice fairtax - Editor ARRA NEWS SERVICE. THANKS FOR FOLLOWING!

Action Links!
State Upper & Lower House Members
State Attorney Generals
State Governors
The White House
US House of Representatives
US Senators
GrassFire
NumbersUSA
Ballotpedia

Facebook Accts - Dr. Bill Smith
Pages:
ARRA News Service
Arkansans Against Big Government
Alley-White Am. Legion #52
Catholics & Protestants United Against Discrimination
End Taxpayer Funding of NPR
Overturn Roe V. Wade
Prolife Soldiers
Project Wildfire 4 Life
Republican Liberty Caucus of Arkansas
The Gold Standard
US Atty Gen Loretta Lynch, aka Eric Holder, Must Go
Veterans for Sarah Palin
Why Vote for Hillary (Satire)
FB Groups:
Arkansas For Sarah Palin
Arkansas Conservative Caucus
Arkansas County Tea Party
Arkansans' Discussion Group on National Issues
Blogs for Borders
Conservative Solutions
Conservative Voices
Defend Marriage -- Arkansas
FairTax
FairTax Nation
Arkansas for FairTax
Friends of the TEA Party in Arkansas
Freedom Roundtable
Pro-Life Rocks - Arkansas
Republican Network
Republican Liberty Caucus of AR
Reject the U.N.

Patriots
Exchange
Links

Request Via
Article Comment

Links to ARRA News
A Patriotic Nurse
Agora Associates
a12iggymom's Blog
America, You Asked For It!
America's Best Choice
ARRA News Twitter
As The Crackerhead Crumbles
Blogs For Borders
Blogs for Palin
Blow the Trumpet Ministry
Boot Berryism
Cap'n Bob & the Damsel
Chicago Ray Report - Obama Regime Report
Chuck Baldwin - links
Common Cents
Conservative Voices
Diana's Corner
Greater Fitchburg For Life
Lasting Liberty Blog
Liberal Isn't Amy
Marathon Pundit
Patriot's Corner
Right on Issues that Matter
Right Reason
Rocking on the Right Side
Saber Point
Saline Watchdog
Sultan Knish
The Blue Eye View
The Born Again Americans
TEA Party Cartoons
The Foxhole | Unapologetic Patriot
The Liberty Republican
The O Word
The Path to Tyranny Blog
The Real Polichick
The War on Guns
TOTUS
Twitter @ARRA
Underground Notes
Warning Signs
Women's Prayer & Action
WyBlog

Editor's Managed Twitter Accounts
Twitter Dr. Bill Smith @arra
Twitter Arkansas @GOPNetwork
Twitter @BootBerryism
Twitter @SovereignAllies
Twitter @FairTaxNation

Editor's Recommended Orgs
Accuracy in Media (AIM)
American Action Forum (AAF)
American Committment
American Culture & Faith Institute
American Enterprise Institute
American Family Business Institute
Americans for Limited Government
Americans for Prosperity
Americans for Tax Reform
American Security Council Fdn
AR Faith & Ethics Council
Arkansas Policy Foundation
Ayn Rand Institute
Bill of Rights Institute
Campaign for Working Families
CATO Institute
Center for Individual Freedom
Center for Immigration Studies
Center for Just Society
Center for Freedom & Prosperity
Citizens Against Gov't Waste
Citizens in Charge Foundstion
Coalition for the Future American Worker
Competitive Enterprise Institute
Concerned Veterans for America
Concerned Women for America
Declaration of Am. Renewal
Eagle Forum
FairTax
Family Research Council
Family Security Matters
Franklin Center for Gov't & Public Integrity
Freedom Works
Gingrich Productions
Global Incident Map
Great Americans
Gold Standard 2012 Project
Gun Owners of America (GOA)
Heritage Action for America
David Horowitz Freedom Center
Institute For Justice
Institute for Truth in Accounting
Intercollegiate Studies Institute
Judicial Watch
Less Government
Media Reseach Center
National Center for Policy Analysis
National Right To Work Foundation
National Rifle Association (NRA)
National Rifle Association (NRA-ILA)
News Busters
O'Bluejacket's Patriotic Flicks
OathKeepers
Open Secrets
Presidential Prayer Team
Religious Freedom Coalition
Renew America
Ron Paul Institute
State Policy Network
Tax Foundation
Tax Policy Center
The Club for Growth
The Federalist
The Gold Standard Now
The Heritage Foundation
The Leadership Institute
Truth in Accounting
Union Facts



Blogs For Borders

Reject the United Nations

Presidential Prayer Team

Thousands of Deadly Islamic Terror Attacks Since 9/11


FairTax Nation on FaceBook
Friends of Israel - Stand with Israel
Blog Feeds
Syndicated - Get the ARRA News Service feed Syndicated!
ARRA Blog Feed

Add to Google Reader or Homepage

Add to The Free Dictionary

Powered by Blogger


  • To Exchange Links - Email: editor@arranewsservice.com!
  • Comments by contributing authors or other sources do not necessarily reflect the position the editor, other contributing authors, sources, readers, or commenters. No contributors, or editors are paid for articles, images, cartoons, etc. While having reported on and promoting principles & beleifs beliefs of other organizations, this blog/site is soley controlled and supported by the editor. This site/blog does not advertise for money or services nor does it solicit funding for its support.
  • Fair Use: This site/blog may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Such material is made available to advance understanding of political, human rights, economic, democracy, and social justice issues, etc. This constitutes a 'fair use' of such copyrighted material as provided for in section Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107 of the US Copyright Law. Per said section, the material on this site/blog is distributed without profit to readers to view for the expressed purpose of viewing the included information for research, educational, or satirical purposes. Any person/entity seeking to use copyrighted material shared on this site/blog for purposes that go beyond "fair use," must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
  • © 2006 - 2020 ARRA News Service
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.