Several weeks ago someone asked me, "What is the role of government?" I tried to give him an answer. I am not sure I succeeded. After that conversation I realized where to find the answer. I have tried to take the basic writing of the founding fathers, the Preamble to the Constitution of the United States and expound on it. I am sure this document took more than a few days to write and more than a few heated discussions to edit into it's final form. Let's look at it.
"We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
Fifty two words, two hundred and seventy six letters and it has been the byline for two centuries. Let's look at it.
We the people of the United States,
This phrase defines who this law applies to, the people of the United States. This means every natural born or naturalized American. I personally believe that it conditionally applies to those who have petitioned for residency here and have been granted that status. The one exception here is the right to vote or hold elective office as they are clearly defined for citizens. Although I have serious doubts about the legality of many of our restrictive immigration laws I am not as free with the guarantees and protections of the constitution to those who are not covered under this umbrella. The Mexican that wishes to immigrate should be allowed to do so as much as some of the peoples from the "oppressive" countries and at the point he gains the right to that residency he has those protections. But if he slips across the border illegally he has no legal protection and can be shipped back or jailed. Likewise we should be able to refuse entry to those who are problems. I am very sensitive to allowing sanctuary for the oppressed. I think it is refused all too often. But that sanctuary was abused by some. Many who came here with the Cuban boat lift were good people who were seeking a better life. More than a few were hardened common criminals fresh from the Cuban jails, people who had killed and stolen and would have been in jail here had the acts been done here. These were turned loose on our society because we extended habeas corpus to the illegal alien for the purpose of entering. This is not saying the illegal alien could not be redeemed and thus allowed to stay but the illegal immigrant should be detained until we have time to check them out. There should be no time limit on this checking but they should be free to leave detention to return to their own country at any time - under escort of course. And this process, although it must be thorough, must be done with reasonable dispatch.
in order to form a more perfect union,
The founding fathers were trying to bring these states together as a nation. They recognized the foreign forces that would have been able to overwhelm the states individually. They saw the patchwork of Europe and the fragmentation that led to continual wars. This must be avoided in the New World. If there were ever an attempt at a new world order it was then. As one we are strong. One in spirit, not necessarily always agreeing, but always together in basic goals. And if we doubt their wisdom in the matter or the validity of their acts, look to the past. The bloodiest war ever fought on this continent was not fought against outsiders but when we were divided. But today there are forces that would divide us. It is not along lines like the Mason Dixon but along lines of race, color, national origin and the like. There are those who want to be a part of America but they want to be a separate part. They are what I call the hyphenated Americans. There is nothing in the constitution that provides for a -American, only an American. And a -American is a minus American which is less than an American by their own choice. There is an old saying, "America, get your heart in it or get out." I say this to those who would divide. There are worse, the politicians who would divide for personal gain. These are despicable.
establish justice,
Since time began tyrants and petty despots have heaped injustice on peoples. And the government this document created is not perfect. Slavery was part of the original charter. Women were not permitted to participate in the political process. Participation for males depended on land ownership. But over the years it has evolved. The road has not been smooth. The journey has been slow and difficult. It took nearly a century and four years of bloody warfare to emancipate the slaves. It took another century to begin to loose many other bonds. But the path is there and we are on it. I believe we will never reach it but I just want us to be closer every day, striving for that better life for every citizen.
insure domestic tranquility,
Our forefathers had a view of the feudal system and the states in Europe. Without internal peace, we would have continual boarder disputes. But for 4 terrible years of our two hundred and forty we have generally had peace internally. We learned a lesson in those years that Europe has not learned in 800 years. Even with a working model to follow the new world order of Europe, the European Union is struggling. Our founding fathers saw this through a glass darkly and went for it.
provide for the common defense,
What if an outside power decided to invade Pennsylvania or Florida? The central government was charged with providing for the defense of all because an invasion of Pennsylvania or Florida was an invasion of the United States. Today we have some that would strip the power of the president to defend our nation for political gain. We have those who know little of history pressing ideas that will cause us to repeat the mistakes of the past. Their statements sound good. "Let's not interfere in the affairs of other nations." "We can't be the policeman." But they are just veiled statements of the past that brought us two world wars. And worse, some of those who want to make us a third rate nation are in the halls of government and evens some are seeking the highest office of the land.
promote the general welfare,
The government is not committed to the good of a few, but to all. It is not committed to the good of a few at the expense of many. General welfare means all of us benefit. It is not passing laws so that some profit at the expense of others.
and insure the blessings of liberty
Liberty is a right, insured by the constitution. But it is considered by the framers as also as a blessing. And it is. But with liberty comes responsibility. When freedom becomes anarchy it is false.
to ourselves and to our posterity
The framers were not selfish. This blessing, although for them, was for those to come. They were creating it but they also saw the need to nurture it and pass it on.
do ordain and establish this constitution of the United States of America.
What have liberal politicians done with this? Used it as bathroom tissue…
