Previously, I wrote to you about the importance of the American Civil Society and how it must be preserved and nurtured, if we are to remain a free, self-governing people. One of the many characteristics that define a civil society is the element of predictability in our civil lives. Predictability is bolstered by a common language, shared cultural references and values, secure borders, and a mutual understanding and pride of what it means to be an American. That American pride includes our sense of individual responsibility, a healthy work ethic, and the knowledge we are part of a wonderful and unique system that allows us to achieve to the limits of our capacities and ambition. All of this and more constitutes the bedrock of community and patriotism which binds the Civil Society. In this offering I want to expand on that notion of predictability and reflect on the rule of law, our wonderful Constitution, which is after all, the Law of the Land, and how belief in and trust in it, and unwavering adherence to it, is essential to maintaining the American Civil Society.
As we live day to day, we must be able to predict, albeit not perfectly, how our actions, our work might produce positive results; successfully accomplishing that which in doing promotes a sense of safety, security, and prosperity.
Most people have life goals and an understanding of at least some of the steps required to achieve them. Those steps include countless decisions and hundreds of actions which under the best set of circumstances might propel us to accomplishing our aim. The expectation of predictability in cause and effect is central and nourishing to us as our good efforts bear good fruit.
But low and behold there are others who have their own desires as well. Wonder if theirs conflict with yours? Or perhaps the moral guideposts you live by are not shared by your neighbor. Or assuming a relative harmony does exist in your individual moral plains, there still could be a difference in perception and in execution; a wildcard introduced into the desirable, predictability event train. And then, we have those among us who are completely self-centered; make it all about themselves and want what they want now. Others have a tyrannical mindset, an insatiable lust for power and control and their associated useful idiots abound. Some would define them as social pariahs, criminals or just plain evil. Clearly these differences in our world views are not positively compatible. What to do?
In Federalist 51, James Madison writes, “If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself. A dependence on the people is, no doubt, the primary control on the government; but experience has taught mankind the necessity of auxiliary precautions.”
The United States of America is the greatest country ever to exist. No other country or system of governance has ever supported the freedom and prosperity of its people. In less than 100 years after our founding, the United States surpassed all of the worlds “ancient” countries and civilizations in industry, wealth creation, standard of living and freedom for its people. Additionally, our Constitution, with its checks and balances, our ordered system of laws, and the very common understanding of liberty and the Civil Society among us has propelled the United States to strengthen individual protections for all its citizens. The important and ordered Constitutional amendment process has been critical to that outcome.
But as we know, not all believe in our American Civil Society, our system of governance, or our fidelity to God, Country, and Family. This is where we have to rely on institutional guardrails and the application of equal justice under the law. We must insist that Constitutional law and order be maintained with consistency and without exception. Freedom, Justice, and the American way can only exist in a Civil Society buttressed by the application of law and order.
Mark Fischer is chair of the Lincoln County Commission.
