The Political Spectrum

We often hear of a person, group, or policy being on the left or the right. Issues are often measured on this political spectrum, with liberals on the left and conservatives on the right.Different forms of government are even identified as being left or right:

An explanation of the origin of these terms is found in The 5000 Year Leap by W. Cleon Skousen: "These terms actually refer to the manner in which the various parties are seated in the parliaments of Europe. The radical revolutionaries (usually the Communists) occupy the far left and the military dictatorships (such as the Fascists) are on the far right. Other Parties are located in between."

This is not the political spectrum that the founders used. They did not define things in terms of political parties but rather in terms of political power. They considered that on one end of the spectrum would be total government or ruler's law and the other side would be no government. Their goal in writing the Constitution was to find the balanced center, where we could have people's law.
They knew that the government needed enough power to hold us together as a nation, but not so much that the people would be placed in bondage to the government. James Iredell said, "There are two extremes equally dangerous to liberty. These are tyranny and anarchy. The medium between these two is the true government to protect the people. In my opinion, this Constitution is well calculated to guard against both these extremes." (James Iredell was a delegate from North Carolina that participated in the ratification debates.) Using this spectrum, communism and fascism would find themselves on the same side - total government. Under total government, tyranny, or ruler's law, the people are not equal. The ruler is far above them, and rules are created and carried out according to the whims of those in ruling positions. Another characteristic, again from Skousen is that "Under Ruler's law, problems are always solved by issuing more edicts or laws, setting up more bureaus, harassing the people with more regulators, and charging the people for these 'services' by continually adding to their burden of taxes. Freedom is never looked upon as a viable solution to anything."
In contrast to this, people's law allows the people to choose leaders. They are ruled by law and not by the whims of men. Power is dispersed among the people. The people are expected to govern themselves as much as possible, only granting powers to governments to do things that the people are unable to do for themselves.
According to Skousen, the founders used two civilizations as examples of people's law: the Anglo-Saxons and the Israelites as they were led by Moses. You will recall from the Old Testament that initially Moses was trying to listen to and solve all of the people's problems. His father-in-law, Jethro, helped Moses understand the value in teaching doctrine, but then delegating responsibility and allowing the people to govern themselves (See Exodus 18:17-26). This is the kind of government our founders were striving to create. Government in the balanced center of the true political spectrum.

Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death - Patrick Henry, 1775

"We have petitioned - we have remonstrated - we have supplicated - we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and parliament. Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne. In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope. If we wish to be free - if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending - if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon, until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained - we must fight!-- I repeat it, sir, we must fight!! An appeal to arms and to the God of hosts, is all that is left us! They tell us, sir, that we are weak - unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger. Will it be the next week or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs, and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak, if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. Three millions of people armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is not retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged. Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable - and let it come!! I repeat it, sir, let it come!! It is vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, peace, peace - but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! - I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!"

I remember reading this speech in school. The words thrilled me then, and they thrill me now, though perhaps for a slightly different reason. We are at a critical place in our nation. I feel that we have petitioned and supplicated the government, only to be treated with scorn and disrespect. Indeed, I sometimes feel that I can hear our chains being forged, link by link. I think the time has come for us to stand up and fight again for our liberty - not with guns - but with our words, our faith, our willingness to sacrifice, and our desire to maintain the freedom that was and is a gift from God. God will fight our battles for us, if we turn to Him. We are never without hope if we trust in Him.

New Direction

OK, so clearly I have been lax about updating this blog. I have an idea that will hopefully help me to write a bit more often, even though it will take this in a different direction than I originally wanted. I have started a constitution study group in my home. So, while I want to continue to put the words of our founders on this blog, I will also be putting meeting notes, assignments, and thoughts about our study group.