Publius Returns

Immanuel Kant

"Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law." Immanuel Kant: Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals

God and Liberty

I am an agnostic. Modern day philosophers call that Soft Atheism. At the same time, I am a strong defender of Judeo-Christian values, public faith, the many icons and totems that represent our Judeo-Christian culture, and the principles those concepts instilled in the traditional American fabric.

People have the notion that all atheists are or can be immoral, since the absence of a deity means as well that there is no accountability, thus why the need for morals? Poppycock. Most people want to make a decent living, independent of authoritarian rule. They want the best for their families. Most see the benefit of morals, of a set of values, and of a way of life that promotes their and their family’s well being. I am lucky to live in such a society. I have no desire to change it, impede it, or overthrow it. I want my children and grandchildren to have at least the same quality of life that I have had, or better.

Judeo-Christian values are fundamental to America and to the quality of American life. Without them, it is suspect to say that one is an American. The nation was created to rid itself of the secular and authoritarian forms of government that existed in other countries. America is a republic and is thus based on the “rule of law.” Over the past 20 odd decades, most of those laws were made using Judeo-Christian values and common sense. Yet, over the past 50 years, the rule of law has become something quite different. Are we willing to sacrifice our children to the noble yet misguided ideals of socialism and fascism?

American Liberty has survived because of its God connection and concept. There is ample evidence of that claim. One need only study the founding principles and documents. The champions of Christianity are not always as moral as they should be, however, and hardly pious enough to throw stones at others. The cross we bear has many thorns: Slavery, our treatment of the American Indian, and the Mexicans of the Southwest are but a few. But do not mistake the actions of either individuals or governments as the authors of our founding principles. We cannot change the past, but we can affect the future.

There are individuals within and without the government who are intent on redefining and changing our founding principles. Consciously or unconsciously, those with power to affect change are not only corrupt, dictatorial, and authoritarian, but also intent on dealing the deck over and over in their favor. Money is their power. While they remain exempt from the efforts of private individuals, they at the same time force municipal and state governments to comply with their wishes: Do our bidding or lose out.

That same strategy is used day after day in the Obama administration. And with it, they increase the size and authority of government every day. The idea is easy enough to grasp. They do it for control. But of what? The lives and liberty of those citizens they now feel are their subjects. Requiring the approval of government is no different than controlling one’s liberty. We are told that some controls offer security. We are told that controls will offer better health care. We are told that spending taxpayers money will enhance our lives. We are told that controlling the environment will enhance our quality of life. We are told that giving up our 2nd amendment rights will result in less loss of life. We are not fools. We don’t mind being told. We don’t mind acting on those needs that we see need reformation. But we don’t want government controlling it. Nor was control the principle by which this country was founded.

Americans want to be left alone to act on their own decisions. To act on that which is a priori knowledge, i.e., known independently of experience, and which guides moral behavior through pure practical reason itself.

It has been tried in other countries and each time has failed. Socialism, communism, fascism, et al, have been miserable failures over the centuries. The commonality and irony was that each gave up the idea of certain principles of individual creativity, merit, and productivity through hard work. America struggled for decades to hold on to those concepts. Yet the new administration wants to control our lives by socialistic principles that undermine each of these. They are counter to American Judeo-Christian values and liberty.

Neither the courts, the state legislature, nor any of the 3 national branches of government have the right to subordinate or overturn a rule of law that is predicated on the liberty of its citizens.
Conservative values include limited government, lower taxes, strong national defense, and free-market economics. Each is predicated on and for individual liberty. And the premise for each is a strong Judeo-Christian value set.

The lure of easy money in hard times captured the votes of many of even the most conservative among us. Willing to sacrifice the future for the present, the nation turned yet another corner in an attempt to appease a progressive minority’s march against traditional values. As it seeks to weaken our religious heritage, so does it work tirelessly to undermine our liberty.

Laugh as you will at such dogma. You do yourself and your progeny a disfavor by denying who you are.