America’s political friction meter is edging up again. You can expect it to flare in 2024. How do you address that? Duck and cover, get right into it, or work hard and stay above it? The last may serve most of us best, and assure the future is bright.
We all know the political left – however widely that cluster is defined – is preoccupied with change for change’s sake, or for ideology, political gain, or power concentration. They tend to trust the government to make better decisions than we do for ourselves, see no problem forcing them.
They are opposed to the expansive and historically rooted view of individual liberty, thinking instead that making men equal at some lowest possible level is preferable to a diversity of outcomes based on ideas, work, skills, education, dreams, or personal pursuits of happiness.
They prefer to talk – and at times to force – politics to follow ruts carved by group identification, imagining something in the Constitution saw America as a bunch of groups, or that the Bill of Rights speaks to group rights rather than individual rights, which it does not.
Even the 5th and 14th Amendments, which assure “equal protection” under the law, at no time suggest equality should eclipse individual liberty if that liberty is fairly pursued on God’s gifts.
Nowhere does the Constitution suggest we should give up our individuality, trade it for redefining ourselves as members of some entitled or factional subgroup, and give up being individuals blessed by our American identity in favor of being a faction, race, gender, or owed group.
Notably, all respected American leaders in or out of government since our founding – unless closely identified with communism, fascism, or believing ends justify means, fundamentally anti-American and anti-democratic ideas – have worked to elevate the individual.
This is who we are, clear-eyed believers in God’s master plan – such as we know it – for each of us, for each individual, a belief that each life is sacred, regardless of youngest age or eldest frailty, economic or cultural circumstance, religious or ideological belief, if respecting of others.
Notably, the political left, those who do not subscribe to this constitutional, democratic, and Judeo-Christian tenet of self-determination, do think differently. They see power as a means for remaking all society, and thus forcing us into conformity with their views.
More specifically, they see power as a non-religious holy grail, and are sure that government – if fully empowered to remake our world, reorient our identities and desires, redefine our life aspirations, and limit our decisions – or simply make them for us – can get things “right,” get us nearer Utopia.
The political left is not abashed about any of this. They think we will not like it but will be better off for their centralized decisions, ending free markets for food, energy, transportation, housing, medical care, and instead giving those decisions – as in the former Soviet Union and China – to the government, and never more to the individual.
They ignore human nature, the power of the human heart, courage, selflessness, hope, dreams, love of family, faith, God, and orthodoxies like Adam Smith’s “invisible hand,” which suggests the best comes from millions of decisions, greatest individual liberty consistent with others’ liberties.
All this brings us back to modern politics. Yes, the stakes are high, the argument over these things is easy, and the potential for political violence is high when the left begins to push ideology or repression. But there is a better way: Just work hard for freedom, keep your faith strong, and stay above it.
In closing, one is reminded of three quotes. One is from Thomas Jefferson: “I never saw an instance of one of two disputants convincing the other by argument …When I hear another express an opinion which is not mine, I say to myself, he has a right to his opinion, as I to mine… His error does me no injury, and shall I … bring all men by force of argument to one opinion?”
The second Colin Powell, for whom I worked: “Never let your ego get so close to your position, that when your position goes, your ego goes with it.” A timely warning, and strong defense.
Finally, there is Abraham Lincoln speaking with a friend. “I do not like that man …,” he reported to his friend, adding “I must get to know him better.” Life is short, good neighbors of great value. If we work hard for freedom, and help others to see its virtue, the future is bright, always has been.
Robert Charles is a former Assistant Secretary of State under Colin Powell, former Reagan and Bush 41 White House staffer, attorney, and naval intelligence officer (USNR). He wrote “Narcotics and Terrorism” (2003), “Eagles and Evergreens” (2018), and is National Spokesman for AMAC.
One man said it best ….. “Whatever may have been my political opinions before, I have but one sentiment now: that is, we have a government, and laws, and a flag, and they must all be sustained. There are but two parties now: traitors and patriots. And I want hereafter to be ranked with the latter.” ― Ulysses S. Grant
MAGA ????
Another home run, Robert! 2024 will be one of our more challenging years, which makes your message even more important. Margaret Thatcher once said, “Disciplining yourself to do what you know is right and important, although difficult, is the high road to pride, self-esteem, and personal satisfaction.” Wise words for us all. As an educator I spend much of my time helping students to be confident, empathetic, and tolerant. We may not always agree with each other’s opinions and thoughts, but we should always be respectful and open to different ways of looking at and interpreting different thoughts. As someone you had the honor of working for, Colin Powell, once stated, “Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.” It’s so important to remain positive, cool, and unruffled through difficult times. Kindness, compassion, patience, and love go a long way. In closing, for years in my classroom I had a poster on the wall that we often discussed, as I felt and still feel that we frequently forget how important our thoughts, words, and behavior are. The following is the quote:
”Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words. Keep your words positive because your words become your behavior. Keep your behavior positive because your behavior becomes your habit.” Mahatma Gandhi
The Red Wave is Coming missing the last elections BUT Tsunami this time
See IA
Where???? Only in H*LL if the voters DO NOT wake up!!!!!!!
Is it possible that left is keeping up appearances but has a ploy in place that will surprise us all? The rabbit will be pulled out Biden who served it’s purpose will be chucked and a perhaps not so new a face will appear on the scene What ever happens I am sure Biden will not be it Dominion is being oiled and tuned to perform smoothly I pray I am wrong What ever happens will break or remake America
We don’t know what the future may hold. “Hope for the best but prepare for the worst… “That’s the best advice for any situation…
Red Wave ? Thats just a myth. We heard that bs in 2022 and were clobbered. After Trump performed superbly, this nation put Biden in the white house. We are gettiong what we deserve and I suspect this electorate will go dumb again in November.
You can listen to all of the anti-Biden discourse you want. Means nothing He’s not the problem.
The voters are the problem.
AMAC -THIS IS THE BEST THING I’VE READ IN A LONG TIME! Thank you and I hope many read and understand it….which they should do.
Excellent article. The Future is Bright for the United States with President Trump.
Nothing but Slavery, Depression, WWIII, and Darkness with Dictator Beijing biden, Newsom, and their Socialist Communist democrat Party.
Please someone regain common the sense we were all given at Birth and use the constitution for what it was meant. Abortion flies in the face of the basic tenants that America was built on, namely LIFE,LIBERTY, and the PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. These don’t come under legal scrutiny,argument or any other for of trying to prove that the founders were wrong. They cannot be wrong!
A precept cannot be wrong because it is a building block of the principles that makes America and without the foundation there is no America. You cannot argue that abortion can or may be legal and never paid for by the fed because it is basic to that which causes the existence of the nation. For instance it cannot be argued that Christ is the Savior within the Christian faith. If that arguement was unsuccessful it would destroy the faith as it exists.
STOP THE ARGUMENT. THERE CANNOT BE ABORTION BECAUSE OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPEDANCE!!!
What a well-written and thought provoking article. This would make a great speech for Trump or any conservative candidate.
Robert Charles – currently – is one of my favorite writers. I have lived in Maine – and understand – the blessings of a walk in the woods and the vista and beauty of the view outside the window of the area covered by newly fallen snow.
Blessings
John S may be right about certain things- but my guess is he hasn’t read everything about which he writes – and he too may be presenting erroneous verbiage. Read again the other two quotes and perhaps absorb more wisdom.
Former assistant to a lying, incompetent diversity hire named Colin Powell. My God, it sure doesn’t take much of a CV to get what you write slapped onto an AMAC publication.
NOBODY forget when Powell held up that vial of probably white flour or perhaps corn starch and lied to Congress about it being Anthrax sourced from Iraq…….where we went on to slaughter tens of thousands of children among the hundred plus thousand civilians in general our great military blew to bits or who starved or died from disease from the destruction we levied on the nation of Iraq.
But nobody ask if it was Israel that ended up being the primary customer of Iraqi oil and gas. That would be antisemitic apparently.