CONSTITUTIONAL CONVERSATIONS
A Trial Balloon?
by
M.E. Boyd, Esq., “Miss Constitution”
Miss Constitution considers this week whether or not the Chinese unleashed the Wuhan virus on the world as a trial balloon. By measuring the response in America and other places to a relatively non-lethal virus they might get a good read on what would happen when a far more deadlier version “escapes” an experimental lab. While this may sound a bit conspiratorial, Miss Constitution is reminded of other attempts to “break the lock” on our country’s deeply rooted adherence to personal liberties enshrined in our Constitution. After WWI and the success of the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia it was thought America and other western nations would follow. Analysis considered America’s religious history as well as loyalty to the Constitution deterrents to Communism, so rigorous attempts have been made ever since to separate Americans from religion and to turn propaganda into an art form. Willie Munzenberg, an attendee at the Marx-Engels Institute in Moscow in the 1920’s thought America would fall if it were possible to “organize the intellectuals and use them to make Western Civilization stink. Only then, after we have corrupted all its values and made life impossible, can we impose the dictatorship of the proletariat.”
Last week in a column called Common Sense Miss Constitution discussed the New Order of the Ages that our system represents and its elevation of individual rights against government power and its reliance on the common person for governance rather than a traditional aristocracy. These concepts have been harshly tested lately, especially in the context of the pandemic we face. Miss Constitution’s conclusion in that column was that America’s common sense was our best defense. What should be our defense is public knowledge of our institutions and systems and the integrity and virtue of our citizens. We should not be having to rely solely on common sense to make it through this crisis as Miss Constitution thinks we will soon face another more difficult one.
It is too late to educate three generations of Americans who know nothing of the philosophy, the history, the civics, the economics of our nation. It is too late to undo the misconception that we are a secular country with a high wall (as Jefferson put it) between church and state. That is simply not true. Religion is organic to our nation and the foundation of our Rule of Law and an important anchor in the virtue of our citizens and their sense of personal responsibility. The exceptional nature of our system is that while religion is essential to a people who value personal liberty it is nonetheless confined to the personal conscience of each person and not made an organ of government. That idea is part of the New Order of the Ages and quite a revolutionary concept. It is not in conflict with God as the author of our unalienable rights. It is God We Trust in all matters of life.
So, as Miss Constitution is contending, if the Wuhan virus is a trial balloon, what would China be looking for in our response?
They would be looking to see if Americans know and understand their rights against government power even with a national emergency of this type. Those rights are:
- Every American has a fundamental unalienable right from God to personal liberty with reasonable restrictions in the Rule of Law for public safety. Restrictions of personal liberty must not only be reasonable but must be narrowly tailored to the specific public purpose the government espouses. In the current pandemic it is reasonable to take every precaution until facts are known and then it is reasonable to tailor restrictions based on this information. Once we knew that this virus is virulent against the elderly that population may be isolated for special protection and care and they should be advised to make prudent decisions themselves. Once we knew that this virus is transmitted person to person through hands to face or direct contact with effluence from the mouth tailored restrictions can be suggested. Once we knew of the high contagion, measures can be instituted to provide safety equipment for health care workers and enough beds for patients through mandated manufacturing. Elected government actors, whether they be the President of the United States or Governors or Mayors, do NOT have the authority to prevent you from making a living. A diner in York, PA opened with all precautions but lost its license. Its Greek owners are near tears but appealing the draconian orders of Governor Wolf. They will win, ultimately.
- Every American has fundamental rights enshrined in our national Constitution’s Bill of Rights against government power. No Governor or anyone else in government can, in the name of public safety, restrict speech on public policy (pay attention Google), prevent you from protesting, prevent you from worshipping, bankrupt your business, censor the press from exposing corruption, refuse to accept petitions of grievance, and on and on. Watching what some Governors are doing in the name of public safety is nothing but a thinly veiled grab for authoritarian power the New Order of the Ages was devised to counter. Some Governors have through their orders caused needless and cruel death. No statistics on the number of deaths or infections from the virus can now be believed as bureaucrats cover their tracks.
Miss Constitution’s contention that this virus may be a trial balloon to see how meekly Americans succumb to authoritarianism and to what is touted as “science” (so may not be questioned) but is merely “guessing” is hopefully way off the mark. What is not off the mark is that we, as a nation, must commit to teaching accurate history, civics, economics, and philosophy and we must also let each generation know that they may be called to step to the plate and defend our unique system. Cold or not, crossing the Delaware with George Washington on December 25 to smite the enemy is likely to be needed at any time. Unfortunately, some of the enemy are in positions of power in our own country. “Crossing the Delaware” might mean not only an educated vote but a calling out of those in academia, in finance, in Silicon Valley, in social media conglomerates, in certain Foundations, and in deep state actors who wish to extinguish the last best hope of humankind.
Copyright©2020 by M. E. Boyd., Esq, “Miss Constitution”
