by Tom Cairns

Created on: April 19, 2008

While it may seem tempting to play the part of the cynic, concluding that politicians in the United States are right at home among their less savory counterparts in other parts of the world - and who among us does not give in to that temptation from time to time - it is simply not the case.

The foundation of our system of government - that we are a nation ruled by laws and not by men - make it impossible for politicians in America to descend so deeply into the abyss as they might otherwise be inclined, and those in other countries so readily do.

The question is not so much one of American superiority, or rather, the superiority of her politicians over those who lead in other countries, as it is a comparison of systems that concerns us. Our founders, the framers of the constitution were under no illusions regarding the injustices of which men are capable. They were in fact themselves placing their treasures and lives at stake in order to derail such injustice. Nor did they imagine only monarchs were capable of such things. They knew well that their own leaders - be they near or far - given the proper circumstance and opportunity, could become tyrants as well. It would not do to escape the tyranny of England so far away, only to fall prey to the tyranny of their own just around the corner.

With that in mind, they set in place a system that gave authority not to a man, but to a code of laws, a constitution. In that document, the equality and dignity of men were spelled out. That dignity was to be preserved and protected by the state, and from the state, in accordance with the clear mandate of the constitution itself. Power must be vested in men, of course, if there is to be civil order, and we are all aware of times when that power has been abused. Many of us know of instances where the abuse continues, in violation of the spirit of the document. But the power to act with full autonomy, in effect legitimizing that abuse is given to no one. Thus, the authority of the government does not lie with men, but rests in the preservation of the law.

Let us be cautious then, and remember that it is our interpretation and understanding of what the law says that will determine weather the law is applied and enforced as the founders intended. If we do not succeed in preserving the foundation intact, then the structures we have built upon them will be in jeopardy. All we have come to value as American' could be lost.

Sadly, in nations ruled by men, rather than laws, particularly in areas of the world where corruption has made oversight and opposition difficult, men are free to act according to the dictates of their own will. If they are benevolent, so be it, if not, precious little recourse is available for those who suffer. If treasures are massed in government store houses while the people starve, and are themselves consumed and exploited for the benefit of the ruling class, then so be it.

Could it happen here? Do we become alarmists by asking the question? There was a western style democracy that once destroyed itself - by democratic means no less - and set in its place a dictator. Who would have thought, 100 years prior, that one of the most enlightened nations on earth, with a long history of scholarship and progressive thinking would have placed Adolph Hitler at the helm, and allowed him to remove all means of resistance from the citizenry?

Someone once said "The price of liberty is eternal vigilance". We as a people, while enjoying the benefits of freedom, must remember that we all bear the responsibility of passing it on, preserved in it's fullness for the next generation.

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