Nov 24, 2010 | Constitution
By Dr. Harold Pease
Please understand that I am deeply offended when called either a conservative or a liberal. These labels are traps for the ignorant who wish to reduce my years of serious study to a word so that a part of my readers can praise me and the other part can dismiss me by a single word—even hate me. My views are the Founding Fathers’ collective views. I draw from the same fountain of natural law and appeal to the same “father of lights to illuminate my understanding” (Ben Franklins words at the Constitutional Convention) as they did.
During the many years I have been a college professor, students sit in front of me just waiting to tag me with some label that does not exist and dismiss me or marginalize me in some way so that they do not have to think. As long as they are not successful in doing so, they are teachable and have to deal with the inconsistencies of both ideologies. I have friends in both camps, and sooner or later they say to me “I thought you were one of us.”
Like George Washington, I dislike political parties as they undermine the Constitution. They also create pooled or reinforced ignorance, which is more damaging than individual ignorance. I have publically challenged the Republican Party for getting us into a war with Iraq and against Saddam Hussein because the evidence for doing so (9/11, weapons of mass destruction, and preemption, which is the concept that they would do something to us eventually) did not exist and had to be constantly changed to justify our presence. I did not oppose the war in Afghanistan because the evidence was there for 9/11, but I oppose it now because we have no clear definable win objectives and lack the will to unleash everything we have to win. It is another Vietnam. It was the Bush administration that gave us the Patriot Act, which allowed the government to define terrorists as her own people, which severely damaged the Bill of Rights. While the government looks within for the enemy it fails to secure our borders from Middle Eastern intruders from countries with a known intent to harm us.
Democrats have taken spending to an unacceptable new level (especially in time of relative peace) and seem intent to risk collapsing the entire economy. With each crisis they help to create, their answer is always more government as they hamstring businesses that create our jobs with numberless rules and regulations. Their model is not the Founding Fathers or the Constitution, but is socialist countries in Europe, some of whom tax their people over 50% of their income and have far less freedom. Even some devout revolutionary communists such as Van Jones have served in the Obama administration. They seem to glorify Mao Za Tung, the greatest mass murder in history, as some kind of model. A worshipful press has never properly explained even the President’s past connection with revolutionary Bill Ayers, founder of the militant Weather Underground that bombed government buildings in the seventies. While China, Cuba, and even Canada are showing clear signs of backing off socialism, we seem hell bent to rush into it.
So what do I embrace? I usually cry when the National Anthem is played. I am touched by George Washington, who loved his country so much that he risked his life in a doubtful cause. He battled against England, the most powerful nation on earth, and refused pay from the government for his services as a general or as president. I love knowing that Founders and presidents have acknowledged the hand of God in their crisis, and shamelessly went to him for help. I love the stories of service men that put their lives on the line to save a buddy. I have undying respect for those who served their country with the primary intent of saving freedom—even if they did not understand the motives of the politicians who sent them. I love people who stand for traditional values of honesty, integrity and morality and do not wink at the numerous extramarital affairs of a president. And I love the Constitution, which gave us the richest, freest country on earth.
So what am I if not a conservative or a liberal? A typical American that wants to return to our base. I think more people embrace this description than either political ideology. So please just call me an American. That is a title that I wear with honor.
Dr. Harold Pease is an expert on the United States Constitution. He has dedicated his career to studying the writings of the Founding Fathers and applying that knowledge to current events. He has taught history and political science from this perspective for over 25 years at Taft College.
Nov 10, 2010 | Immigration
By Dr. Harold Pease
In November we think of Thanksgiving Day and how fast Christmas is coming. But something else, besides elections and Veterans Day, happened in November historically very important to us—The Mayflower Compact was signed November 11, 1620.
The pilgrims realized that some kind of governing document was needed, as human nature is prone to disunity and differences that could be disruptive of peace. Governor William Bradford described the circumstances under which the agreement came about:
“This day, before we came to harbour, observing some not well affected to unity and concord, but gave some appearance of faction, it was thought good there should be an association and agreement, that we should combine together in one body, and to submit to such government and governors as we should by common consent agree to make and choose, and set our hands to this that follows, word for word…”
In other words, they agreed to remain one body and to abide by common consent in deciding what is best for their community- even “word for word.” A democracy, if you will. That was a giant step for the time and a prelude for what would follow. The idea that the peoples’ vote even mattered was revolutionary. The Mayflower Compact follows:
“In the name of God, Amen. We whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread sovereign Lord, King James, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland king, defender of the faith, etc., having undertaken, for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and honor of our king and country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the Northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents solemnly and mutually in the presence of God, and one of another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politic, for our better ordering and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid: and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions, and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the colony, unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In witness whereof we have hereunder subscribed our names at Cape-Cod the 11 of November in the year of the reign of our sovereign lord, King James, of England, France, and Ireland the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth, Anno Domine 1620.”
It is also instructive that God had a special binding place in the unity and in the three sentences that make up the Mayflower Compact appears four times. The promise to “solemnly and mutually … covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body“ with promise of “due submission and obedience” was treated as if made in the presence of God. It is said that this “covenant with God” made the document so lasting as it in affect incorporated the Ten Commandments and Beatitudes as the instruments of judging appropriate human behavior. This inner strength would be necessary for their survival.
The actual landing of the Pilgrims occurred December 21 and work began on building houses two days before Christmas in the harsh New England winter. Women, children and the infirm remained on the Mayflower for another two weeks. Scurvy and lack of adequate shelter took 45 of the 102 emigrants the first winter. Of the 18 adult women 13 died the first winter, another the following May leaving only four of these alive for the 1st Thanksgiving the following Fall.
Dr. Harold Pease is an expert on the United States Constitution. He has dedicated his career to studying the writings of the Founding Fathers and applying that knowledge to current events. He has taught history and political science from this perspective for over 25 years at Taft College.
Nov 4, 2010 | Tea Party
By Dr. Harold Pease
The midterm election was a stunning success and much of it can be attributed to the Tea Party. Not because the Tea Party flooded the House and Senate with Tea Party members, they did not. Some few even lost. But because both parties were heavily influence by the philosophy of the Tea Party movement.
Virtually all Democrats ran from the Obama programs such as the Stimulus, National Health Care and Cap and Trade—“Blue dog” Democrats especially. Republicans finding the Tea Party core values so popular mostly adopted them and sought every opportunity to associate with the Tea Party movement. In short, virtually every election was influenced by them except some few in California, New York and Nevada. And even there, a friend pointed out, “they were influenced as well because Tea Party candidates knocked off mainstream Republicans in those states’ primaries, leaving weak opponents for the Democrats who inevitably won. So, while it may have been a negative influence, it was nevertheless an influence, and a big one.”
In any case, this may be the biggest one party swing in the House since 1932. A sea of red states between the two coasts prevailed. California, so far into socialism with 1/3rd of all the nation’s welfare recipients located in this state, seems bent upon following the outdated “the share the wealth” philosophy until they have driven most major businesses (the state’s tax base and major job source) from the state. Then they wonder why their roads are so bad.
The Tea Party core principles of fiscal responsibility, limited constitutional government, and the free market were on the lips of virtually everyone. These are the principles that made us the greatest, most powerful, richest nation on earth and those associated with the Tea Party movement are not going to have them replaced. What a transformation from two years ago when America’s two major parties rarely mentioned these things, especially not returning to the Constitution. The Democrats offered fast socialism and the Republicans slow socialism and the solutions of both was more control from Washington DC and more debt.
But there is a warning and Tea Party members are watching very closely. You moderate Republicans who had to be converted for political expediency, will you stay the course or was this lip service as you continue to defy or minimize the Constitution and spend our children’s inheritance? House Speaker John Boehner, Tea Party anger from which you benefited is American anger. Did you get it? Will you lead your party more fully back to these basics? No new taxes and every law must be firmly Constitutionally based.
Democrats, will you please come on board more fully? Some of you are with us but not enough. We are not an extension of the Republican Party. We are an extension of our Founders. The Tea Party seeks to maintain both political parties. It is our hope to provide two good choices at election time instead of no good choices. Our core values are, or should be, your core values as well. It is what you were taught to value and respect in grade school. No pied pipers should steer you from these.
From President Obama’s speech after the devastating defeat of his party, he seems not to get the message yet, even though Republican Mark Kirk took his vacated seat in the Senate. Will you please help him understand? We are talking about individual liberty that transcends into collective liberty. Do you want to be free or don’t you? Returning to our core values is the only direction for jobs, prosperity and freedom.
Dr. Harold Pease is an expert on the United States Constitution. He has dedicated his career to studying the writings of the Founding Fathers and applying that knowledge to current events. He has taught history and political science from this perspective for over 25 years at Taft College.
