The United States

Once upon a time, in grade school, we had to memorize “The American’s Creed,” written by William Tyler Page in 1917. I still remember parts of it.

“I believe in the United States of America as a government of the people, by the people, for the people; whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed; a democracy in a republic; a sovereign Nation of many sovereign States; a perfect union, one and inseparable; established upon those principles of freedom, equality, justice, and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes. I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to love it; to support its Constitution; to obey its laws; to respect its flag; and to defend it against all enemies.”

It seems to me the idea of constitutional governance is one of humanity’s finest inventions. Prior to the advent of national legal agreements, “the law” was whatever a pharaoh, king, emperor, chief, or warlord said it was. In the absence of a constitution, a ruler is free to act on personal delusions or whims, and the law is subject to daily change. Some kings claimed a “divine right” to rule. Or seized control by force and created dynasties. Yet, the desire to hold power over others corrupts even those who begin with noble intentions, and especially those who aim to enrich themselves at the expense of their people. Through the prophet Samuel, God warned against crowning kings:

He said, “These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen and to run before his chariots. And he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest, and to make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots. He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards and give them to his servants. He will take the tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and to his servants. He will take your male servants and female servants and the best of your young menand your donkeys and put them to his work. He will take the tenth of your flocks, and you shall be his slaves. And in that day, you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.” [I Samuel 8]

But the people of Israel ignored Samuel and demanded a king. God acquiesced and told Samuel to “make them a king.” So began the fulfillment of Samuel’s prophecy. One king after another has taken what rightfully belonged to the people. Sadly, to this day, some people choose to have kings, and even vote broken men to power, believing their king will somehow protect them, despite Samuel’s warning.

In time, more rational people realized that like all other games, governance is a game that requires specific rules to restrain the potential abuse of power. Without these constitutional limits, we might end up with a never-ending game of thrones – producing tyranny, inequality, injustice, and incalculable human suffering. How much should a king be able to take? No more than the people are willing to allow.

Unlike many other nations, the United States of America is composed of 50 sovereign states, constitutionally bound and empowered. Their powers can offset the federal government in many ways. The USA cannot become a kingdom unless at least two-thirds of the states agree to do so. The states themselves form a substantial obstacle to any man who would be king.

The USA has survived many harrowing periods, mainly because no matter how badly certain federal officials have behaved, we the people have risen to the occasion. We have upheld the constitution in times of trouble. Further, our experience with England in colonial times taught us that as much as the central government can help with large projects, it cannot fix all local problems. The Tenth Amendment has prevailed: “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

If we hope to prevent the rise of an American monarchy or the rule of a one-party elite, the states must check the king and his wealthy king makers. It’s up to the rest of us to promote freedom, equality, justice, and humanity as well as uphold the rest of The American’s Creed.