Our Founders believed in the sacred importance of religious liberty. In the words of President Thomas Jefferson to the Danbury Baptist Association in 1802, the “separation of church and state” meant there would never be an endorsed or organized government-affiliated church.
Additionally, the Founders believed in the Stoic philosophy ideal of self-control, rational thinking, and simply accepting things that cannot be changed outside of our control. Their Stoicism also emphasized virtue and it was that belief in virtue that persuaded them to form a republic based on the core principles of liberty and equal justice that would give opportunity for a virtuous society to thrive.
One of the most influential key figures in Stoic philosophy was the Roman philosopher Epictetus. Epictetus’ teachings on personal responsibility and the individual’s ability to control their own thoughts and actions resonated with our Founders. They likewise believed not only in the right and responsibility to participate in the political process in America, but that each of us had a right and responsibility to govern ourselves.
Our Founders recognized that religion and one’s relationship and belief in a Creator was a deeply personal and private matter. In essence, they believed everyone had the right to worship and believe as they saw fit. This balance for which the Founders strived was to ensure that our government would remain neutral on faith issues while protecting individuals from government persecution allowing them to govern their own lives and faith. It truly defines one of the core concepts of self-governance. Neo-conservative and progressive political spectrums differ from our Founders on this concept.
The key difference between our Founders and progressive political ideologies come down to two key points: personal responsibility and individual liberty. Anyone reading the words of the Declaration of Independence as well as various personal writings of the Founders can see that our independence from Britain was built on the cornerstone that each of us as individuals have a natural right to govern ourselves and make their own decisions.
Hence, our Constitution emphasizes guidelines for a very limited government that specifically could and could not do certain things. Progressive ideology emphasizes the role of government in addressing social and economic issues, prioritizing the collective over the individual.
While some would likely argue we need to look to the Bible or another holy book for how to steer the ship of this republic back to the direction our Founders intended, I believe we only need to look at the principles of the Founders themselves. Those Stoic and self-governing principles can guide the United States to a more libertarian society as was intended. We must simply stand on the principles of individual liberty and personal responsibility.
Standing on these two principles may be what will counter current tendencies towards authoritarianism of which both neo-conservatives and progressives are guilty. Convention of States is already evolving this by incorporating the ideals of the Founders and educating Americans through the study of our Constitutional history.
The movement is promoting civil engagement between citizens and lawmakers, and advocating participation in the political process through an Article V convention. It may also benefit COS members to also focus on building strong and vibrant civil societies in their hometowns where individuals and surrounding communities can come together to address social and economic issues without waiting on their statehouses and Washington, D.C. to do so.
Each of us can help foster a sense of self-governance and personal responsibility as an active counterbalance to the current concentration of power imparted by federal government.
