Once upon a time, a family of law-abiding citizens was sitting comfortably at home minding their own business when suddenly there was a loud pounding at the door. “I’m from the government and I’m here to help.”
The uniformed official notified the family that they needed to wear masks and get vaccinations to ensure their health. He insisted that the children needed to stop learning math and history because race and gender studies were more important. The father was required to turn over his weapons because a mentally ill person in another town had committed a crime using a gun.
This is not a fairy tale. This is real life.
We like stories. We learn from stories. Whether you take the Bible literally or not, those parables have guided people for millennia. Likewise, history teaches us by preserving and sharing our most meaningful events.
Spanish philosopher George Santayana is credited with the aphorism, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it,” while British statesman Winston Churchill wrote, “Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” Virginia Tech
Stories offer insights into the meaning of life. Stories show how others solved this problem or handled this crisis. Stories are about navigating change.
Change never stops, and our great American experiment in self-governance is proof. We are not yet the more perfect union we seek to be, but now is not the time to throw in the towel.
Our COS mission is to raise awareness that this historical struggle never ends. We must draw attention wherever we see deviations from our intended constitutional principles. To do that we benefit from knowing a little history.
In the 1850s-60s the Wide Awakes were young abolitionists actively drawing attention to the disconnect between Jeffersonian ideals of equality described in the Declaration of Independence and the harsh realities of slavery. They started out by protecting anti-slavery speakers from mob attacks. They then grew their membership to motivate registered voters, perhaps helping Lincoln win the election.
COS wants your help to awaken citizens by clearly articulating the true story that reinforces our constitutional guardrails. Our Republic requires a balance of power between state and federal control. That means we must not submit to arbitrary administrative dictates.
To maintain a government of the people, citizens must hold elected officials accountable for their continued fiscal irresponsibility. Our representatives are elected to serve, not to pursue a lifetime of self-enrichment. We must let them know our expectations and consequences.
Get to know your local elected representatives, learn their agenda, and examine their accomplishments. Make them aware that you are watching.
Resist the same old story in D.C. For support in telling the COS story of term limits, fiscal restraints, and limited federal interference, meet with your local COS volunteers today.
