A REPUBLIC

“If You Can Keep It”

The following quote, from one of the founding periods most influential statesman, sums up a key viewpoint and distinction about our Union of States’ unique form of government…

In August 1787, directly following the close of the Constitutional Convention (USA), Maryland delegate to this convention, James McHenry, recorded this significant exchange between Benjamin Franklin and Elizabeth Willing Powel: 

“A lady asked Dr. Franklin:  ‘Well Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?’  ‘A republic’, replied the Doctor, ‘if you can keep it’.”

But that is not the whole quote… here is the remainder of it…

“And why not keep a good thing,” said the lady,” when we have got it?”   “Because madam,” replied the Doctor, “there is in all republics a certain ingredient, of which the people having once tasted, think they never get enough.”

“The lady here alluded to was Mrs. [Elizabeth Willing] Powel of Philadelphia.”

– McHenry’s footnote in his diary, entry: 18.09.1787.

 

SEARCH FOR THE BEST FORM OF GOVERNMENT

The founders —being well educated and researched individuals— sought out the best examples of governance they could find.  One source, Aristotle’s Political Theories provided them clear distinctions between the various forms of government.

Their extensive research coupled with recent experiences of human nature demonstrated during their fight for separation and political independence from Great Britain, created  a desire to form the most practical and protective form of government possible.

While there were firebrand leaders within the Colonies, the majority of the colonists only wanted an opportunity to live peaceful, secure lives… raising families and having comfortable, productive lives.  In truth, this majority reflected a natural, tried-and-true pattern, one demonstrated throughout recorded civilization…  the same one highlighted in the Leader—Follower Paradigm.  (See Leader—Follower Article)   This principle exemplifies the second most identifiable —yet least recognized or understood— trait in human beings, after their male-female identity.

 

SOBERING LESSONS OF WAR

The leadership that orchestrated the fight for political independence learned a sobering lesson during that struggle… that many of the colonists (Followers) did not share their vision or commitment.  Do you recall General George Washington’s plight at Valley Forge?

The Continental Congress could not get the Colonies to supply adequate money, or provisions to support their effort.  The Follower-colonists were primarily controlled by an age-old and predictable human trait —experiential patterning— which was demonstrated in their fear of retribution from the British government.

This culturally ingrained fear occurred because of their life-long experience with a monarchial form of government… ostensibly many of the colonists had a hard time overcoming their positions as “loyal subjects of the Crown”… so much so, that overt support for the revolution was mixed… even though it would greatly benefit them.

Plainly —as Followers— many of the colonists were afraid to defy the King… and this deeply ingrained cultural conditioning affected their ability to support their colonial leadership with the necessary supplies to overcome their oppressors.

 

PRIMARY LESSON OF  CULTURAL PATTERNING

The primary lesson that the most visionary colonial Leaders gleaned from their war experiences was to not underestimate the effect or power of ingrained cultural patterning.  This led them down a path which provided inherent challenges… and ultimately to the question…  how to create a government with limited authority, yet enough to compel cooperation, participation, and stability?

Using the overlay of the Leader—Follower paradigm, what formed was a governmental structure that naturally followed this unique patterning… one that created clear Leader and Follower paths, functions and responsibilities.

What ultimately emerged over the months of debate, disagreement, and refinement…
during that hot and humid summer of 1787’s Constitutional Convention…
was this unique citizen-controlled form of government that separated it’s powers between three distinct and equal branches…
one that creates laws… one that oversees enactment… and one that arbitrates that enactment with the rule of law.

Ostensibly, a government that citizens had complete control over… all with a minimum of direct involvement and management.

 

ESTABLISHMENT OF SOVEREIGN CITIZEN AUTHORITY

The key and critical distinction of their newly created system was that citizens —at both the local and state level— had complete control over the process through their various selection processes.  Citizens chose the various officials to perform these functions for them.  It was an indirect form of representation,  because it was done for the ultimate owners and controllers of the country… the American Sovereign Owner.

The uniqueness and protection of this form of government is that it can NEVER be taken away from the citizen-owners because it was memorialized in the written record of that Convention of 1787… and then, ratified through their representation as individual States.

Our Federal Constitution is a specifically written constraint,
it limits how our elected officials could operate our governmental process,
for the ultimate benefit and protection of our Sovereign-citizen-owners. 

Our Constitution’s sole purpose is to provide a written record of the limitations within which our elected leaders could operate… it is their specified set of operational limitations…  and could only be changed by the Sovereign-citizen-owners… through their duly elected representatives.

 

(See Fence Menders)

 

PRACTICAL LEADER—FOLLOWER FORM OF GOVERNMENT

The Founders created the most practical form of Leader—Follower government ever imagined.  This new form of government satisfied several critical functions… that the Sovereign-citizen-owners had ultimate authority and control… that their natural Leader—Follower relationship be mirrored, meaning that Followers would not have to be involved in the major decision-making and could TRUST their Leaders to act in their best interests… or be removed through the election process.  No elected position was beyond the reach of the Sovereign-citizen-owners through this unique, limited, and defined form of self-government.

 

TRUST IS THE KEY TO SUSTAINABLE SUCCESS

The single most important element necessary for this governmental process or ANY human interaction to be successful is TRUST.  Without the ability to TRUST in our interactions, words become worthless… they lose their ability to create a sense of order and calm.  Our ability to communicate through the spoken word has no meaning or value without an associated, and mutually relied upon TRUST.

TRUST is the emotional glue that hold our words, thoughts, and ideas together.

Over humanity’s recorded existence, the pattern of this ability to TRUST has been further defined as CHARACTER… the visible, experiential pattern that becomes a reliable record of actions… and CHARACTER is ultimately encouraged and shepherded through another critical emotional filter… HONOR.

 

HONOR IS OUR CONNECTION TO SPIRIT

Since all of these emotional traits are various energetic representations of our higher self, in order for them to have any substance or value… they must be grounded in energetic truth.  The most grounded truth is rooted in the God energy… identified as our belief in a higher energetic power of order, balance and purpose.

Without this most critical energetic grounding,
we are hopelessly lost in a swirling, ever-changing,
egoically-motivated, intellectual soup of emotions.

Human history aptly demonstrates that this path has had many ups, downs, and detours.  A spiritually dominated path accounts for a minor amount of human progress.  Yet, it has been enough to keep humanity on a path of forward progress… no matter how slow it has been.

Because of their strong abiding faith and conviction, the founder’s were able to contribute to mankind’s forward progress by gleaning these nuggets of truth and value from their existence… one awash with oppression, conflict, and injustices.  These truths and values emerged and were ensconced in the very documents that became the bedrock of our Constitutional Republic.

 

OUR UNION OF STATES IS NOT A DEMOCRACY

To call our Constitutional Republic a Democracy is not only sad… it is offensive to the Founders clear vision and delineation… and shows a decided lack of understanding of our founding principles and uniqueness.  It is also a cruel hoax that misguided Leaders use to distract and disrupt Follower’s perceptions… painting an unrealistic as well as uncomfortable expectation of their requirement to be continuously involved in this decision making process.  The true Leader—Follower paradigm has no such requirements… only the requirement to TRUST their Leaders and provide periodic feedback.

This is yet another example of misguided, damaging, and egoically-dominated leadership… which brings us the last part of the Benjamin Franklin quote…

“Because madam,” replied the Doctor, “there is in all republics a certain ingredient,
of which the people having once tasted, think they never get enough.”

And, what is the “certain ingredient”?

RAW, UNFETTERED EGOICALLY-DOMINATED POWER…
 An intellectually-dominated, self-serving, and destructive power…
Solely rooted in overt control, domination, and fear.

My writings are littered with many quotes from the founders detailing their concerns and warnings about allowing such unscrupulous Leaders to grow their power and control… thus reducing yours.  (See America’s Unwitting Flirtation with Democracy)

Sadly, the chaos and disillusionment of our 2^nd Civil War (1861-1865), created the opportunities and vehicle for a massive power and control shift at the hands of the 2-Party Collaborative Alliance (2-PCA)… which has grown continuously since that time.

 

ROOT OF THE PROBLEM

The root of the problem is a lack of TRUST in ourselves as Spirit-led human beings… and by extension, lack of TRUST and participation in the unique processes created for our continual happiness and advancement.

Over the past 40 years, I have researched and studied our country’s decline from a Constitutional Republic to an Oligarchy… and the common denominator of all of the declines points to a single thing…  Mismanagement and loss-of-control over our coveted voting processes.  The primary safeguard that the Founders built into this new system of government was this direct control over any position that would effect their daily rights.

• • Initially…  and up to 1913… the Sovereign-citizen-owners only had to vote for their federal, Congressional Representative…
  • Then…  because of the 17^th Amendment, (See National Govt),   federal senators were now also selected through citizen votes,  (See US Senators)…
  • Interestingly…  the Constitution NEVER provided any method for a presidential popular vote… it only provides for the Electors’ Vote… which has been grossly altered by the 2-PCA to somewhat pretend  to mirror their current popular vote scheme.  (See Mechanics of Our Republic)

Sadly, the vast majority of citizens today do not know —and more importantly— have demonstrated a carelessness about these simple truths.  This decided lack of citizen interest, as shown through their outright abdication of management responsibilities, is a sad indication of how disillusioned and unbalanced our Sovereign-citizen-owners have become.

 

SLIPPERY SLOPE OF SELF-INDULGENCE

Citizens have lost sight of their power and importance…  they’ve devolved into squabbling, bickering, intolerant groups who have been swayed by the 2-PCA, espousing a host of fear based distractions… many which cater to egoic and self-indulgent desires… primarily focused on material and egoic practices.

There is also a disturbing generational pattern to this… starting with Babyboomer’s and progressing through all of America’s current generations.  This pervasive pattern of distraction and self-indulgence has reached a level that now threatens the very foundation and existence of everything that America once stood for.  (See Generational Perspective)

Under the current leadership, America has been reduced from a multi-dimensional force for human values to a single-dimension, single-minded, business venture… whose only focus and goal is to dominate and control in any arena or situation… and the ONLY measure of importance is monetary.

America today, mirrors the last days of the Roman oligarchy… with its “coliseum attractions”, gaudy trappings, and a wholesale disregard for those values that represent our higher and better selves.  Sadly… not the vision or intent of our founders or their written record.

 

CONSTITUTIONAL ALLEGIANCE, NOT PARTY ALLEGIANCE NEEDED

Sadly, under the tutelage of the 2-Party Collaborative Alliance, the American governmental process has strayed way outside it boundaries and intent.  Today, the 2-PCA has established a convoluted, complex labyrinth of power and funding which is ensconced in the Executive Branch.  These enormous and unconstitutional powers can virtually operate outside of the bounds of the legitimate constitutionally defined Congress.  (See Executive Orders)

Reigning in this out-of-control branch will require the attention and focus of America’s citizen-owners, and by extension, their carefully selected, elected leadership.  It is incumbent on America’s citizen-owners to elect Statesmen —not politicians— to these positions of governmental responsibility… ones willing to act honorably to sort through the layers of bloated bureaucracy and glean out the necessary federal oversight from the State strangling legislation.

Returning constitutional oversight and control to
the States is a critical goal of a federal reorganization. 

Impartial constitutional allegiance and oversight is urgently needed to return our governmental process to a sustainable path.

 

LEADERS MIRROR FOLLOWERS DESIRES

While all who serve in our Federal government take an oath of allegiance to the Constitution… rarely are those at the highest levels held accountable to that oath… which is completely contradictory.

Our expectations from our Leaders mirror our desires.  If Followers desire a peaceful, amicable, productive experience… then Followers need to CHOOSE those qualities in their Leaders.  Followers must examine their true core values and find leadership that reflects these true values.

It appears to me that a majority of Followers are choosing Leaders who espouse control, chaos, fear, and intimidation… which indicates misguided, egoically-intellectual responses… based on their pent-up rage.  Decisions made through egoically, fear-motivated processes are predictably doomed to have negative outcomes… and are ultimately unsustainable.

 

LAST CALL FOR SOVEREIGN CITIZENS OWNERS

Americans are quickly approaching critical decision points that will determine both their American identity and survival, as well as their world standing. (See At the Brink)   Will the current generations of America’s Sovereign-citizen-owners allow this current group of oligarchs to usurp their rights and control over their governmental processes?

I understand that many sovereign-citizen-owners are frustrated and mad about how powerless and oppressed they feel… but that should not be the reason for creating a corresponding chaotic energy that wholesale ignores the rule of law…

• AND —to be clear— I’m NOT advocating for the status quo…
• Which allows this unconstitutional behemoth to remain…
• BUT I firmly believe that we can calmly, peacefully, reassert our control over the process and elected offices…
• AND clearly guide those Statesmen who we entrust with those representative duties…
• AND that they will —in relatively short order— weed out the unconstitutional laws, agencies and personnel, by either returning control to the States or expunging them from our federal code.

 

MOST CRITIAL FOCUS

The most critical focus must be reestablishing an atmosphere of TRUST and COOPERATION… without those as our  means of communication, there can be no forward progress… no return to the dignity, calm, and hope reflected in our founding documents.

This can only be accomplished if we curb our egoic instincts to lash out… to NOT speak until we digest and understand our thoughts… to let the God-energy within us guide our thoughts and actions… to once again allow ourselves to be guided by the fruits of our internal Spiritual guide.

 

FRUITS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

The fruits of the Holy Spirit have been a part of religious tradition throughout our country’s history.  The founders were well aware of their biblical importance, as well as their importance in their daily lives.

The fruits of the Holy Spirit are the character traits that are the Spirit of God that are in us.  They are called fruits mainly because they are a byproduct of our relationship with the Holy Spirit.  The fruits consist of… LOVE,  JOY,  PEACE,  PATIENCE,  KINDNESS,  GOODNESS,  FAITHFULNESS,  GENTLENESS, and SELF-CONTROL.
(See What are the nine fruits of the Spirit?)

 

IMAGINE… REALLY IMAGINE

Take a moment… and imagine… really imagine a return to a world where these 9 character traits guide humanity’s daily thoughts and actions… just imagining that creates a sense of hope in me.  How about you?

If it does… then you have your direction.

I urge you to listen to your “still small voice” and act on this spiritually nurtured guidance… and not fall back on the ingrained, experiential and fear-laced patterning that has inundated our nation since the 1960’s.

Regardless of your energetic inclination of either a Leader or Follower… creating this energetic shift away from fear and back toward faith would dramatically change your viewpoint and direction… both personally, collectively and consequently globally.  (See Faith or Fear)

 

NOW is the time…

To transform your newly identified internal feelings of faith into external actions of responsible citizenship…
That hopefully become the wave of healing energy that sweeps over our beleaguered Union…
And transforms it back to a cohesive and truly united Republic of States…
Grounded in those 9 fruits of the Holy Spirit.