Rights, Responsibilities, and Wisdom

The First Amendment

 Congress shall make no law respecting or establishing religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof: or abridging the freedom of speech, or the press; or the right of the people to assemble, and to petition the government for redresses of grievances. 

We live in a world today where people doubt science, yet they go to the Doctor when they are sick, and they get into airplanes to fly off to visit family for Thanksgiving without understanding how the pills their doctor gives them helps them get well or how the airplane keeps them in the air.  So long as we are comfortable trusting those wiser than ourselves, the world moves along fairly well.  However, it is when we trust those whom we follow, not because we believe they are wiser or better educated, but because they tell us what we want to hear.  That is what gets us in trouble.

The world is full of charlatans, and if we follow them blindly to get what we want, there is really no excuse for blaming anyone but ourselves.  The Founding Fathers gave us the gift of living in a Nation which requires responsibilities.  

Unfortunately, civics has been removed from many, probably most, school curriculums, and many of us have little awareness of the way our political system works, nor the important personal responsibilities placed on each American.  Past blogs have described the checks and balances intended to keep any one part of government from exceeding its intended power.  

I remember when I first registered to vote.  My party choice was easy:  my great grandfather had fought for the Union, and he would always vote for Lincoln's party.  His son served in the Kansas House of Representatives for 3 terms. My father and my mother were Republican County Representatives.  Of course I registered as a Republican.  I suspect that many people register for the party their family followed, without giving it much thought.  That might have confused the Founding Fathers, who regarded the right to vote as a serious responsibility.

The Founding Fathers also regarded matters of Faith as extremely important, and they gave churches a significant privilege of being excused from taxes on churches and other religious property.  In exchange, churches were not to use their Sacred places for political matters.  Yet, we all know of examples when that is done.    

I was very surprised and confused when the Supreme Court ruled in Citizens United to reverse centuries-old financial campaign restrictions and enabled Corporations and other outside groups to spend unlimited money on politics.  Today, a huge amount of fundraising for advertising political matters comes from "super pacs."  That court ruling has changed elections, and I am still confused with the decision of the Court.  The idea of "one man, one vote" is smothered by Citizens United, in my opinion.  Unless the Supreme Court changes its ruling, that will continue.  

What would go a long way in informing Americans about our constitution and how it works would be to return to classes in Civics, not just one class in student's senior year but rather, age-appropriate classes starting in Junior High School and continuing until High School graduation.  

When I see the nonsense of long lines at voting places because they refused to provide adequate locations, disruptions of depositing ballots in Post Office Boxes, and refusing to allow water to be given to people waiting in lines on very hot days because inadequate voting sites were provided, I cannot but think of the ridiculous obstructions imposed on Black Americans in the South after the Civil War.  

Voting is our right, and when we take the time to vote, knowing that our little vote is tiny in a nation of so many people, and yet we vote, the Founding Fathers would be proud.  Those we see finding ways to   impede votes they assume to be in disagreement with their preference--disgrace themselves.