I've been fairly quiet on this whole Pandemic thing (I call it the Bio-Panic of 2020,) but it has changed American History, and it may be a century long change. Â "Mass Psychology" wise, I'm seeing even more troubling behavior on The People's part, but absolutely not most or all, but those folks don't make the news or noise enough for a negative Press to cover, so We don't hear from them on mainstream media.
As sad and sickening as the truth is, many Americans alive today would gladly and legally vote away all their own freedoms; Freedoms codified in a Declaration of Independence and an amendable U.S. Constitution, on top of every individual, sovereign State, with Its Residents, complete with their own State Constitution: Â Federalism. Â It's a beautiful system, and the Framer's generations got it so right, but they didn't know that. Â Many of them doubt such an audacious plan would ever work: Â a place where you have more individual liberty than anyone in world history ever realized, Naturally speaking. Â Many think it could be nothing more than a temporary flight of fancy, a fantastical experiment in freedom. Â But they hoped for the best, for their children and their families of the future and all the friends of the friends, any who thirsted for freedom and a fresh start. Â A chance to stand or fall, on your own, without excuse, with the life God gave you to live, unencumbered by the Greedy Hand of governmental intrusion. Â
We are now 244 years old, from the formal release of the Declaration of Independence, in 1776 A.D. Â To the good, and bad, I am sure they would be amazed at what their Posterity (Us and every American Citizen that comes after Us,) have done.
Like I said, there's more to write, but I think the #Coronavirus has been the final nail in the choice We have, the "fork in the road:" either restore what America was founded to be, keeping everything that has worked, and repealing what has not, or give up, say "the Experiment" in liberty is over, and repeal the federal Constitution and let each State go its own way. Â It's me being a Kentuckian that makes me an American, not the other way around. Â The States and their Residents are the Owners of America, literally, "We the People." Â We forget that at Our peril, and I believe that is exactly where We are now, paying the sins of Apathy from the last 100 years. Â Nothing's free, and that includes all Nations, great and small, to include Its individual Members, like you and I. Â
We've been spoiled for a while now, Folks. Â I know it. Â You know it. Â We live in relative Luxury, and We complain when our food doesn't go from frozen to ready to eat in four minutes. Â We're that impatient while we use indoor plumbing and electricity in oblivion of the miracles around Us. Â
Our "homeless" have cell phones, food, and in some States, even get a paycheck...for being homeless. Â "Poor" is a relative term, but in comparison to most of the 7 plus billion humans in the world and what THEY understand and see in their lives that defines the meaning of "poor" should make every America sober to just how blessed and rich We are. Â Even in a strictly secular sense, mathematical odds, humans born in the United States enjoy Freedoms and economic opportunities that few of their world contemporaries will ever experience. Â
I had the good fortune to leave the U.S. at age 18 and live in another culture until I turned 20. Â West Germany was part of the "free West," which includes Britain and America, but it was not what you and I so easily take for granted in being raised here. Â Germany was a place where the Polezi (Police) could beat people legally. Â They didn't play, and I was told by my fellow Scouts to never say, "I got rights!" or the beating would only intensify. Â The world is not America, my Friends, and Americans are very bad about not travelling outside Our borders. Â Whatever, but I recommend it whole heatedly. Â It gives perspective to how good We have it here. Â No joke, the first time I came back, I seriously wanted to kiss the ground (I don't think I did, but I actually wanted to.) Â Not having it made me understand far better what it was to live without it, and what a Treasure that it is. Â
We've come to "the fork in the road." Â Liberty, or Tyranny? Â
If that makes you uncomfortable, then good. Â Nothing happens in life until we get out of our comfort zone. Â Emotion moves, Logic far rarer.