“The Constitution begins with ‘We, the people.'” ~ Gloria Steinem

“As citizens of this democracy, you are the rulers and the ruled, the law-givers and the law-abiding, the beginning and the end.” ~ Adlai E. Stevenson

“The principle of self-government cannot be violated with impunity. The individual’s right to it is sacred – regardless of class, caste, race, color, sex or any other accident or incident of birth.” ~ Susan B. Anthony

“The strength of the Constitution lies entirely in the determination of each citizen to defend it. Only if every single citizen feels duty bound to do his share in this defense are the constitutional rights secure. ~ Albert Einstein, German-born American scientist and philosopher”

The very weaknesses of human nature are what make it so important that we keep a constantly watchful eye on our government, and that in turn our government watches us with equal care.” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

“Citizenship is what makes a republic; monarchies can get along without it. ~ Mark Twain

“I’ve been hearing from women all over the country and even around the world. This is devastating. And, you know, they ask me, what we can do, and I’ve got two words, please vote.” ~ Mika Brzezinski 

“The government is us; we are the government, you and I.” ~ Theodore Roosevelt

“The genius of our Constitution is that over now more than 200 sometimes turbulent years that ‘we’ has expanded and expanded.” ~ Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.” ~ Benjamin Franklin

“The single most powerful word in our democracy is the word ‘We.’ ‘We The People.” ‘We Shall Overcome.’ ‘Yes We Can.’ That word is owned by no one. It belongs to everyone.” ~ Michelle Obama

“Has it not . . . invariably been found that momentary passions, and immediate interests, have a more active and imperious control over human conduct than general or remote considerations of policy, utility and justice?”~ Alexander Hamilton

On the Fourth of July every year, We the People celebrate the Declaration of Independence and the birth of our nation, the United States of America. That monumental moment in history led to placing We the People in charge of our own self-governing. No king, no tyrant and yes, no president, would ever rule us. That concept was codified in the Constitution of the United States of America.

Then…

“The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, When in the Course of human events…,” are the opening words of our Declaration of Independence, the document that established the freedoms we have enjoyed for 249 years. The second paragraph, however, opens with the word, “We.”: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

The Declaration of Independence led to the Constitution of the United States, which we note in the preamble begins with those three sacred words: “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

And while the Constitution does not specifically contain the word “democracy,” the structure of our government is a constitutional republic in which the People choose their representatives, and throughout the Constitution, amendments make it clear that the People are entitled and expected to choose those who will lead our country. The process of voting was set up in order to facilitate that right to choose our representatives. And because voting occurs repeatedly, the nation’s leadership changes as the composition of the citizenry changes from year to year, decade to decade, generation to generation, century to century. That is, in fact, a democratic approach; hence, the outgrowth of a constitutional republic is democracy.

It is also implied and, thus, expected that the citizenry — the People — make responsible choices.  Thomas Jefferson believed they would; Alexander Hamilton did not. Hamilton expressed his distrust of the average person as evidenced by the final quote at the beginning of this post. Looking back over centuries of elections could prove that both men were correct, depending on one’s perspective and which moment of history we’re examining.

On the one hand, our nation is still standing after nearly two-and-a-half centuries. On the other hand, it’s been a rocky road, although with many successes. Is that because the People were doing their due-diligence in their responsibility to self-govern, or has it all just been luck that now might be running out?

Looking back, our country has had some great presidents, as well as some horrors. We’ve had productive Congresses, and some awful, stagnant ones. We’ve had outstanding decisions from the Supreme Court and some disastrous ones. There will be some disagreement on which was which!

…and Now

I wonder, though, what Franklin, Hamilton and Jefferson would think of the 2024 election, as well as other  recent ones. I wouldn’t imagine Ben Franklin would think much of an electorate who chose lowering the price of eggs over keeping the republic. And, of course, Hamilton’s overall concern with the People’s ability to govern themselves was their “momentary passions” and “immediate interests,” so he’d probably say, “told you so.”

Those are legitimate views, based on what we’ve witnessed happening the past five months or so – such things as we could never have imagined. And that has resulted in a dark cloud of increasing shock, disbelief, anger, hopelessness and despair floating across our land.

But there might be a glimmer of light breaking through if we are to put any stock in the wisdom of Thomas Jefferson. Perhaps we, collectively, will be inspired by his words: “I am persuaded myself that the good sense of the people will always be found to be the best army. . . . They may be led astray for a moment, but will soon correct themselves.”

Hence, the eternal — and usually feisty, but somewhat dimmed lately — optimist in me still agrees with Jefferson. This is a big country with a lot of differing opinions and fighting spirit. We have seen the resistance of the People to the current policies, actions and decisions stemming from all three Branches of government. And although our government, our way of life, and our country are currently in a  very precarious moment in which our Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution are being challenged by powerful forces, they are being met by an equally powerful force: We the People — through our votes, our voices and our collective will.

So, Happy Fourth, everyone.  And if we stand strong together and channel the indomitable spirit of our founders and all the American heroes throughout history that have kept our nation growing and thriving and free despite the challenges they have faced, then monarchs and tyrants will continue to be banished, and We the People will continue to enjoy our independence far into a brighter future!

Until next time,

Jeanne