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The humanity of American exceptionalism

American exceptionalism is based on freedom and the importance of the individual before the state. It resulted in unimaginable wealth creation and proved impregnable against the pernicious spread of Socialism, Marxism, Fascism, and Communism.

Understanding the nature of man, Americans formed a republican form of government to protect the rights of the individual and minorities against factions and especially as Madison wrote the “factions of the majority”. The purpose of the government was to protect the rights of individuals.

What brought an end to American exceptionalism? As predicted by our founders, political interest in the pursuit of gaining and retaining power began to see society as factions and groups to be exploited for their votes. They no longer saw individuals yearning to be free; they saw race, gender, age, and economic outcomes as groups to be exploited. New elements of the “general welfare” and “pubic good” were invented to satisfy the appetite for more power.

Successive American governments increasingly override the rights and interest of the individual in favor of society as a group. As power concentrates, Washington becomes the broker of economic activity replacing the individual with the interest of factions. Finally, American exceptionalism the engine of unimaginable wealth creation is gone. Youth for the first time can not dream realistically of a better life than their parents.

The resulting unintended results will cost humanity dearly. Today’s poor will be poorer tomorrow. Today’s groups will be more factional tomorrow. Today’s crises will be more acute tomorrow. Individuals react to a crisis with personal responsibility. Governments react to a crisis with tyranny. Why? It is the natural state of man in crisis to trade rights for security, never realizing that they will end up with neither.

Why should every American resist tyranny and promote liberty? It is humanitarian. As American exceptionalism demonstrated it frees the soul to love God. It frees the heart and mind to pursue happiness. The poor are not made richer by destroying the rich. A government that protects individual rights enables individuals via their self-interest to seek a better life. A government seeking “general welfare” weakens the individual and ultimately destroys rights of its citizens in the name of the “public good.” Governments serving the “public good” always rationalize the lives of millions in its pursuit of good. There have been no exceptions in history.

At the heart of humanitarianism is “limited government.”

Wexford Bob March 2009

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