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Lessons from a Summer in the Trenches
August 18, 2010
If you’ve been reading my posts at all this summer, you know that I cannot stop looking to the past. As a student of history (though by no means an expert), it has been my privilege to blog to such a sizable, open-minded, and appreciative audience as the one here at American Majority. So as my summer internship here at the national headquarters comes to a close, I ask you to indulge me as I recall a few lessons learned, particularly applicable historical ones.
First, consider the American tradition of localized involvement. As I and other contributors have discussed here before, the American colonists were governing their towns and immediate communities in a free and democratic way long before the notion of independence from Britain had even crossed their minds. (For more information, check out the “Days of Revolution” podcast, researched and co-written by AM President Ned Ryun and yours truly). Town hall meetings and local elections predated the American Revolution by centuries in some places, making community government more than just an American legacy. Rather, it is a tried and true embodiment of the timeless pursuit of liberty, a worthwhile, concerted effort to establish and preserve God-given rights that are inextricably linked to our very humanity. Jonah Goldberg, a very astute (and entertaining) pundit once argued that localized policy making is not only traditional, but that it is crucial to the preservation of liberty. “If you win in a democratic fight,” Goldberg said, “and you infringe on the rights or the prerogatives of somebody else in your community, you’ve got to look them in the eye every day.” Imagine, if you will (and if you will permit me to wax Lennon-esque for a moment), an America in which our elected representatives had to look us in the eye every day. Would politicians truly be able to perpetrate such invasive regulation, irresponsible spending, and unjustifiable intrusion if they had to truly see the effect it has on us, our children, and our grandchildren? Such a system can be established through the vigilance of ordinary citizens and the restoration of locally accountable government.
Second, acknowledge the importance of working within the unchangeable elements of the current system. “Pragmatism” is a word commonly associated with the political Left, but its true meaning is one that is useful for all of us. What is “pragmatic” in politics is that which will ultimately be most useful for achieving victory. There is a strong temptation in the liberty movement today to abandon politically realistic strategy in the name of principle. While this is honorable in the abstract sense, policy is made by politicians who win elections. Unfortunately, a great idea will not win an election without effective marketing, and thus we are constrained, whether we like it or not, to operate within certain limits of our political system. We should by no means abandon principle in the name of achieving victory; indeed, such cutthroat, careless politicking is what created our current condition in the first place. Unaccountable, stagnant, spineless representatives rule our country today because they cared only about winning. However, candidates who scoff at advertising, endorsements, (ethical) connections, or the two-party system in general unnecessarily complicate and almost always shipwreck their campaigns. History shows unequivocally that third parties seldom make a difference, with the exception of splitting what has traditionally been one party’s constituency.
Instead, American Majority’s mission is to make the parties a reflection of the will of the people once again, as has been stated here time and again. Even George Washington, the oft-cited critic of political parties in general, acknowledged that the “spirit of party” was “a fire not to be quenched.” History has certainly proven this to be true. As a result, we can either use the system to our advantage or ignore it at our peril.
Third, we must value most highly a commitment to morality and our Creator. As our Founding Fathers firmly believed, a nation cannot prosper without a reverence for the God who gave us the freedoms and blessings we enjoy. We live in a time when moral degradation and cultural decline go hand in hand, and we cannot bear to ignore an absolute standard of right and wrong. The preservation of our liberty hinges on the involvement of good citizens, and good citizens are produced by good parents. The vast majority of my generation has grown up watching MTV, reality television, gratuitously violent movies, and pornography. We are now preparing to take control of this country. Does that comfort you? Does a generation of leaders flooded with such morally reprehensible content give you hope for the future of the United States? It is imperative to our future prosperity and the preservation of liberty that we reverse the downward spiral by teaching responsibility, moral standards, and integrity to our children NOW.
Finally, I will bookend this summer by restating the thesis of my first post. Liberty, in and of itself, is not our goal. Surely we fight for liberty, but only so that we can DO something with it. In this post, and across the American Majority website, are strategies and tips for restoring liberty, accountability, and integrity to our political system, from the abstract to the nitty-gritty. However, what you will do with that liberty is up to you.
It has been an honor and a privilege to intern here at AM, and I look forward to seeing our (everyone’s) hard work pay off in November and beyond! God bless.
Great job Eric! Thank you for your hard work and the great blogging/podcasting this summer!
-Raz
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Eric,
You have such a flair and talent for writing, keep it up 🙂 I won’t comment on the ideas presented in this medium, but I just wanted you to know that you are indeed talented at presenting and arguing your ideas (even if I don’t necessarily agree).
PS. Who’s the good-looking in the “About the Author” section? 😉 Jokes aside, its a good picture!
See you soon!
Thank you for sharing your knowledge, it has been a wonderful ride reading your words. Please stay true to self and convictions.
Thank you Eric for the great work you’ve done here. I wish the the best in your next endevour, but can’t help but wish you would run for office. We, the American people, need people like yourself to represent us in Washington D.C. as you sir have a clear understanding of the way things should be! Here’s you your campaign should you decide to answer the call!
Eric,
Your posts have been a joy to read. Thank you so much for sharing your enthusiasim and time with us at American Majority this summer. I can’t wait to see what life has in store for you! Your gift for the written word is inspiring to not only me, but many of our AM alums here in Arkansas. Thank you!
Congrats on completing your internship. I am not comforted by the downward spiral in our beloved country, I am however comforted by people like you who are poised to take over. I will be watching for you,and praying for you and others like you. God Bless You and God Bless America!!
Well done!
Thanks for all the inspiring post this summer, it was a pleasure working with you. I hope you have a great semester!
Fantastic Eric! Well said — I can only hope your words inspire and fuel the passions of others, as they have me, to take up the charge and the challenge.
I’m sorry this was the first time I read your articles, seems I missed out. Our country needs to get back to the basics. Most young people hardly know who their state represenatives, and senators are. Very few know their local offices, or what duties they perform. Refreshing to see a young person so interested in the way our system works. I haven’t always voted for the right person, but at least I voted.
Great job Eric. I love the content and very happy to read a properly written piece. It’s not often that I see proper grammar esp. concerning the words ‘first, second, third.’ Too often, writers add the unnecessary ‘ly’ ending to these three words, and it always makes me whince. Good luck in your future.
It is gratifying to know that this great country is still filled with “great Americans” and that the real majority are reasoning intelligent thoughtful individuals whom come together here to share positive thoughts for the future of our country. I am Veteran of the Vietnam Era and Desert Shield/Storm and proud to have served my fellow patriots in spite of those whom rebuke and revile us in their ignorance and or hatred of this nation “under God, Indivisible with liberty an justice for all”. God Bless America!
to find a literate and conservative young person lifts my heart and give me hope for our future…Eric, I know that you’ll make a difference in the lives of others as you go along your path as a citizen…Yeah, Eric!
I appreciate the historical stance that you have taken in your article. The government that we have now does not give a damn about anybody but the green that is lining their pockets. and we are the ones putting it there with our taxes. Then they redistribute it out in miniscule trinklets that they deem for our benefit as Americans. As far as that goes, I’d rather give them general directions where the bear crapped in the bush and let them find it. because that is exactly what they are doing with us. All this makes me so mad that I am about ready to be an anarchist. the government that we have have now is self-serving and i think it’s about time we take it back.
I wish you well in your endevours.
Terrific work! This is the type of information that should be shared around the web. Shame on the search engines for not positioning this post higher!