What Freedom Means This July 4th

Each year on the Fourth of July, we celebrate the birth of our nation with barbecues and fireworks. We wear red, white and blue, raise our flags in our front yards, and sing “God BlessAmerica.” This year, freedom takes on a particularly special meaning as we have a Presidential election this fall. This election will end up meaning more than likely any other election in our lifetimes, no matter how old you are.

Freedom is an interesting concept that has come to mean different things to different people, depending on their core values. Many of our fellow Americans have lost sight of what it was really about in the first days of our struggling Republic. Freedom didn’t used to mean that we were a country of takers where we were owed something by our government, nor did it mean that we hated those who had more than we do.

Freedom used to mean something different entirely. It was about the opportunity that America offered. Freedom meant you could pursue your dreams by working hard. It meant that if your heart desired to be a business owner, you could be. If you wanted to be a doctor, you could be. If you wanted to own a home, and you worked hard enough to pay for it, you could.

The Federal Government was meant to encompass a relatively low amount of power. Those that designed the separation of powers knew that power needed to rest in the people. A government that is too centralized and too powerful would be the downfall of this country. As John Adams said, "The jaws of power are always open to devour, and her arm is always stretched out..."

Freedom of the people was therefore a key interest to be protected in our Constitution. And, so it was. But freedoms, of course, meant that people had to also face the consequences. Never did the Founders dream that the power preserved to the people after so much war and bloodshed would be so readily given up by those very free citizens whom they fought to protect. Here we are, over two centuries later, with a more intrusive government than ever imagined.

Americans do not only desire help from the government, they demand it. The Obamacare Supreme Court ruling is despised by many, but also rejoiced by many. Those who rejoice take the position that “everyone should have access to health insurance.” This utopian belief sits at the forefront of their minds. They reason that the end justifies the means. Many of them don’t even realize what is being sacrificed. For those who hold freedom dearly, the end never justifies the means.

And so it is with our country now. There are those who see freedom for what it is, and there are those that are so exuberant about all of “free” gifts we are getting from the government that they never see what precious commodity is being taken away.

In the last century, FDR permanently changed the course of history for this country when he implemented big government solutions to the economic crisis we were facing at the time. We became a more dependent nation.

President Obama wants to be the FDR of this century. He wants to fundamentally re-position the government’s relationship with each American. He wants to permanently change the meaning of freedom so that this new “give-me” mentality persists into perpetuity.

May everyone have a happy July 4th. But, more than that, may every available American give all they can – money, time, resources – to get this modern-day FDR out of office before his influence is irreversible.

As Dwight D. Eisenhower said, "Every step we take towards making the State our Caretaker of our lives, by that much we move toward making the State our Master."