Yes, that is correct, experiments. There have been two great experiments of government in this country. One was a success, the other was a failure.
Republicanism vs. Progressivism – or the rights of the individual vs. the rights of the group.
The first experiment began in 1791 when the Constitution was ratified. A constitutional republic was then created and ran pretty well until the Civil War. There were quite a few bumps in the road but this experiment continued until the 20th century.
After the Civil War concluded young men were going to Europe again for their higher education. A philosophy of progressivism prevailed in Europe at this time. It was particularly strong in Germany, where many of these young men went to learn.
Not surprisingly, they came back with progressive ideas about our political system as well as in other areas. Progressivism seemed like a great idea for the times.
Because of its near socialist policies, it could theoretically combat the rapid growth of corporations at that time, the pollution problem that came with growth and fears of corruption of politicians.
But transitioning from a republic to a democracy would not be easy. It took a few years. There was even a university founded that was progressive…John Hopkins University, of which Woodrow Wilson was a student.
This young man, in 1887, wrote an article espousing the benefits of progressivism and how it was superior to republicanism. In it he claimed that socialism, a basic tenet of progressivism at that time, was little or no different than democracy.
Progressives lived mainly in cities, were educated and believed that government could be a tool for change….it turns out they were right.
Teddy Roosevelt was the first notable President to promote the progressive agenda, openly. He claimed that wise progressivism and wise conservativism could go hand in hand.
After his terms were over another progressive stepped in. Woodrow Wilson, yep the one who wrote that 1887 article, became President and had his effect with his 14 points of light and attacks on the virtues listed in in Declaration of Independence.
The nation’s belief that government was for the protection of these individual rights had to die before progressivism really could take hold and uplift the nation and the world.
Both Teddy and Woodrow laid the foundation for Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and with the help of the Great Depression progressivism was off and running.
A lot of FDR’s reconstruction policies were based upon government control for the social good. Burning orange trees because they were deemed to be over-production is one example. The case of a farmer who was fined for growing too much wheat is another.
At one point during the FDR years, his economist Mr. Tugwell is reported to have said that government control of business was needed to control the output in order to avoid over producing and thereby smoothing out the economic ups and downs of the cycle.
Today we still operate under this model, with all of the independent, progressive and oppressive agencies that were either created by FDR or were created due to his and other progressive’s actions.
We have very large corporations and we have a large number of corrupt politicians in office. And we have recently emerged for a decade long recession. All of which were supposed to be taken care of by Progressivism.
The conclusion from these two experiments is that the first, while not perfect, is better than the second experiment. It’s time to end the second and return this country to the first model.
There is but one way to get back to that first model that won’t take a generation or two. And that is by using one of the real powers left to us. We the people can urge our states to call for an Article V amending convention to propose amendments to limit progressive ideals and restore us to the intent of the original Constitution.
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