How America changed the world.
Nutshelln-it
America changed the world by creating a society where people were able to keep the fruits of their labor.
And since their money could not be stolen or legislated away.......
if someone wanted it...
they had to create a product or provide a service to get it.
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The following is a slightly longer version of How I believe America changed the world.
When discussing our Constitution credit should be given to The Charter of Liberties 1100 AD and The Magna Carta 1215 AD, two of the first documents that defined some restrictions on those in power.
Prior to that, progress was very slow. Historians today measure that progress in Ages. Stone Age, Copper Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age. Ages lasting thousands of years. The population of the world was relatively static.
People relied on what nature provided in order to survive.
Through the ages, there are numerous examples of different Governments or civilizations that would come and go. Tribal leaders, Nobles, Kings, Barons, Emperors.....depending on the location and the era, leadership was decided by birth or by force. Progress was slow even though people have always been creative....when there was progress it often times was taken and used by those in power to maintain and get more power.
The vast majority of the people had no way of engaging in commerce other than local bargaining and had very little hope for their future prosperity. When leaders in Europe reluctantly gave up some power(very little) with the Charter of Liberties and Magna Carta in the 12th and 13th Century, the rate of progress increased but it was still at a snails pace.
Then, The New World....Our Declaration of Independence....
Our Constitution and the first 10 amendments.
The goal of the founders....to clearly define and limit the power of those in power and prevent the union from trampling on the God given rights of individual people …..all people.
September 25, 1789, ten of the original twelve amendments to the Constitution were ratified. In the Preamble to the resolution offering the proposed amendments, Congress said,
“The conventions of a number of the States, having at the time of their adopting the Constitution expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added and as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government will best ensure the beneficent ends of its institution, be it resolved.”
“extending the ground of public confidence in the Government”.
They didn't just extend the ground of public confidence in the Government...they GAVE the public confidence.
When they created a government that was restricted by a constitution and laws that restricted the Government, they not only established a foundation for our government...they established a foundation for everyone.
Our constitution clearly defined what it would do. It would protect people from foreign invasions and more importantly from encroachments by their own government. That had never happened before in the entire history of the world.
Those two protections from foreign invasion and domestic encroachments are both equal in their importance. Freedom from despotic government or rule both foreign and domestic are the key that released the creativity that changed the world.
“A state which dwarfs its men in order that they may be more docile instruments in its hands...will find that with small men no great things can really be accomplished.” John Stewart Mill 1859
No longer could some King, Feudal Lord, or any person of power impose their will upon the people.
Confident...in their ability to provide for themselves and their families.
Confident... that their home was their castle and safe for them and their families forever.
Confident that they could engage in commerce and contracts would be enforced on a level playing field and no one, not a King, Feudal Lord, Nobleman, no rich powerful person by any name or title could steal the fruits of their labor, their home or their ability to provide for themselves and their families...Finally people began to believe that they could have a better life.
Confident that their money could no longer be stolen or legislated away …..they became confident consumers and creators.
Yes....creators! Creators of wealth because wealth is not something people dig up from ground like gold or silver or some castle above the ground servants are forced to build.
Wealth is something that is created by people..freely pursuing their dreams.
Confident now knowing that if they are fair, honest, and work hard, they will be rewarded and they can make a better life for themselves and their families.
“In spite of their natural selfishness and rapacity , though they mean only their own conveniency, though the sole end which they propose from the labors of all the thousands they employ be the gratification of their own vain and insatiable desires... they are led by an invisible hand...without intending it, without knowing it, to advance the interest of the society.”
Adam Smith, Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the wealth of Nations
With all the things in place...
the right amount of freedom...
the right amount of control.
They had the incentives and the ability to better themselves.
The lure...lots of other people had money....and...…. since no one could legislate it away and it could not be stolen... people began to dream... invent... and create from back rooms, sheds, and barns in a way that the world had never seen before and in most cases their confidence and secure foundations was their only capital.
The percentage of the total population that engaged in commerce creating things and providing services exploded. People had the opportunity to better themselves and did move into and out of The Middle Class.
“To make a government requires no great prudence. Settle the seat of power; teach obedience; and the work is done. To give freedom is still more easy. It is not necessary to guide; it only requires to let go the rein. But to form a free government; that is , to temper these opposite elements of liberty and restraint in one consistent work, requires much thought, deep reflection, a sagacious, powerful and combining mind.”
Edmond Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France 1790
Our constitution did not take away peoples ability to become rich. On the contrary, our Constitution gave greater opportunity for everyone to become rich. The way our Constitution did this, was by taking away the power of the rich and powerful (Kings, Emperors, Rulers, Leaders) to impose their will on others and the marketplace.
Being rich and a desire to accumulate wealth and riches is not, in itself, bad. In fact, having the ability to get rich is a good and positive motivator or goal. It is when you put power with it that it becomes dangerous, self serving, and destructive. It corrupts the free market system, it robs from individuals and destroys competition. People are born with a desire to better themselves. The liberty ( freedom from despotic government or rule both foreign and domestic) that our constitution guarantees, nurtures and channeled that desire in the right way, with the proper amount of freedom to encourage creativity and the right amount of control to restrain the abuse of power...that is what caused America to prosper.
Not only did America prosper but other countries around the world that adapted similar systems advanced. Each generation saw advances in the medicine, transportation, communications, and manufacturing. Everywhere and in all things peoples lives were enriched.
America became a superpower. Yes, a superpower whose military along with our free allies has fought for the freedom of more people in the last 200yrs. than any other time in the history of the world. And our military is fighting a war now. Yes, it is a war. A war against terrorists. The enemy is real. And there is a stark difference between the American soldier and the enemy they are fighting. The difference is that the enemy they are fighting is so filled with hate, that they are willing to give their lives to kill people while the American soldier is willing to give their lives to save people. Thank you American soldier.
Back to the subject....While America has become a superpower and our military might has had an impact, it has been our American economy and our culture that has had the greatest impact on the rest of the world. Yes, our economy and our culture.
Our Christian values, individual liberty, property ownership, and our individual economic liberty, served as an example for the rest of the world and those countries that were able to adapt similar governments or constitutions have along with Americans fed the world.
“I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations.”
President James Madison
For decades now our constitution has been ignored and compromised by those elected to serve. Elected officials of both parties on the one hand acting like Nobles doing the bidding of our modern day rich and powerful on the other hand giving away the farm to buy votes and get reelected.
Businesses make decisions based on the tax laws and regulations instead of being motivated solely by consumers (people that have not had all their money stolen or legislated away) to provide better products or services, for less money due to a competitive market. It is like we live in a quasi Feudal/Socialist system that has destroyed the vast majority of the peoples confidences and ability to provide for themselves.
We learned from Europe and the progress that it achieved after the Charter of Liberties and the Magna Carta. We took a giant leap forward with our constitution. Now we need to look at Europe and learn from their mistakes and restore Americas confidence. Restore the foundation that the American dream was built upon.
The founders gave us the opportunity to do that, peacefully, at the ballot box. The changes that our government needs to make are not extreme but I believe they will restore our individual liberty and the economic foundation for the foreseeable future.
Thomas 10/2/2006
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