February, 17th of 2010 dawns a new American revolution. An extravaganza of conservative leaders gathered at Mount Vernon to sign a new political initiative. The Mount Vernon Statement is a mantra of conservatism. A reminder of our nations roots. This is the new calling card of the republican party; a call to arms for conservatives to rise up against over-large and ever growing government that has trample the Constitution’s concept of limited government.
The Mount Vernon Statement looks good on paper but is it real? Will the signers of this new declaration to return the will of the people to the people be beholden to this document as were the Founding Fathers were when they signed The Declaration of Independence? Or will this “Historic Document” merely go down in history as going down in flames?
Will the signers of this document walk the walk? Or is this just lip service to the Tea Party Movement?
The signing of the Declaration of Independence
Exactly what is it that makes The Declaration of Independence so special, so important, of such great consequence? The consequence of course. The document itself - though the rallying cry of the ages and a symbol of our freedoms and liberties - is just ink on paper. Do not misunderstand. I am in no way shape or form trying to diminish the grandeur and importance of The Declaration of Independence. I am simply trying to say that it was the men who wrote it that make it so grand and important.
These men stood up against what they understood to be an oppressive governing body with much more than empty words. They believed their document to be much more than just ink on paper. They stood by their statement and were willing to sacrifice all that they held dear on this earth in hopes of a better tomorrow. If the revolution had failed they would have been tried for treason and executed.
So what penalty will the men and women who have consigned themselves to this new statement suffer if it is just ink on paper? They may be humiliated in the press; They may be called names; Maybe even lose their jobs. Certainly not death or bodily harm
Clearly they have almost nothing to lose. They are humiliated, and called names on a daily basis now. And most are more than affluent in their lives anyway.
The comparison of the latter pales to the former; the stakes aren’t high enough to hold them to their statement.
Tea Party Power
The tea Party movement now in full swing is most certainly having its effect on the political landscape. Their cause is obvious; they want a return to a smaller government, to be held to their own self interests and not big brothers. Yet again - though honorable and patriotic as their intentions may be - they do not fear the consequences of The Founding Fathers.
They all assemble before the various government buildings in Washington armed with admonitory signs and snappy slogans and catchphrases - some angry mob. Afterward they go back to their daily lives hoping they made some lasting impression on the politicians hiding inside. With no worry of retribution they stuff their signs in the closet until the next big rally.
So what is my point in all of this? Do they have the will to see it through? What are they willing to sacrifice for their cause?
A new American Revolution? I think not.
I support the Tea Party movement and I applaud the signers of The Mount Vernon Statement but I myself will be watching these people for sincerity. I also noticed that the Washington politicians haven’t lined up to sign this statement meant to support of the very documents they took an oath to uphold.
It’s a Cracked World!
