Enslaved on Independence Day

Every day we as humans are poised to learn lessons, or at least be reminded of them. This week, those lessons should be even more profound as we celebrate our nation’s independence.

It’s funny but sad how so few Americans truly know what our Founding Fathers faced those centuries ago. As the most powerful army in the world was assembling on the shores of the New World with more soldiers than even our largest cities, these men were assembling in a hall to pen a manifesto of freedom.

At the end of the Declaration, they dedicated their lives, their entire property and their honor to this cause — this commitment to a principle that all persons should live free. Yes, they were willing to give everything for freedom. What sacrifice. What willingness to see a dream so noble come true with so much on the line.

That lesson should be heeded for our nation’s lawmakers today as we move into the final days of this debt-ceiling debate. What are they willing to sacrifice beyond their own proximate goal to get reelected? Sure, they say they are speaking on behalf of their constituents, but are they really?

Isn’t it the case that what Americans want most — more than anything else — is the ability to live as free as they can? To live and work and leave a better life for their children? How can that be when our government is doing all it can to ensure our children are enslaved in oceans of debt?

It’s evident to me that freedom is embodied in every last American and what many communicate to me on my radio show and in the thousands of emails and letters I receive. They don’t want to be led. No, these voters and individuals want leaders in Washington to carry out the will of the people. There’s a big difference there. To be led is to say that we are lemmings — less than fully intelligent and waiting for the sage wisdom of those in Washington to lead us to some promised land of federal largesse. Not so.

What Americans really want is a group of lawmakers with a transcendent principle of freedom constantly acting as the lens through which all policy is viewed. If something enables or inspires individual liberty and freedom (and doesn’t impose some obligation on our fellow man), then they should pursue such policies. That is the will of most Americans, and they want lawmakers to enact that will — not mindlessly lead them where we all don’t want to go.

Let’s think about that as we celebrate our independence this glorious week.

Armstrong Williams is on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.