Every week seems to bring another
example of assaults upon core American freedoms. Riots on college campuses
across the country shut down guest speakers, and silence opposing viewpoints.
Christian bakers and florists who believe in a traditional definition of
marriage are forced to service gay weddings, or be faced with fines, prison
time, and the loss of their businesses and livelihood. In the name of safety
and security, the government continually attempts to impose new restrictions on
gun ownership by law-abiding citizens, and obtain personal data on millions of
ordinary Americans.
It is a common refrain that the
Constitution and its core tenets and ideals are under assault—so common that it
may not seem all that serious. But it is happening, and the number of such
assaults has only increased in recent years. Democrats carry much of the blame
for many of these incidents, but it would be a mistake to think of the offenses
as anything other than bipartisan in nature.
Responses to these attacks have too
often been reactionary and disjointed in nature. That must change if
conservatives are going to have any lasting success. It is not enough to simply
win limited victories each time a new case or issue emerges.
What we need is an action plan, an agenda.
A set of definitive legislative priorities that can be used to proactively
combat the rising tide of anti-Constitutionalism in America today. The Bush
administration was known for pursuing a “Freedom Agenda” overseas, promoting
democracy and human rights in places such as Iraq and Afghanistan. This
“domestic Freedom Agenda” would restore and strengthen similar ideals here at
home.
It cannot be enough to merely focus on
the battle of the moment. If conservatives are to win lasting victories, we
must focus on the bigger picture.
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