In 1832, the French political observer published his seminal work, Democracy in America. Alexis de Tocqueville had been amazed at the success of such a young republic while Europe long governed by heavily centralized monarchies was struggling with social issues within the various nations. After an extensive tour throughout the United States, Tocqueville drew these conclusions.
America was an exceptional nation, and her exceptionalism was rooted in the decentralized structure of the American government with local governments having the power to resolve social issues at the local level. The second feature that drew Tocqueville’s attention was the active citizen participation as individuals and in groups, associations, and civil society. According to Tocqueville, while Europeans sat around and waited hopelessly for their governments to come to their rescue, the Americans were actively organizing and resolving their social problems without waiting on government. Whether these groups were faith based organizations, interest groups, or patriotic societies, they rolled up their sleeves and worked to solve the problems.
American exceptionalism mattered then, and it matters now. Our nation has always demonstrated the initiative, the gumption, the ingenuity, and the industrious energy to solve problems. This is America’s strength.
Our nation faces an energy crisis of tremendous magnitude. If we sit around and wait for government to solve this crisis, the crisis will only worsen. Our government has become more and more centralized, highly bureaucratized, and increasingly impersonal and impassive towards resolving our nation’s problems.
The American people can solve the energy crisis. We must demonstrate the will and resolve to use our uniqueness to rise to the occasion. We are a nation of diverse cultures and backgrounds, but that is our strength and not a detriment. We have been blessed with unbelievable resources and skills. It is time we acknowledge these gifts and use them to accomplish what previous generations have done: resolving social, economic, and political problems.
As a people we learned long ago that government is not the solution. Our active citizenry is what makes our nation great.
What are we waiting for?
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What are we waiting for?!?! I absolutely couldn't agree more. It seems that our Government may be a reflection of the society that elected it - complacent, corrupt, and lazy. I do not say this out of a lack of love for my fellow man, but out of a sincere concern in wonderment of what it will take to awake this great nation to the truths upon which it was founded and was propelled to greatness. In little more than two centuries, we have strayed so far from principle, so far from eternal law, and so far from God. Despite what one's religious beliefs may be, it is man's assumption of "the Great Creator's" role as lawgiver that I believe is the sole reason for America's struggles. When Government stands to assert that it has power to give men rights, it inevitably stands to claim the authority that it indeed has the right to take them away. The concept of natural law, of vibrant supernal laws which contribute to the Good of society, seems to have dwindled with the society's blatent ignoring of a higher power or higher law. Only when we return to the roots can we ever hope of curing the rotting fruits of government.
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