2004 Year in Review

We the People

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Preamble to the Constitution of the United States

These are difficult times for all Americans.

For many of us viewing photos of the Iraqi prison, for instance, is very disturbing and unpleasant. Is torture or abuse of prisoners a legitimate means for gaining information that may save the lives of American soldiers or is it something foreign to our values and contrary to achieving our goals?

In addition, the wars Iraq and Afghanistan have become increasingly troubling. Should we ‘stay the course’ or ‘cut and run’? What are our responsibilities to the world?

The questions are often so difficult and confusing that the temptation is to look the other way – to let our representatives, the President, the Congress decide what to do.

But, in a republic, we are responsible for our government. It is “We the People” who formed the United States over two hundred years ago and we still run it (at least that’s the theory!).

Abraham Lincoln referred to the government in the Gettysburg Address as “government of the people, by the people, for the people.” We are the government. You are the government – its power and legitimacy comes from you and it is for your benefit that it is run.

The purpose of this column, then, is to provide information and analysis about current events. The intention is to promote discussion about the major issues facing the United States and the world. I will attempt to provide facts and ideas on current events from a variety of independent sources, including many voices from the internet.

Then, you make the decision, based on your values and knowledge – you the people.

I think you will find it interesting.

by John Legler, Guest Columnist
May 12, 2004