CITIZENS
“So what do you think of the Tea Party?” people are asking me. Is it good for America? For the Republicans? What is the real agenda? Who are they? Why are they doing all this? Where will it lead? Good questions all, but if you want the real answer, I guess there’s one word that sums up the whole thing: “citizen.”
Citizenship. This is a word we don't hear much today, or if we do a citizen is defined as "a consumer of benefits." Schools rarely teach citizenship. Citizenship in America is defined as a gold card for welfare state goodies and a ticket to a cornucopia of court-enforced legal rights. The status of "American citizen" is usually reckoned in terms of entitlements.
Citizenship: Duties As Well As Goodies?
But there's a far more somber side to citizenship. To be a citizen not only means qualifying for benefits, but an exacting if little used word called "duty." A true citizen assumes not only rights, but responsibilities. Of course since Vietnam protest days, we've abandoned the idea that your country should require you to earn benefits with your blood, if necessary. Nowadays, the duty and privilege of placing one's body between danger and homeland is considered a strictly voluntary matter.
Still the fundamental responsibility remains. A citizen--not a "resident," a "consumer," or a "voter," but a citizen--assumes the duty to take responsibility for the community. That duty includes making decisions and judgment. The citizen doesn’t leave government to the other guy. He or she jumps in and gets involved. Self government isn’t a spectator sport for a citizen; it’s a basic part of life. A citizen informs himself on issues, and takes appropriate action.
Citizens, Not Subjects.
In Europe they don’t have citizens, so much as subjects. Sure, everyone has legal rights, but in Europe government is still a matter of the King. The state is run by elites, and the people will riot for more bread and circuses. But will Euro-subjects decide that the state can’t afford to give them more stuff, and organize to stop the spending? Maybe so, but I haven’t seen it.
Here in America, we got rid of the King early. We had a bunch of folks pick up rifles and meet on Concord Green. Thus was born the American citizen. Americans are a contentious lot, you can convince the American of a lot of things, but he won’t be driven—not for long. Our history is full of events where the American citizen stood up and said “enough.” And if not listened to, he said “hell, no!” Look at Andy Jackson, Abe Lincoln, Ronald Reagan.
When the Elite Met the Citizens.
Currently we have folks in America who seems themselves as a European-style elite. They’re a faux meritocracy, credentialed but not educated, and they see themselves as the Smart and Good People, destined to rule the rest of us dummies. Obama is their President. After the 2008 election, they had America saddled and bridled, and they proceeded to ride. And to their horror, the nation is bucking them off.
Why? Because a bunch of Americans stepped forward to claim their citizenship, that’s why. They raised their voices and petitioned their government, which met them with aristocratic contempt and disdain. So they went back, organized for elections, and helped sweep the would-be ruling class from its throne. Now they’re sticking around to be sure the new guys keep their promises. They’re not going away, because citizens don’t go away.
But Good Citizens, Be Warned....
A true citizen doesn’t wait for someone else to do it. The citizen doesn’t expect his neighbors, or the media, or some big wheel to correct a bad situation. An American citizen knows he’s as good as the next guy, and that the government big shot works for him. Most of all, the citizen stays involved in his own government. So that’s the Tea Party.
But Tea Party people, be warned: the more a citizen decides to get involved in self-government issues, the more he flirts with danger. Should you make the choice to run for office, you run a great and serious risk of actually getting elected. Then you will fall from the highest possible status, an American Citizen—to the lowest. You will now be a “politician.”
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