To the editor:

“We the people of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, 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.”

This is the introduction to our Constitution which details in the seven Articles of the Constitution that describe the “limitations” of powers of the Federal Government. The rights to “life liberty and right to property” of the individual citizen was paramount to the Founders.

“The Conventions of a number of the States, having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government, will best ensure the beneficent ends of its institution.”

The first Congress of the United States on Sept. 25, 1789, transmitted to the state legislatures twelve proposed amendments, two of which, having to do with Congressional representation and Congressional pay, were not adopted. The remaining ten amendments became the Bill of Rights which were ratified effective Dec. 15, 1791.

The Constitution limits the powers of government and protects the natural rights of life, liberty and right of property of each individual living under its jurisdiction. The freedom of the individual citizen provided the ability to advance and prosper more in the last two plus centuries than the previous 5,000 years. So, how have we been doing lately? Are we advancing? Are we prosperous? Perhaps we need to ask ourselves a few questions.

Here are a few for starters.

Have we the people held in reverence this precious document and exercised the powers granted to us? Do we the people understand the responsibilities we bear as citizens? Are you a participant or just onlooker? Have you read the Constitution lately?

Let us not forget what Benjamin Franklin said when asked what have you given us? He answered: “a republic, if you can keep it”.

How are we doing with the “keeping it” part?

Roger Baumann

Wabasso