Volume 11, Issue 20
President Biden, Speaker McCarthy, and their teams seem almost cavalier in their approach to the impending financial crisis. They each frame their points of the debate on the premise that the purpose of America rests and depends upon their ideological political positions. They are either ignorant or in denial about America’s greater cause, that which encompasses all political ideologies.
A recent survey (conducted by America's Values Project), researching the in-depth moral values of Americans in an effort to understand what drives citizens’ reactions to current events, posed this question: are you proud to be an American. Ninety-four percent responded “yes” with differing levels of intensity. This means that Americans see their national identity as something greater than the sum of parts composed of divisive issues.
Americans seek righteousness, justice, equality, opportunity, due process, equal protection, and other such outcomes that are deemed to be elements of fulfillment and happiness. Family values as each sees them and authority over one’s family are the most important attributes sought in their everyday lives. These intangible virtues are part and parcel of the average citizen’s definition of an environment of freedom in which they can prosper in their individual pursuit of happiness. The one measurable, tangible right declared as essential is the right to private ownership of property. These altruistic principles are universal in nature, applicable to all citizens without threat of inclusivity, meaning that when all obtain them, all prosper.
Not included in the definition of national identity is any differentiating specifics of age, income, gender, ethnicity, culture, ideology, sexual orientation, or economic standing. These characteristics make up the lesser sphere of issue debate and conflict that should be reconciled in the greater sphere of Americans’ views of why they are proud to be Americans.
An analogy would be the United States Constitution. Congress passes laws that impact citizens differently. They are not the supreme law of the land. The U.S. Constitution is the supreme law and therefore the greater sphere within which constitutional issues of legislation are debated. No law is greater than the Constitution and must be embraced within the Constitutional jurisprudential framework.
Likewise, no issue in and of itself is existential. The greater sphere of national morality is the compass that keeps the ship of state on true north.
Our political leaders today are asking the wrong question. They should first be seeking an answer to the question of what unites 94% of Americans. Then, any intercourse ventilating the debt ceiling debate should be framed in the parameters of the greater sphere. The impact of the political position taken must be measured and accountable to the definition of our national identity.
The President and the Speaker should approach the debt ceiling and spending debate with a servant’s attitude of appealing to the inner soul of America’s desire to be unified. This unification is not reaching agreement on all divisive issues. But, in reassurance that, in respect for each other’s belief in eternal righteous values, there is commonality in the national fabric. And further, that it’s okay to believe that we are one culture of principled people, not warring disparate tribes of personal identity.
America must call out its leaders to first reestablish the greater universe of national cause from which the platform for critical issues of debates is contextualized. Second, refocus the lens through which national issues are examined. And third, reform the government process to respect the people’s intent to individualize their pursuit of happiness.
What national leaders fail to recognize is that the spirit of 1776 still exists in America today. When the colonies declared independence from the most powerful nation on earth at the time, they did so in belief of a greater cause of freedom set in stone from the beginning of history as an inalienable right granted by God. Yes, there were individual specific issues and grievances with the king. Yet, the decision to risk their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor was based upon the eternal greater spiritual sphere, not a single divisive issue.
In this cause, the patriots were united.
Alexis de Tocqueville, seeking to understand what Americans believed and why they believed it, came to the conclusion in the 1830s that America was unique in the history of nations in that they were the only people to be willing to stake their lives on the premise that there was a greater call, a greater cause, and a greater commitment to the generations than any single issue of temporal circumstances.
That spirit of ’76 still exists in America today.
Americans are desperate for leaders who will ask for shared sacrifice through a spiritual commitment to honor each other’s dreams pursuant to the call to a national purpose.
The people of the United States of America have always responded when led righteously...
They stand ready to respond to such leadership today.
My name is Marc Nuttle and this is what I believe.
What do you believe?