In 1787, Thomas Jefferson took the texts of Algernon Sidney's "Discourses On Government" and John Locke's "Two Treatises Of Government" and began working on a National Constitution for what is now known as The United States Of America. Very little is known and taught about the importance of these two political works and just what kind of government The United States has compared to other nations. The first thing we need to understand about this government is that we are not a "democracy," it is a republic with a form of government that began as a political experiment. Prior to the writing of a national constitution our form of government had never been seen and no other nation has yet to form their governments based on the political philosophies espoused by the texts which gave our nation it's foundation. If you examine other nations around the world who claim to be democracies, most follow the British Parliamentary system of governance. Those who live with this form of government, too often, impose their views and thoughts on our system of government as though our national government is one and the same thing. Our form of government was based on "breaking the power" of the British Monarchy and empowering "ordinary citizens" the rights to choose their own laws, choose their own elected officials, and agree to live by their own "written" national covenant.
When this form of government and the political philosophy behind it was proposed, it was designed to remove a "hereditary monarchy." At the time, The monarchy of England believed that they were above the law since they made the laws of the land. In fact, The British monarchy believed that they, and only their family, stood between God and their subjects. There was no representative government. There was a kingdom with a king, a parliament designed to enact the royal courts wishes and then the people who had no voice and were to be loyal subjects to the crown. The question raised to this position had to do with "Why was the crown subject to hereditary succession." Leaders during this time also asked what qualify's a king or queen to rule if they have no apptitude for the job. Algernon Sydney was an English politician and member of the British parliament. He directly opposed the divine right of kings political theory by suggesting ideas such as limited government, voluntary consent of the people and the right of citizens to alter or abolish a corrupt government. His views were considered treasonous and resulted in his beheading. His "Discourses on Government" have been referred to as the textbook on the American Revolution. For Sidney absolute monarchy was a great political evil because no one had any rights. The divine right of kings is a political system in which all powers of government are vested solely in the king and granted to him by God. Under this system, the king acts as God's hand on earth. His power extends beyond government into the private religious life of his subjects. Under this system, citizens were often persecuted and imprisoned for their religious beliefs. Sidney believed that the individuals have the right to choose their own form of government and that, if that government became corrupt, the people retained the power to abolish it and form another. In his own words, "God leaves to man the choice of forms in government ... He who institutes, may also abrogate." Sidney also argued that for a valid civil government to exist, it must be formed by general and voluntary consent. Furthermore, Sidney believed that civil government should have limited jurisdiction. He said the, "only ends for which governments are constituted and obedience rendered to them, are the obtaining of justice and protection." This suggests a limited civil government whose primary purpose is to: (1) render legal justice through its court system and (2) provide for the safety of its citizens. We can also conclude from Sidney that, if a government fails to accomplish these basic components, obedience to that government is no longer required... which brings us to the political philosophy of John Locke.
In his "Two Treatises of Government," John Locke defended the claim that men are by nature free and equal against claims that God had made all people naturally subject to a monarch. He argued that people have rights, such as the right to life, liberty, and property, that have a foundation independent of the laws of any particular society. Locke used the claim that men are naturally free and equal as part of the justification for understanding legitimate political government as the result of a social contract where people in the state of nature conditionally transfer some of their rights to the government in order to better ensure the stable, comfortable enjoyment of their lives, liberty, and property. Since governments exist by the consent of the people in order to protect the rights of the people and promote the public good, governments that fail to do so can be resisted and replaced with new governments. One of the most important insights to Locke's views has to do with his definition of political power. John Locke defined political power as “a Right of making Laws with Penalties of Death, and consequently all less Penalties.” Like Sidney, he viewed that the "citizens" of a nation had the right to choose their own representatives, choose their own laws, and agree to abide by them so long as it did not take away their rights as citizens and place it back into the hands of the elite. Sidney's Discourses Concerning Government along with Locke's Two Treatises on Government are recognized as critical works in the founding of the United States of America.
The reason Thomas Jefferson choose these two works had to do with an important aspect of ensuring that a monarchy would not become the basis of our American government. It is often stated that some in the early formation of government were looking to make George Washington the first king over our country. However, Jefferson as well as the continental congress risked their lives, fortunes and future to break the power of the monarchy and they were not interested in reinstating a form of government that put the power of the nation into the hands of a few. In reading Sidney's work, he believed that it was the role of government to educate its people to have character, integrity, and honesty. As a result, the people would choose leaders who demonstrated these characteristics, serve their constituency and write honorable and just laws. But the question emerged, what happens if the government ceases to fulfill its role in educating the people? Wouldn't the nation come under the same "tyranny" as it had been under with the monarchy if corrupt people were to get into power? Thomas Jefferson then brought in Locke's understanding that "if the people want to change the government, it was their right" as long as they bear the right of arms - which is why we have a second amendment entitled "the right to bear arms." Most people living in the British Commonwealth today still don't get this. Why? Because they haven't read the discussions written in their own history that led to our American Revolution. We are a nation that has reserved the right to challenge what is now called "the deep state." We are a nation that believes in making the government accountable to the people - not the other way around. This is why we are at the most critical juncture in our national history since the civil war. We are faced with a ruling class, political elites, and bureaucrats hell bent on retaining "power" and being above the law in the same ways the monarchy did during the American Revolutionary war. Our understanding of our history, form of government, liberty, and justice all rests on our choice to not abdicate our individual and collective power and responsibility to protect and defend our way of life. Globalists hate our form of government because it is disruptive to their power. That's why we all have the duty and responsibility to "take down" the deep state. Sound revolutionary? It's called the American Revolution! I guess we could say, the English were the first to call us the "deplorables."
From a prophetic view, The presidency of Barack Obama, uncovered our national sin in not extending "equal treatment" of our citizens under the law. It is my belief, that with the emergence of President Donald Trump, God is exposing the principalities and powers that have embedded themselves to make our citizens the royal subjects of a ruling class. God is exposing this "truth." This is why I believe that God is calling his people to "pray, listen, discern, and engage" themselves in calling our nation to the original values. Unfortunately, this has been referred to by many as "Let's make America Great Again." Problem with this thought is "when has America ever lived up to making America great for all of it's citizens?" It has always been the ongoing work "to form a more perfect union." Debate and compromise, controversy and tedious detail, foreign affairs and domestic problems, are all included in the 267 documents of the Continental Congress and Constitutional Convention Broadside Collections. Including public announcements of congressional actions, drafts of legislation, committee reports, and final versions of legislation or treaties, these broadsides illustrate the evolution of a government, from a legislative body called together in the crisis of war, to an intricate system of checks and balances. These documents show the journey of the American nation. Let me be clear, our national sovereignty, despite our national sins, was birthed to create dialogue, conversation, debate, and ensure liberty and justice for all our citizens. Although the experiment has been messy and the debate between "Individual rights and community responsibility" inflamed - we are a democratic republic. No one elite class has the right to usurp our form of government. The most significant work ahead for us as a nation is to "take back" our government from the "unelected bureaucrats" living in the seven wealthiest counties in and around Washington, DC and help them all find new jobs in the private sector. We can vote our elected officials into office and play musical chairs with them but this will not change the "power and control" of Washington, DC. The most difficult thing that has to happen is to "undue public sector unionism." Enough said. Donald Trump and every president after him should have the right to represent us in saying "Your Fired! Now go get a real job." The American people did not hire "The Deep State" nor did we collectively agree to put in a permanent "unionized" bureaucracy to rule over us. It may be a funny notion to a few but "we are the people" and we are in charge. I think we need to suggest "term limits" for bureaucrats!
Finally, let me conclude with something, Hugh O'Doherty, Harvard University adjunct lecturer in Public Policy at the Kennedy School Of Government, shared in a course I recently took. He said, "We all have power. We all have authority. We all have responsibility. The problem is that we all abdicate it and hand it over to people we call leaders." "We the people" was not designed to give us a new king. We, collectively, have the authority and responsibility to decide our nation's future. This is why we are not a part of the British Commonwealth today! The only reason we have a "Deep State" is because we let it happen. It's time to rise up to our most noble American ideas and become the nation God intended for us to become. Abraham Lincoln, in his Gettysburg Address, spoke to a very divided nation these profound words, "It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us-that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion-that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain-that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom-and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth." Let's not abdicate our authority or responsibility and protect this great republic that God has given us. 
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