Every year, on state and federal levels, thousands upon thousands of laws are introduced, passed and executed by the people that you and I elect to represent us …..so we would like to think..

I have already stated, here in The Lang Report, that I believe as Thoreau did when he wrote: “That government is best which governs least”, meaning simply that most of the laws written then and now are not necessary, fulfilling the needs of special interests or the result of just good old political grandstanding.

In contrast to the many forests that gave their lives so that laws could be enacted, strangling the liberties that our fore fathers died for; there are a group of precepts that not only have stood the test of time but should have been enough, by themselves, to govern any civilized society.

On December 15^th, 1791, our Constitution, the Constitution of the came into affect after being ratified by three-fourths of the States and known as The United States Bill of Rights. 

These first 10 amendments limit the powers of the federal government, protecting the rights of all citizens, residents and visitors on U.S territory. All of these liberties that we so often take for granted, rights that give us the freedoms of speech, press and religion; rights to bear arms and assemble, petition and be free from unreasonable search and seizure; cruel and unusual punishment; and compelled self-incrimination. have been hailed by the world as the great American  democratic experiment.

If you are unfamiliar with the behind the scene negotiations and debates that precipitated the actual drafting of the final version of the Constitution, then I suggest that you read “Miracle at Philadelphia” by Catherine Drinker Bowen and you’ll have a renewed appreciation the the framers.

Every time I think, write or speak about the Founding Fathers of our country I am continually awestruck by the depth of the insight, bravery and selflessness as they penned the documents that have governed Americans for over 231 years now. There they were at a turning point in history with the awesome responsibility to design a document that could stand the test of time and the shortcomings of man with all of his  temptations for self interest and greed.

You will be reading about the founding and foundation of our United States in articles to come as not only is there much to learn from them but I think it beneficial and necessary to be reminded of them lest we forget where we came from.