A Liberal Dose
Troy D. Smith
“Why Republicanism
Matters So Much”
When I say republicanism, I don’t mean the Republican Party
-which has stood for different things in different time periods. I mean what
some people call “small-r” republicanism, the political ideology on which our
nation was founded 250 years ago. It was the bedrock belief system of the
Founders, and meant a lot more than just a government without a monarch -it
meant, in the words of (Republican) President Abraham Lincoln, “a government of
the people, by the people, and for the people.” It rests on two foundational
ideas: civic virtue and promoting the general welfare. Civic virtue means that
everyone involved -governors and governed, who come from the same pool and are
not two separate classes (there is no “ruling class”, everyone participates and
everyone can serve) -puts the greater good ahead of their own interests. Do you
see a need in your community that no one is adequately filling and which you
are qualified to fill? Then it is your duty to fill it -not for your own power
or glory, not for your own enrichment, but for the greater benefit of everyone.
We all have a duty to one another.
Classical liberalism is also foundational to the nation, and
is often conflated with republicanism, but it is not exactly the same thing
(bear in mind, both republican and liberal had different meanings in an 18th
century context than most 21st century people associate with them).
Liberalism, as aptly defined by Scottish economist Adam Smith (also in 1776),
pertains to the rights of the individual, including economic rights. The
Constitution balanced republicanism and liberalism, in a way that set the
pattern for political discussions we still have today. Which is more important,
the rights of the individual or the rights of the community? These two ideas
have wrestled against each other like poles on a magnet, leading to a balance
that is in the middle. But for an individual, especially for a leader,
protecting the rights and well-being of the community means protecting the
rights and well-being of the individuals in it. It does NOT mean jealously
pursuing only the rights of YOURSELF, to the detriment of everyone else. THAT
is the antithesis of republicanism; that, I would argue, is deeply un-American.
And nothing could be MORE un-American than enshrining leaders -especially a
principal leader -whose personal benefit and well-being informs their every
action, for whom everyone else is considered to be a servant (instead of the
other way around). THAT would be a monarch. A King. A person whose claim to
power is that it is clearly God’s Will he be in power, otherwise someone else
would be. That is, in fact, the very thing the American Revolution was
initiated to fight against.
Do your leaders serve you, the public… or do they think the
public is supposed to serve them? Do they seek to enrich themselves at your
expense -or glorify themselves at your expense -or do they seek to provide for
your needs even if it is to their own detriment? Would they be willing to risk,
or even give, their lives for yours, or for the republic, with no opportunity
for personal gain in it for themselves?
If not… they do not deserve, and should not have, their
position.
This holds true for leaders of the country. And for leaders
of your local community. And for leaders of your political party, whichever
party that might be. And we have lost our way on this, on every level.
In this election season -again, on every level -let this be
your litmus test. Not whether a candidate is saying what you want to hear, to
entice you to hand over power to them. No, let the question be: What’s in it
for them? The right answer should be- and should only be -fulfilling their
sense of duty by serving us all. By promoting the general welfare. Not their
own.
--Troy D. Smith
is a novelist and a history professor at Tennessee Tech University. His words
do not necessarily represent TTU, nor are they connected in any way with his
job- they are his own opinions on matters of public concern, and an expression
of his First Amendment freedom of speech.
He is a candidate for District #15 committeeman in the TNDP- you can see his qualifications HERE
You can find all previous entries in this column HERE
A list of other historical essays that have appeared on this blog can be found HERE
Author's website: www.troyduanesmith.com
