At the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute, we feel that we have been blessed to have been born in the United States of America, a country built on the idea of ordered liberty under God.
Even more importantly, our country's founding idea was really revolutionary in that it declared that our liberty comes from God, not government. Throughout our history, the story of America has been one of liberty being expanded to include more and more people in the promises of our Declaration of Independence and Constitution.
Even our Constitution and the Bill of Rights don't restrict what we can do as citizens. They outline what the government is not allowed to do. It is not allowed to take away our freedom of speech, our freedom of religion, or our right to assemble. The Constitution and the Bill of Rights are documents that emphasize the freedom of people, not the power of government.
Much of our work at JDFI is to confront the growing efforts in our country to restrict liberty and undermine the idea of ordered liberty under God.
Recently, a shocking survey was released that shows just how serious the threat to our liberties has become. It appears that the most privileged and advantaged people in America, in terms of their education, wealth, and where they live, are increasingly willing to give up their liberty, and by extension ours, in order to advance certain ideological causes. For example:
• 77% of elites favor "strict rationing of gas, meat, and electricity" in order to fight climate change.
• 72% of elites favor banning gas-powered cars to fight climate change.
• 70% of elites are willing to pay $500 or more every year in higher taxes to fight climate change.
• 67% of elites would favor a candidate who believes that "education professionals should decide what students are taught," instead of parents making those important decisions.
• 55% would ban non-essential air travel to fight climate change.
These are incredibly disturbing findings. But perhaps most disturbing of all is that 47% of elites believe the United States allows "too much individual freedom."
Of course, that is disturbing because the massive administrative state in Washington, D.C., and around the country is constantly growing, employing more and more bureaucrats every year, and is increasingly trying to dictate what you can drive, what you can eat, and how you can cook. They want to set your thermostat, restrict your religious liberty, and regulate your freedom of speech.
As we have warned over and over again, American Christians must be informed and involved citizens if this nation, which was built on liberty, is going to survive for our children and grandchildren.