Original Essay by Jeff Tressler, Author, Speaker, and Lyrical Storyteller

“The establishment of our new government seemed to be the last great experiment for

promoting human happiness.” George Washington. January 9, 1790

This declaration by George Washington was a clear statement of finality to him, effectively saying that after all the sacrifices that were made and the coming together of the great minds of our country, that their blueprint for government was the last chance for a society to experience human happiness. This lofty goal was attained and has been maintained because the laws that applied to the experiment were perhaps divine as they provided a formula that inspired what we refer to as a democracy, pillars that would withstand every challenge they encountered for 2.5

centuries. 

Until now, Washington's experiment had received only one serious challenge, The Great Civil War. This was precipitated in 1860, when the south felt that living by the laws of the Constitution would restrict them from certain opportunities of self interest. Even at that time, it was elite southerners that were interested in maintaining their wealth that came at the expense of enslaved humans. Lincolns Northern army was fighting to preserve the constitution for all the people and enforce the law and ensure that all the territory who had signed up to be a part of the union did not break their covenants. After much bloodshed, the great experiment was allowed to continue under one nation, and under the flag of the United States of America.

After withstanding the great war, the United States became a model for freedom,  democracy and a beacon of hope for happiness around the world.

The British challenged our sovereignty in 1812 and we prevailed in that war, the last challenge from a foreign government. Our constitution held then and again in the great Civil War. The great experiment remained unchallenged from enemies, foreign and domestic for about 160 years. Now we have a new Administration that is determined to crush the 250 year old Constitution by creating a new experiment that threatens to undo all that our forefathers envisioned. After all the blood that has been shed to preserve the Constitution, it now seems to be under its second great threat from within. It now seems to be in the throws of great revision by Plutocrats.

Some might say that it all began to be rewritten with an actual guns and bayonet; battle to take over the sacred house of Congress and kill the leaders of the People’s house back on January 6th of 2021.

This insurrection was the most heinous act since the Civil War, but not a single perpetrator is being held accountable for their deeds. The behind the scenes leader of the insurrection, President Donald Trump claims that the people who participated were, by his words, Patriots.

The constitution, first and foremost, represents the rule of law for our republic. Every public servant swears to “uphold its laws and to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic.”

Not a single person is being held accountable, though dozens of laws were broken by hundreds of people. It was an act of defiance against our flag and the republic for which it stands. For what? Perhaps it was just a byproduct of an allegiance to a would-be dictator who was abusing his power. Ultimately, lives were lost and the Capitol building itself was left in shambles. Sadly, this may be recorded in the history books as the true beginning of the end for the 250 year old experiment that was in Washington’s words, created to promote human happiness.

  Prior to the violent attack on the capital, the presiding POTUS already set one precedent by becoming the first president in US history to contest the constitutional mandate to participate in the peaceful transition of power.

Where do we stand at this moment? After a four year absence President Trump was rewarded for his actions by being granted a second term in the oval office. In his first 1.5 months he has been busy making as many changes to the government as he can, such radical changes that the courts are working overtime to determine which ones are lawful and which ones violate Constitutional law. In other words Mr. Trump continues to break laws, many of which he has already been found guilty of.

The person who is the orchestra leader of dismantling many government agencies is not an elected official and even his participation may be criminal. Elon Musk, is first and foremost a man whose mission it is to send people to Mars. He is not a politician and knows more about Mars than he does about our constitution or our government. He is inherently limited in his ability to know Mars, and has never felt the need to understand our government.

If we are going to save the great experiment and survive this threat to the masterpiece that is the rock upon which our democracy and our freedoms stand, “we the people” must understand it’s sacred value. What is required of us now is to form a new generation of patriots who will dig in their heels and raise their voices to their state officials. We need to tell our congressman or congresswoman that they don’t work for Donald Trump, they work for us. We must remind them of the oath they took to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic.” We need to tell them that if they won’t abide by that oath and stand up against the tyrants within that we will cast our votes and replace them with someone who will.