Are Americans Still Self-governed?
June 4, 2026 Blog Post Our Founders were not just fighting for the chance to be free. They were fighting for the opportunity to govern themselves. That is why they chose to create a republic. Yet, our Founders also understood that freedom devoid of self-government devolves into lawlessness, and that eventually leads to tyranny. They knew that maintaining a Republic would require virtuous people. John Adams stated , "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious People. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." George Washington said , "Virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government." James Madison stated , "To suppose any form of government will secure liberty or happiness without virtue in the people is a chimerical idea." According to Benjamin Franklin, "Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom." The Founders also believed that local government should play a role in promoting virtue through education, virtuous laws, what institutions choose to honor and dishonor, support for religious instruction, and the promotion of stable families. As Thomas Jefferson wrote , "No government can continue good but under the people's control; and … their minds are to be informed by education what is right and wrong; to be encouraged in virtuous habits and deterred from vice." The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 stated , "Religion, morality, and knowledge, being necessary to good government and mankind's happiness, schools and education's means shall forever be encouraged." With the 250th anniversary of our nation coming up on July 4th, it is worth taking a look at our nation and asking how the country is doing in living up to the principles of our Founding? A free people, capable of governing themselves, is the best check against tyranny that we have. Unfortunately, our nation has seen an increase in lawless activity and the encouragement of vice in our entertainment industry and on social media. It's time to reevaluate what we honor and dishonor in this country. It is also time to reevaluate how to raise a generation of educated citizens who can govern themselves and thus safeguard our liberties. Take my America250 Surveys! Take the Separation of Powers survey here . Take the freedom survey here . Take the consent of the governed survey here . Take the self-government survey here . Take the U.S. Constitution survey here .
36053f57-6fe1-4e39-ba58-2cebde25cee9Edit history (1 prior version)
This release was edited after publication. Earlier captures are preserved below.
- Captured Jun 5, 2026, 1:47 PM EDT
Show prior body text
June 4, 2026 Blog Post Our Founders were not just fighting for the chance to be free. They were fighting for the opportunity to govern themselves. That is why they chose to create a republic. Yet, our Founders also understood that freedom devoid of self-government devolves into lawlessness, and that eventually leads to tyranny. They knew that maintaining a Republic would require virtuous people. John Adams stated , “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious People. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” George Washington said , “Virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government.” James Madison stated , “To suppose any form of government will secure liberty or happiness without virtue in the people is a chimerical idea.” According to Benjamin Franklin, “Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom.” The Founders also believed that local government should play a role in promoting virtue through education, virtuous laws, what institutions choose to honor and dishonor, support for religious instruction, and the promotion of stable families. As Thomas Jefferson wrote , “No government can continue good but under the people's control; and … their minds are to be informed by education what is right and wrong; to be encouraged in virtuous habits and deterred from vice.” The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 stated , “Religion, morality, and knowledge, being necessary to good government and mankind's happiness, schools and education's means shall forever be encouraged.” With the 250th anniversary of our nation coming up on July 4th, it is worth taking a look at our nation and asking how the country is doing in living up to the principles of our Founding? A free people, capable of governing themselves, is the best check against tyranny that we have. Unfortunately, our nation has seen an increase in lawless activity and the encouragement of vice in our entertainment industry and on social media. It’s time to reevaluate what we honor and dishonor in this country. It is also time to reevaluate how to raise a generation of educated citizens who can govern themselves and thus safeguard our liberties. Take my America250 Surveys! Take the Separation of Powers survey here . Take the freedom survey here . Take the consent of the governed survey here . Take the self-government survey here . Take the U.S. Constitution survey here .
Issued within 24 hours
Other senators' releases published in the day before or after this one.
