Dr. Phillip Rozeman
America’s coming 250th year anniversary celebration is a time to reflect on the foundation principles of the great experiment which is America. Our country is built on the dedication to principles of the Declaration of Independence and the rule of law embodied in the Constitution. This is the foundation for the great American experiment from the political left to the political right and everything in between.
Nowhere have I found these principles delineated better than those shared in the document, Seven Core Principles of Conservatism, written by our Congressman and Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson.
When Speaker Johnson was elected, national media across the country were scrambling to answer the question, who is Mike Johnson? When I was asked, I shared this document. The following are a summary of words and thoughts of Speaker Johnson.
Core principle number one is individual freedom. The birth of our great nation was inspired by the bold declaration that our individual, God-given liberties should be preserved against government intrusion. … In America, we proclaim the self-evident truths that all of us are created equal and granted by God the same inherent freedoms, such as the natural and unalienable rights to life, conscience, free speech and the free exercise of religion, and the ability to pursue happiness, own property, build wealth, and defend ourselves and our families.
The second core principle is limited government. For individual liberty to be championed, government must be reduced. We believe, as our founders did, that legitimate government operates only by the consent of the governed and is more efficient and less corrupt when it is limited in size and scope.
The third principle is the rule of law. Ours is “a government of laws and not of men,” and the rule of law is our foundation. To maintain order, liberty and a civilized society, public and private virtue should be encouraged, and justice must be administered equally and impartially to all.
The fourth principle is peace through strength. The first obligation of the federal government is to provide for the “common defense” of the United States by securing our borders and protecting our homeland and our strategic interests abroad. …We must remain the strongest military power on earth that is fully prepared and capable of defeating any adversaries, tyrants or terrorists, under any circumstances, at any time.”
The fifth principle is fiscal responsibility. Because the government has refused to live within its means, America faces an unprecedented debt and spending crisis. Federal debt now exceeds $33.5 trillion (and continuing to grow). Our current fiscal path is unsustainable and dangerous, jeopardizing our nation’s economic growth, stability and the security of future generations.
The sixth principle is free markets. Government often stands as the greatest obstacle to the progress and prosperity of free people. Free markets and free trade agreements allow for innovation, improvement and economic expansion as risk-takers; entrepreneurs and business owners are given the liberty to pursue the American dream and create more jobs and upward mobility for more people.
The seventh core principle is human dignity. Because all men are created equal, and in the image of God, every human life has inestimable dignity and value, and every person should be measured only by the content of their character. A just government protects life, honors marriage and family as the primary institutions of a healthy society and embraces the vital cultural influences of religion and morality.
Americans have a shared loyalty to the foundation principles in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. The founders risked their lives to put those ideas into writing, and millions have fought to preserve America greatness for the last 250 years. My prayer is that these rights and freedoms continue for your and my children and grandchildren for another 250 years.
Dr. Phillip Rozeman is a practicing physician. He is past chair of the Greater Shreveport Chamber and Commerce and NW Louisiana Medical Society and current chairman of Better Louisiana and the Louisiana Committee of 100.