Progressive Movement's Attack on the Constitution: A Deep Dive

The Illusion of a Republic

It might be a shocking revelation to many that the President of the United States may not truly be in charge of the government. In fact, the belief in representative democracy is not as widespread in Washington, D.C., as one might think. The concept of a government that is of the people, by the people, and for the people could be nothing more than a facade. The reality could be that we are no longer a republic where power originates from the people and is passed on to their elected representatives to ensure a government that prioritizes the interests of American citizens.

The Gradual Coup

Over the past century, there has been a slow regime change, a gradual coup, that has undermined our Constitution and Constitutional Republic. This internal rebellion has eroded the original intent of the Constitution, diminished our freedoms, compromised our civil liberties, and raised questions about who is truly governing this country. This coup is the central theme of the new book, American Leviathan, which explores the Progressive Statist movement that started in the early 20th century. This movement gave birth to the unconstitutional and un-American Administrative State that now controls Washington, D.C., and, by extension, our country.

The Progressive Movement

The Progressive movement, spearheaded by figures like Woodrow Wilson, Herbert Croly, Robert La Follette, and Theodore Roosevelt, was a complete rejection of the original intent of the Constitution. As John Marini wrote in Unmasking the Administrative State, the Progressive movement's primary aim was to destroy the political and moral authority of the U.S. Constitution. The Progressives aimed to construct a vast bureaucracy filled with unelected bureaucrats, insulated from political accountability, who would effectively govern the country. They viewed the omnipotent state as a savior for society and humanity. They were open about their ambitions, with Wilson declaring that they were not bound to adhere to the doctrines held by the signers of the Declaration of Independence and were as free as they were to make and unmake governments. Thus, they set out to dismantle the American Republic.

Resentment towards Separation of Powers

Progressive Statists deeply resented the separation of powers, the core of our Constitution and the greatest protector of our inherent natural rights. They gradually dismantled the Republic's machinery. They viewed the diffusion of power as the greatest obstacle to progress and aimed to consolidate the legislative, executive, and judicial powers in the Administrative State in the name of "progress." They vehemently opposed the idea of a rights-based government and rejected the ideals of the Declaration that all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with unalienable rights. A rights-based government was too limited in size and scope for them to achieve their grand "progress."

Triumph of the Progressives

In the end, the Progressives succeeded. They built their Administrative State, consolidating the executive, legislative, and judicial powers into one entity. Over the course of the 20th century until today, this State, primarily residing in the Executive Branch, has grown into a sprawling bureaucracy, the American Leviathan, filled with powerful, unelected bureaucrats who owe nothing to the American people and often feel they rule the people. This unconstitutional state and its ruling class now pose the greatest threat to our freedom and inherent rights.

The Future of the Administrative State

The future of the Administrative State, which is deeply antithetical to our founding and the idea of representative democracy, is uncertain. When threatened by Donald Trump's idea that he, as the duly elected representative of the American people, was the one to decide both foreign and domestic policy—with Congress serving in its advise and consent role—the State retaliated, declaring political war on Trump and his supporters. However, the American people scored a significant victory against the State earlier this summer when the Supreme Court in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondi overruled the "Chevron doctrine." This doctrine had allowed the Administrative State to "reasonably interpret" a regulatory statute regardless of congressional intent for the past 40 years. As a result of Loper Bright, a host of regulatory and bureaucratic overreaches can now be rolled back to the benefit of our country.

Bottom Line

The Progressive movement's assault on the Constitution and the rise of the Administrative State raise significant questions about the future of our democracy. What will be done with this Administrative State? Will there be a more aggressive rollback? Will the State be broken apart, returning legislative powers to the Article I branch? These are questions that we, as citizens, need to ponder and discuss. What are your thoughts on this? Share this article with your friends and start a conversation. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is every day at 6 pm.