by Jared Taylor
This year Arizona celebrates its 100th Birthday. All around the State, we will participate in a host of wonderful musical performances, speeches, and other tributes to our beautiful State. This is a great time for Arizona and its citizens. And even though Arizona has opportunities for improvement, we should be proud of all that we citizens have accomplished together. At this time, let us also celebrate the importance of statehood.
One of the greatest champions of statehood was Thomas Jefferson. He believed that states provide us and our liberties with a fortress of protection against an oppressive central government. He wrote, “The true barriers of our liberty in this country are our State governments; and the wisest conservative power ever contrived by man is that of which our Revolution and present government found us possessed."
Our statehood rests on a number of critical principles of liberty.
- Natural law
- God-given rights
- Strong local government
- Separation of Powers
- Checks and Balances
- Limited government
Our State Constitution echoes many of these wonderful principles. Here are just two:
- The Preamble to the Arizona State Constitution reads, “We the people of the State of Arizona, grateful to Almighty God for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution.”
- Article II Section 2 of the Arizona State Constitution reads, “All political power is inherent in the people, and governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, and are established to protect and maintain individual rights."
These are profound statements. I believe these are sound ideas that have made the people of Arizona and the United States strong and free for many years.
We live in the best State in the Union! We have a rich inheritance given to us in Arizona and America. It’s our challenge to pass these freedoms to our children.
This year, let us not forget to celebrate the wonderful principles of liberty upon which we have received so many blessings. Happy Birthday Arizona!