America: Not for Everyone
I pledge allegiance to [the] United States of America and to the Republic [which is] one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
You obviously recognize this expression of allegiance to the USA – without reference to the American flag. While I happily pledge allegiance to the flag, it is not germane to this article. My thoughts are with those citizens and non-citizens that are unwilling to pledge full allegiance to America. The Pledge cuts right to the heart of what’s ailing America today.
Let’s start with allegiance to these united states, which is what the founding fathers created – not simply America or New Britain or England 2.01. The framers created a federal system of government to ensure power was shared between the national and state governments in order to prevent a too-powerful central government. This is enshrined in the constitution, which protects individual liberties (such as the right to peaceably assemble) and preserves states’ rights (the so-called concurrent and reserved powers). This is an important buy-in for US residents: it means we respect other states and obey their laws when inside their borders.
This is what is so wrong with today's California, which is quick to dismiss the other 49 states (starting with Sacramento’s expectation that ICE and DHS obey its “sanctuary state” laws). Take the California Product Safety Commission (CPSC): it forces non-California-based companies to comply with CPSC standards, meaning consumers and businesses in all 50 states share in the costs. While Blue Californians insist the federal government respects its reserved powers, they openly resent the electoral college and Wyoming’s two senators (matching California’s number).
I also have a beef with any US resident that rejects indivisibility, which is the desired outcome of the “melting pot.” Indivisibility created the largest economy and most imitated culture the world has ever known. This is the problem with identity politics: it seeks a divided America. Whether it is the heinous white supremacist movement, or the DNC practice of portraying supporters of legal immigration as anti-Hispanic, both hope to divide and conquer for selfish interests. By the way, it was indivisibility that elected Barack Obama president and put Tiger Woods in a green Masters jacket. Just saying.
The paramount celebration of the individual within The Pledge is a citizen’s allegiance to “liberty and justice for all.” Please note “equality” is not mentioned – not even a hint – because citizens in a free-market democracy should not pledge fealty to equality (communists in Cuba do that). American citizens pledge allegiance to the state of being free from oppressive restrictions imposed on our way of life, behavior, and political views (AKA liberty). American citizens pledge allegiance to the process and result of using laws to impartially judge and punish residents (AKA justice).
Equality is the most misunderstood tenet of our free-market democracy. American markets are free of competitive barriers to entry; therefore, Asian-owned auto makers have an equal opportunity at the American consumer. The Congressional Black Caucus is free to express its opinions without restrictions; therefore, Maxine Waters’ charges of Trump racism have an equal shot at the American electorate. Former little-known model Janice Dickinson alleged TV star Bill Cosby drugged and raped her, and an open trial and impartial jury found Cosby guilty. That rich and famous man will be punished like a common rapist (AKA equal treatment under the law).
Whereas Cuban equality is a government mandated state of being that has created economic and cultural mediocrity, American equal opportunity is a constitutional right that has created widespread prosperity and cultural dominance. American liberty and justice for all has created a society where even welfare recipients enjoy higher incomes ($9,000 annually) than Cuban doctors ($774 annually). Forbes reported in May 2015 that $9,000 annual income puts America’s welfare class into the top 20% of all global incomes. When it comes to equality as an outcome, Americans like Bernie Sanders should think again.
Above all, US citizens pledge allegiance to “the Republic,” meaning we swear fealty to the power held by we the people, our elected representatives, and an elected president – rather than to power wielded by a monarch or dictator. This utterly differentiates the USA from Saudi Arabia (kingdom), Cuba (dictatorship), China (single party directorate), and Russia (mock democracy). Our Republic is so complex and advanced we need to stop trying to export it to Islamic states. At its core, The Pledge is another way to remind US citizens nobody has it better than we do.
This brings us to residents of the USA that are not native-born citizens. America should always welcome opportunity seekers, who want the American dream, and turn away those who just want our good will and markets. It is discouraging to visit a small business operated by foreigners who openly display ill will to the USA. It is also unbecoming when undocumented aliens openly protest enforcement of US immigration laws. I hate to be a party pooper; however, if a foreign-born resident does not like America or its laws, then they should go home. And that’s the last word.