“Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly, all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.” — Thomas Jefferson, 1776.
Jefferson’s Standard for Legitimate Revolution
To justify the separation of the American Colonies, Thomas Jefferson penned the above statement. It declared that the goal of independence was driven by actions and events beyond “light and transient” causes. It also announced to all that the colonies had suffered many evils, and for far too long. Through this declarative statement, Jefferson described for the world a list of 27 abuses and usurpations of tyranny from Great Britain against the Colonies.
A Modern Abuse of Power in Virginia
Two hundred and fifty years later, it appears that, despite having a monopoly of all branches of the Virginia government, the Democrats have chosen to both abuse Virginia law and usurp the Virginia Constitution by a rushed constitutional ballot initiative aimed at giving the Democrats a near-total monopoly, 10–1, in the House of Representatives. The contortions of the new House districts would have major population centers commingled with rural Western Virginia communities. The current distribution, 6–5, aligns with the most recent election percentages and would appear to represent the will of Virginia. However, the Democrats are not satisfied with a simple majority. In the end, it is designed to give the Democrats one-party rule. History has repeatedly demonstrated that one-party rule is dangerous to individual freedoms, with Russia, Venezuela, and Iran being the most current examples.
The Dangers of One-Party Rule
The Democrats’ plan is nothing more than one-party mob rule, rather than a constitutional republic. Virginians would be wise to reject such an overt power grab by the Democrats. Muzzling such a large minority is unwise. History has repeatedly proven that suppressing such a large minority population group leads to substantial civil unrest and government tyranny. While the courts have given Virginians a temporary reprieve, the constitutional change, led by the Democrats, is not dead and will return.
At some point, Republicans will regain the Virginia majority. A cautionary illustration could be if the Republicans proposed a similar constitutional change, which could easily be supported and justified by changing the State Senate to mirror the U.S. Senate and changing the current population-based apportionment for state senators to a single senator per county. Mirroring the Great Compromise of equal representation in the Senate and apportioned representation in the House at the federal level, small Virginia counties would receive equal representation in the State Senate, thus leaving the Democrats as the perpetual minority—and equally unhappy.
A Warning from History—and a Test for Virginians
Jefferson warned of governmental changes “for light and transient causes.” Virginians should heed the warning and reject such a blatant power grab by the Democrats, not for the sake of a single-party democracy with rights given and denied by man, but for the sake of our constitutional republic, with rights given to us by God and protected by government.
Warner Workman is a retired intelligence officer and descendant of a colonial patriot.
