“A republic—if you can keep it,” Benjamin Franklin shot back to the woman who asked what type of government had been produced by the Constitutional Convention. Today, as the Supreme Court hears arguments regarding the constitutionality of ObamaCare, no truer words have ever been spoken. Can we keep it? To help you decipher the censored news reports from Washington, ponder the following principles underlying our American republic.

I. Our Declaration of Independence clearly states our rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness come directly from God. He gives them and only He can take them away. If our rights came from government, they can be instituted or removed depending upon the whims of rulers. Such was the case throughout history prior to 1776 when our founders established our great American experiment in freedom.

II. The framers of our constitution despised tyranny, yet they feared democracy because historically, majority rule always descends back into tyranny. We democratically elect representatives to serve in government, but in their oath of office they pledge to “support protect and defend the Constitution.” The allegiance of the duly elected public servant to the rule of law makes us a constitutional republic, not a democracy.

III. Our Constitution purposely limits government. American framers knew people in power invariably thirst for more and the federal government would become oppressively large. Article I, section 8 of the Constitution enumerates the limited governing powers the people granted to Congress. It is all they are allowed to do. The Tenth Amendment grants the unmentioned powers, and there could be thousands, to the states or the people. This provides a critical vertical balance of power between the federal and state governments and this is where the many state legislatures enter the fray.

In consideration to the above points and the ObamaCare debate consider this:

1. If healthcare is a right, it came from government, not God, and as such it may be granted or taken away at the whims of the ruling elite. This should scare you.
2. Where in Article I, section 8 of the Constitution did we grant Congress the power to control healthcare? It’s not there. To stretch the “commerce clause” around healthcare defies logic, yet if the Supreme Court rules as such there is no segment of your life outside the reach of Congress.
3. If the Supreme Court finds the insurance mandate is constitutional, yet the majority of state legislatures rule to the contrary, whose opinion is superior? (You have to think about this one.)
4. If the Supreme Court tosses the case because ObamaCare is not in full effect until 2013, expect CNN, MSNBC and all others in the state run media to spin this as a huge victory for the president. The heavy lifting of saving our republic then falls on the shoulders of every state legislator who honors his oath of office—a job not for the faint of heart. Can we keep the republic?