The Liberty Masons of Clinton County recently submitted the following editorial. It is the hopes of KNS they will continue to share their expertise and attempt to share new civic lessons and educate all of us who needs it including our elected officials. Kevin Keith-Owner/GM KNS Radio-/10/13/25
Imagine discovering that you’re not just a citizen, but a sovereign—endowed with God-given rights that no government can take away. Picture a world where the government works for you, sworn to protect your freedoms, not control them. This isn’t a fantasy—it’s the foundation of America’s legal system, buried under decades of forgotten civics.
Welcome to the first step in reclaiming your power.
The Big Idea: You Are the Boss
The United States wasn’t built on the idea of a government ruling over people. It’s the other way around. Here’s the simple, powerful truth:
1. God created the People. Your rights—to life, liberty, property, travel, and the pursuit of happiness—come directly from a higher power, not a government office.
2. The People created the Constitution. The People wrote the rulebook, setting up three branches of government—judicial, legislative, and executive (inspired by principles like those in Isaiah 33:22).
3. The Constitution limits the government. It spells out exactly what the government can and cannot do, reserving all other rights to the People.
This structure makes one thing crystal clear: you are the sovereign. The government isn’t your master—it’s your servant.
Your Untouchable Rights The Bill of Rights in the U.S. Constitution and all 50 state constitutions isn’t a list of privileges the government grants. It’s a declaration of your pre-existing rights, untouchable by any law or official. The government’s only job? To protect those rights. Any law that violates them isn’t a law at all—it’s null and void. For example, the right to free speech, to bear arms, to own property, or to travel freely isn’t up for debate. These are yours, period. When the People created the government, they made sure to keep these powers for themselves.
The Oath: A Promise to Serve You Every elected official, from city council members to the president, takes an oath to uphold the Constitution and protect your rights. In states like Indiana (see Article 15, Section 4 of the Indiana Constitution), this oath is a binding promise. Think of it as a contract: public servants are trustees, accountable to you, the sovereign. If they break that promise, they’re not just failing at their job—they’re violating the law of the land.
So, What Went Wrong? If the People are in charge, why does it feel like the government calls the shots? Simple: we’ve forgotten who we are. For generations, civics education has been watered down or ignored.
Most Americans don’t know their state constitutions or the power they hold. Without that knowledge, public servants have been left unchecked, acting more like rulers than trustees.
The Path Forward: Reclaim Your Power The good news? You can change this. By learning your rights and the government’s responsibilities, you can hold officials accountable. The Constitutions—federal and state—are your tools. They’re not dusty relics; they’re living documents that empower you to demand better. This is just the beginning. In this series, we’ll break down your rights, the government’s limits, and practical steps to enforce them, all in bite-sized pieces. You don’t need a law degree—just a willingness to learn and act.
Why It Matters When the People know their power, everything changes. Imagine a future where your children inherit a nation that respects their freedoms, where public servants answer to you, and where your rights are non-negotiable. That future starts with understanding the civics you were never taught. Stay tuned for Part 2, where we’ll dive into specific rights in Indiana’s constitution and how to use them. You’re not just a citizen—you’re a sovereign. It’s time to act like one.