Vague And Glittering Generalities

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas on Wednesday delivered a televised broadside against progressivism, a political philosophy he described as an existential threat to America and the principles that founded it 250 years ago.

Which were, ironically, radically progressive at the time. (And why are we chained to the "principles" of 250 years ago? Isn’t that the whole argument of the Declaration of Independence? That we aren’t chained to the principles of the past?)

“Progressivism seeks to replace the basic premises of the Declaration of Independence and hence our form of government,” Thomas said in a speech at the University of Texas Austin Law School pegged to the nation’s upcoming milestone birthday.

A piece of propaganda meant to incite a revolution against the established government.

A spirit of “cynicism, rejection, hostility and animus” toward America -- by Americans -- has taken hold, Thomas said in remarks carried live on CSPAN.

Thomas, the Supreme Court’s senior conservative member, spoke broadly, not referencing specific contemporary events or political figures to make his case. But his comments come at a critical time for the sharply divided country and the Court.

He said that the values enshrined in the 1776 Declaration of Independence have “fallen out of favor” among Americans -- a trend perpetrated, he argued, by “intellectuals” and the nation’s colleges and universities.

People smarter than him?

Thomas also said he believes many people no longer believe “all men are created equal” and deserving of “unalienable rights” protected by a limited government.

“[Progressivism] holds that our rights and our dignities come not from God, but from government,” he said. “It requires of the people a subservience and weakness incompatible with a constitution premised on the transcendent origin of our rights.”

The "principles" of 250 years ago held that Thomas was, at best, 3/5ths of a person. And that solely for the apportionment of political power in the legislature. "Progressivism" changed that.

Thomas said Washington has been overrun by elected and appointed officials who lack commitment to “righteous cause, to traditional morality, to national defense, to free enterprise, to religious piety or to the original meaning of the Constitution.”

The pre-13th Amendment Constitution?

“They recast themselves as Institutionalists, pragmatists or thoughtful moderates, all as a way of justifying their failures to themselves, their consciences, and their country,” he said.

Thomas called on Americans to stand up for their principles and endure personal "sacrifices," if necessary, to preserve the nation's democracy.

You go first, by paying back all the gifts and benefits your rich white friends have given you.

“In my view, we must find in ourselves that same level of courage that the signers of the Declaration have so that we can do for our future what they did for theirs,” he said.

Pretty sure we have. You just don’t like it. You want to keep all the benefits you’ve acquired, and tell the rest of us, who aren’t shielded from the consequences of our corruption and guaranteed lifetime employment, to “sacrifice” for your vague hand-waving complaints about people who aren’t you.