By C. J. Garbo | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice
To be a citizen of the United States is to inherit one of the greatest political experiments in human history — one built upon the foundation of unalienable rights, limited government and a system designed to safeguard liberty against the natural tendency of power to corrupt.
The Founding Fathers envisioned a constitutional republic where the people — not monarchs, aristocrats, or unchecked rulers — held sovereignty over their own destinies.
The Declaration of Independence establishes the core philosophy that birthed this nation: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” These words enshrine the fundamental rights that no government has the authority to grant or revoke.
The Constitution then provides the structure to protect those rights, ensuring a government of, by, and for the people — constrained by law, checked by power and bound by the principles of federalism.
James Madison, in The Federalist Papers, warns that factions — political movements driven by ambition and self-interest — are the great threat to republican government.
The solution?
A system of checks and balances that limits government authority and ensures that power is diffused among the people, not concentrated in a ruling class. The Founders knew that tyranny does not always come with armies and open declarations of war; it often arrives wrapped in promises of safety, prosperity and equality, wielded by those who claim to be the protectors of the people while working to subjugate them.
To be an American citizen is to live in a nation where individual liberty is sacred, where truth is held higher than political expediency, and where justice is blind, impartial and fair. And yet, over the last two decades — though particularly in the last 15 years — we have witnessed an ideological transformation within the Democratic Party that is antithetical to these core principles.
The modern Democratic Party has abandoned the pursuit of liberty in favor of control. They no longer see government as a safeguard for rights, but as an instrument for enforcing ideological conformity. They are no longer champions of free speech and open discourse, but rather, architects of suppression and censorship.
In the name of “equity,” they attack the meritocracy that has defined the American Dream, reducing individuals to racial, gender or economic categories, pitting groups against one another to consolidate power.
In the name of “safety,” they expand the surveillance state, label dissenters as threats and weaponize federal agencies to target political opposition. In the name of “democracy,” they undermine election integrity, push to eliminate the Electoral College and strive to federalize elections to remove state-level oversight and accountability.
It is not hyperbole to say that the modern Democratic Party has become the enemy of the constitutional republic. Their policies, rhetoric and actions all point to a coordinated effort to reshape the United States into a country unrecognizable to its founders.
They have abandoned national sovereignty by allowing millions to enter the country illegally, while simultaneously seeking to dilute the rights of legal citizens. They have embraced economic policies that devalue hard work, punish success and create government dependency to ensure a permanent voter base. They have manipulated crises — from COVID-19 to climate change — to seize emergency powers, bypass democratic processes and normalize unconstitutional government overreach.
Perhaps most damning is their war on truth itself.
Their control over legacy media, Big Tech, and academic institutions has allowed them to silence dissenting voices under the guise of combatting “misinformation.” They de-platform individuals, censor scientific debate, and even collaborate with government agencies to decide what speech is “permissible.”
This is the behavior of authoritarians, not Americans. A free people do not fear debate — they welcome it. A constitutional republic does not suppress political opposition — it thrives on it.
We are at an inflection point in our nation’s history. The forces that seek to dismantle America as we know it are well-funded, deeply entrenched and relentless in their pursuit of power. But history shows that tyranny, when exposed, can only thrive if good men and women remain silent.
Our resistance to this assault on the republic must be equally relentless — rooted in conviction, intelligence, and an unshakable commitment to the Constitution.
We must reclaim the culture and speak the truth, refusing to be intimidated by the censors who wish to silence us.
Free speech is the bedrock of liberty, and we must exercise it with courage. We must engage in elections at every level, understanding that the Democratic Party has mastered the art of incrementalism — winning through local school boards, district attorneys, city councils and state legislatures, before seizing control at the federal level. Conservatives must do the same. Every election matters, and every seat is a battlefield for the future of our country.
Holding the corrupt accountable is not an option, but a necessity. From the highest levels of government to the lowest bureaucratic offices, we must demand accountability. This means pushing for real congressional investigations, exposing corruption and ensuring that those who abuse power are held legally responsible.
We must also defend the Second Amendment, not just for self-defense but as a safeguard against tyranny. Every nation that has fallen into authoritarian rule has first disarmed its people. We must reject every attempt to erode this fundamental right.
Strengthening communities and families is equally essential. The American family unit is the foundation of a strong republic, yet the left has spent decades attacking traditional values, undermining parental rights and promoting state intervention in child-rearing. We must counter this by investing in strong families, building local communities, and fostering a culture of independence rather than government dependence.
At the same time, we must resist the normalization of tyranny. The pandemic years showed us how easily Americans could be manipulated into surrendering their freedoms in exchange for a false sense of security. Mask mandates, vaccine passports, business shutdowns and speech suppression were all beta tests for future government control.
Never again.
We must refuse to comply with unconstitutional orders, push back against government overreach and teach our children the true meaning of freedom.
Supporting alternative economic structures is another way to resist. Big Tech, major corporations and financial institutions are increasingly enforcing ideological compliance, punishing dissenters and collaborating with government agencies to control speech and behavior.
We must continue to build alternative platforms, support businesses that align with American values and create parallel economies where people are free to operate without coercion.
The battle for America is not just about winning elections — it is about reclaiming our national identity. We are a people who once stood against the most powerful empire in the world and won. We defeated fascism, communism and every other form of despotism that has sought to enslave free men.
We are not weak, we are not helpless and we are not without hope.
The Founders pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor to secure the freedoms we enjoy today. We owe them — and our future generations — nothing less than the same unwavering commitment to defending this republic from those who seek to destroy it.
The line is drawn.
Choose to stand.
Choose to fight.
Choose America.
Together, we will Make America Great Again.
C. J. Garbo is a seasoned political strategist and dedicated advocate for American liberty. With a background in law enforcement and political leadership, he has spent over a decade fighting to preserve the principles of the Founding Fathers, ensuring that justice, free speech, and individual rights remain at the core of our Republic. Garbo holds a bachelor’s in political science and has played a pivotal role in shaping conservative movements in Colorado, serving as a campaign manager, district captain and GOP leader. His passion for truth and historical accuracy drives his work as a commentator, where he exposes corruption, defends constitutional values and calls for the restoration of American principles.
Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in commentary pieces are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the management of the Rocky Mountain Voice, but even so we support the constitutional right of the author to express those opinions.