Is it possible to restore liberty and freedom?

Consider these quotes:

“But a Constitution of Government once changed from Freedom, can never be restored. Liberty, once lost, is lost forever.” – John Adams

 “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.” – Ronald Reagan

Whatever we may think, looking back decades or centuries, about these men and their actual understanding of liberty, government, and humankind, these quotes are meaningful to lovers of liberty as we near the end of 2025.

Is Adams’ warning correct? Many people today dream of restoring American constitutional government, as originally intended and perceived by Adams and the men and women of his generation. Are they going to be disappointed? Is true restoration possible? Or even a rough imitation of what the original Thirteen States had?

We suspect that John Adams was right. In a land of Fifty States, far too many of the majority (however small or even a plurality) of the people of those States have become corrupt. If not unable to think, to observe, to reason, then refusing to do so. Not necessarily of their own choice, perhaps. But still, unable to function in a free society. And worse, they are unable to take the necessary actions to establish a free society.

Which leaves what as the only realistic hope of those who recognize that the government has changed from freedom? That a remnant will establish a new society, new cultures, even a new civilization. One based even more on the understanding of liberty than what was done in 1776.

Reagan was definitely right when he said freedom can disappear in a single generation. Even for limited values or definitions of freedom (and liberty), it is now clear that the pure quill was extinguished decades ago. At least at most levels and jurisdictions in this great land. What remains in a shell, because people did not fight for liberty, protect their freedom, and give it intact to their children. (We see this in Reagan’s own State, and perhaps in New York City, Virginia and New Jersey next month.)

Or even to our children. We of the now-older generations bear much of the blame. For being cozened by those who lusted after more power, more wealth, more fame. For not taking action to stop them, much less reverse their actions. For failing to warn one another of what was happening.

Is freedom, is liberty, extinct? In these States? In our cities and towns and hamlets, our rural and frontier areas? In our work and businesses, our homes and families, our religious assemblies?

Oh, there are remnants, there are false fronts, empty shells, that let us proclaim we are blessed by God to be free. But there is less and less substance behind those facades. And even what we call “liberty” is often at best a poor hologram of true liberty. The kind of liberty that amounts to being free to sit around a fire and sing songs and eat our gruel after an exhaustive, full day of working, being driven by tyrannical, cruel, and arrogant taskmasters.

The good news, though, is that we can be certain that there will be a remnant which is capable and able to go establish a new society with liberty and opportunity – and even eventually prosperity and peace. Not instantly, of course, and not perfect. No human society is ever, and never will be, perfect. But much better than what we live through now, and even better than the society that produced John and his brother Sam. And their comrades in liberty. And certainly much, much better than what these States were in the 1980s with Reagan in office.

We can do that, at least in many States (and some other nations around the world).

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