Our Founding Fathers knew that we would face enemies of the Republic, foreign and domestic, who would seek to overthrow us -- even from within. Normally, this is seen as another country attacking us but does include ideologies to destroy the Republic and/or cyber warfare as is the case with China and Iran. World War II was against Adolph Hitlers' socialism and the cold wars (Korean and Vietnam) were also against socialism. Hundreds of thousands of American soldiers died in these wars fighting socialism in other lands and now we are fighting it on our own soil.
For more than a hundred years, America has had a second enemy as well -- world government presently referred to as globalism. Neither socialism nor globalism can coexist with a constitutional republic. World government cannot rule the world with any country being first before it, as in Trump's "America First" philosophy. Socialism gives centralized control of every human on earth.
Knowing that there would be enemies to freedom, thus treason, the Founders clearly defined it. "Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort" (Constitution, Article III, Section 3). Any assistance to their efforts is treason. Until recently, socialism was aid and comfort.
So emphatic were they about loyalty to the Constitution that an oath of allegiance to it was required of all military personnel and all taking state and federal office. "I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same ... So help me God" (5 U.S. Code § 3331).
So adamant about loyalty to the Constitution, which is the foundation of our Republic, were they that, after the Civil War, they required anyone having once made this covenant be denied further service if they had previously broken it. "No Person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may, by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability" (Constitution, 14th Amendment, Section 3).
Federal law on treason, sedition and subversive activities gives further detail, "Whoever, owing [those who previously made this vow and broke it] allegiance to the United States, levies war against them or adheres to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort within the United States or elsewhere, is guilty of treason and shall suffer death, or shall be imprisoned not less than five years and fined under this title but not less than $10,000; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States." Section 2382 adds anyone to this category "concealing information." Section 2383 adds anyone "inciting, or engages in insurrection." Section 2384 adds anyone who "conspires to treason." Section 2385, anyone who "knowingly or willfully advocates, abets, advises, or teaches the duty, necessity, desirability, or propriety of overthrowing or destroying the government of the United States" (Sections 2381-2385 of Chapter 115 -- Treason, Sedition, and Subversive Activities).
Our Founding Fathers created a Republic with a Constitution which, in time, guaranteed freedom to all people under it. This Republic is the most rare, prosperous and free form of government in the history of the world. Their design was to prevent any other form of government from destroying it. For a governmental officer to betray his oath to preserve the same for posterity made him worthy of death.
Half of America views the Republic as under attack in the 2020 election by enemies both foreign and domestic. They expected the above Constitutional parts, especially the 14th Amendment, to be applied to all the state legislators and governors, state and federal judges, who having made this covenant but refused to even look at any evidence of fraud, and members of Congress, who having taken this oath, knowingly certified fraudulent slates. Now add known foreign intervention of at least six nations led by China, (Serbia, Italy, Spain, Germany and Iran), with one major American political party acting as a principal accomplice, interfering with the 2020 presidential election to install a socialist government in the U.S. to replace our Republic.
We are at cyberwar with Iran and China, whose election interference threatens our national security and is an act of war. This is no longer just an election where some fraud occurred but an invasion from without and within to create a socialist government in the United States. All the laws on treason now apply to anyone past or present, including members of Congress, who knowingly participated in this effort to overthrow this government. The half that viewed the evidence will never go away or deny what they witnessed.
The other half of America refused to view or accept any of this, even the constitutional passages noted, and with their total control of all three branches of government plus 90% of media outlets and internet platforms, will sweep away all evidence or censor the rest. Their answer to the half who cannot deny what they have seen is censorship and reprogramming as it has always been for those who oppose socialism. Socialists call these reeducation camps; freedom fighters call them concentration camps.
On Jan. 20, the United States became a socialist country. If insurrection parts of the Constitution are ever used again, it is more likely to be used by socialists against patriots.
Harold Pease is a syndicated columnist and an expert on the United States Constitution. He has dedicated his career to studying the writings of the Founding Fathers and applying that knowledge to current events. He taught history and political science from this perspective for more than 30 years at Taft College. To read more of his weekly articles, visit .www.LibertyUnderFire.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author.