Some days, it feels as though our country is moving backward at an alarming rate rather than fulfilling its promise of greater freedom, opportunity, and equality.

The Constitution was written in 1787, ratified in 1788, and has since been amended 27 times. That history shows that progress is possible but it must occur through lawful, constitutional channels rather than through the unchecked exercise of power. 

The Constitution is for Everyone 

We were promised a country where no President is above the law, every person receives due process, and Government power is restrained by the Constitution.  

Although certain constitutional amendments resonate more strongly with one political party or another during public debate, these rights belong equally to all of us. Protecting them is neither a left versus right nor a Republican versus Democrat issue. Rather, it is a matter of addressing core corruption and holding accountable every representative who has failed to stand up and actively defend our rights which can be argued have been trampled on. 

Surveillance Must Have Limits

The rapid spread of Flock cameras presents a significant threat to our privacy and can be seen as a direct violation of our Fourth Amendment protections. The Supreme Court has established that prolonged location tracking using cellphones constitutes a search requiring a warrant. Yet today, stationary tracking cameras are deployed across countless roadways, counties, and states under a name of protection, incrementally destroying our fundamental right to privacy every day.

Law enforcement should have the tools necessary to investigate serious crimes and protect our communities. But those tools must come with warrants, clear limits, independent audits, public disclosure, short retention periods, and consequences for misuse. 

As a former law enforcement officer, I know firsthand how important surveillance is; however, not if it violates the Constitution.

Public safety and constitutional liberty are not opposing goals. A responsible government must protect both.

Freedom of Speech Includes the Right to Disagree

The First Amendment protects speech, peaceful assembly, religious freedom, freedom of the press, and the right to petition the government.

Those protections do not belong exclusively to Republicans, Democrats, conservatives, liberals, Christians, members of another faith, or people with no religious affiliation. They belong to all of us.

When national leaders describe political opponents as enemies, treat criticism as disloyalty, or suggest that dissent makes someone dangerous, they weaken the culture of free expression on which democracy depends.

The First Amendment does not mean that we are protected from disagreement or criticism. It means that the government cannot punish people simply because it dislikes their lawful speech, political beliefs, religious practices, or associations.

It means that Democrats can’t be targeted by the President and called terrorists simply because they disagree. 

Due Process is Not Reserved Only For Citizens

The Fifth Amendment does not say that only citizens are entitled to due process. It says that no “person” may be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law. 

I hear this thought process of, if you’re not doing x wrong, you have nothing to worry about. Or if the immigrants were only here legally, they’d have nothing to worry about, and the list goes on. And while neither of those are accurate, and while you should be as worried about others as you are yourself,  what happens when you’re the next one that is being targeted?

Our Fifth, Sixth, and Eighth Amendment protections exist because the government is powerful and individuals are not. Due process, the right to counsel in criminal prosecutions, protection against excessive bail, and protection from cruel and unusual punishment were not written only for popular people.

They were written to restrain government power especially when the person facing that power is disliked, feared, or politically convenient to target.

The People Have Power

The Constitution must be defended, and we should not elect officials who are refusing to abide by it.

There is hope; however, and we can still have the promise of an amazing Country. We are not powerless and the decline of the United States is not irreversible. We can elect leaders who respect constitutional limits, defend individual liberty and remember that public office is a public service and a public trust.

November 3rd, you will have an opportunity to elect me, Mike Croley, into office for a change in leadership and a representative who will fight for all the people of TN 6th Congressional District.