Precedent is important in establishing what is right in governance issues, as precedence establishes original intent by those who first framed the laws of the land. We often envision the political landscape of 1776 as a vast sea of discontented colonials pledging death to their king, yet the search for the Founding Fathers' mandate leaves the investigator empty-handed. Fully two-thirds of the populace was not in alignment with the political and constitutional principles espoused by the Founders, being evenly split between loyalists and the apathetic.

With the Founders lacking both mandate and majority, how were they successful against such opposition? The answer is leadership. Above all, the Founders truly believed in what they were doing, and they made their beliefs material by acting on them. It is not enough to hate the King's laws; one has to be willing to make the effort to enact the change in the laws. After years of going through 'channels' to get some mercy from the Crown, the Founders did what was left to do, and only after all other avenues were exhausted. Their cause, being right, attracted followers once the plan was put into action. To paraphrase the oft-quoted Mark Twain: patriots are pretty scarce until they start winning; then the timid come out of the closet in droves, saying we were always with you. This is what happened in 1776, not to detract from the sacrifices of a lot of folks, who made it happen in the end.

We hear opinion-makers everywhere asking 'what now' of the new Republican majori- ties. Too often the response from the winners contains the word mandate. Americans need strong leadership, not responses to alleged mandates. The only mandate is that the law says the winners of the election must report for duty. Let them contemplate well what that duty is, as they all diligently study the Constitution unto which they stand poised to swear an oath. We will find out soon enough who meant it when they said 'I do' and who kept their fingers crossed.

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