Most Americans are unhappy with the misdirection of our nation.

Most incumbent politicians are, apparently, happy with it. The rest of the incumbents can be sorted into three groups:

• Those who don’t know which direction is constitutionally correct or, perhaps, don’t care;

• Those who have spoken out, sometimes occasionally and a few consistently; and

• Those who do know but lack the backbone to stand up and holler “stop.”

Most members of the fourth estate cast aside journalistic integrity to cheerlead the constitutional blasphemy being perpetrated by incumbent politicians. Others audaciously join their political favorites to willfully spin the truth to fit their myopic views. The rest of the media can be sorted into three groups:

• Those who don’t know which direction is constitutionally correct or don’t care;

• Those who do know and have spoken or written about the political shenanigans; and

• Those who know but lack the backbone to deliver the truth, or fall into line for job security.

Still, most unfortunately for our nation, too many Americans have permitted politicians, the media and others to influence and manipulate them into political and philosophical factions such as:

• Democrat/Republican,

• Liberal/Conservative,

• Special Interests or

• Party Power, etc.

As a result, individual identity — and the common interest of citizens as a whole — is subverted by the factionalizing efforts of today’s powerful elites.

In all instances, that’s wrong.

It’s wrong because it places group and special interests as well as political party interests, among others, above the true common interests of our nation and all its citizens.

Our country’s Founders clearly understood that.

As individuals, the Founders had different views on the issues back then, Yet, each one understood clearly what was the real definition and meaningfulness of “in the common interest of everyone.”

That’s why they:

• Crafted the U.S. Constitution to limit the size and growth of the federal government;

• Specified in the U.S. Constitution what powers and authorities are delegated to the federal government; and

• Documented that any and all other powers and authorities, whether listed in or omitted from the U.S. Constitution, were retained by the states or the people.

Our nation’s Founding Fathers understood that in our new nation each individual’s life is precious and must be protected; and that each citizen must be free and have the liberty to pursue whatever might be their individual dreams and happiness.

Wisely, they established the Rule of Law as the guidepost for all individuals in their interactions with others. They installed private contracts and the right to hold private property in order to protect each citizen from an overreaching government and the nefarious doing of others.

Whether then or now, the core principle within “common interest” is that it must apply to everyone or “all the people.”

Thus, the scope of what is in the true common interest of all citizens cannot be compressed, nor can the common interest be subservient to or subverted by other interests.

As Founder James Madison noted, in Federalist No. 45, (It) “is the supreme object to be pursued” … and, “no form of government whatever has any other value than as it may be fitted for the attainment of this object.

But, these days in Washington, certain incumbents, willfully out of sync with the U.S. Constitution, meet behind closed doors out of the watchful eye and ears of America’s citizens. Obviously, they shut out interested citizens and CSPAN in order to shroud what they will foist on our nation.

And, their media acolytes do their bidding; while others in and outside the media avoid demanding public access fearful of the party faction’s retribution.

Another Founder, George Washington, during his farewell address after serving as our nation’s first president, warned us: “The common and continual mischief’s of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it.”

If America’s citizens ignore the wisdom of our Founders and permit incumbent politicians to compress what rightly belongs in the common interest in order to placate or reward any faction, for whatever reason, then individual freedom and liberty is seriously diminished if not lost.

Richard Olivastro is president of Olivastro Communications, a professional member of the National Speakers Association and founder of Citizens For Change. He can be reached at Rich@Olivastro.NET or 877.RichSpeaks.