America's first tradition was not freedom from religion, rather freedom from government religion. Your simple reference is first words of First Amendment to Bill of Rights.

Those posing greatest threats to America's first tradition include but are not limited too Islamic fascists, socialist liberal Democrats, moderate Republicans collaborating with Democrats, and Science is God crowd better known as global warming true believers.

Understanding historical relationships of words independent, Independents, and independence will help conservatives better understand America's first tradition. The word independent first appeared in late 1500's and was defined as "in (not) dependent". Independent then suggested a word describing a person not acting as part of a political party.

Independents as a word appeared in the early 1600's to describe a religious organization that supported "a voluntary association of like minded believers who renounced the support of civil authorities either in reforming itself or extending its practices to persons of a different mind." Independents according to George H. Sabine, also "took the advanced ground that any should be tolerated which did not adversely affect social order."

The first record of the word independence follows, Young Nathan entered Yale College at fourteen, having, ultimately the ministry in view. Just after the battle of Lexington, at a town meeting, with the audacity of boyhood, he cried out, 'Let us never lay down our arms till we have achieved independence!'

Where had he learned that new word, not to be found in Shakespeare, or in Spencer, and in Bacon, only as applied to the Independents of England? Is there on record any earlier demand for independence than this bold utterance of the boy in April 1775? One later sentence made the young Nathan's name immortal: I only regret that I have but one life to give to my country (country not government or political party).

First words of First amendment are not about freedom from religion rather freedom from government religion which is America's first tradition. Islamic fascists, socialist liberal Democrats, moderate Republicans, and Science is God crowd are all fanatically trying to abolish intent of America's first tradition.

Freedom of religion as advocated by many Islamic mosques is in reality advocating if not planning social disorder to replace America's Constitution with an Islamic theocracy. Liberal Democrats are attempting to substitute Constitutional law with a Marxist class society based on race, gender, economic status, illegal immigrants, and environmentalism which worships Science as God. As for moderate Republicans, they seem to sell out to whom ever considers them compassionate.

Moving on to another government created problem. Based on experience, security consulting includes three components: identify possible threats and recommend possible counter measures .Third component will be reviewed later in this writing exercise. As a follow up to last TCV report "News Tip: Potential Texas Foster Care Scandal?" consider the following countermeasures.

First partial solution, "public employee civil liability legislation" needs to be enacted to offer private citizens civil justice for behavior by public servants who fail to deliver promised services, violate constitutionally protected rights, or engage in incompetent, negligent or criminal conduct. Sovereign immunity is another concept which has been prostituted by pop culture ethics. Sovereign immunity extends only to elected, or appointed officials (including national security institutions engage in national security) not hired domestic employed civil servants.

Child protective service agencies by basing conduct on "good intentions" not due process standards are good examples of civil servants needing to be held accountable by public employee liability legislation. Other examples include: public educators not providing educations, amnesty cities for crimes committed by illegal immigrants, and government employees interfering Southern border national security fence.

Government employees can provide their own public employee civil liability insurance by using their retirement programs trusts as insurance pools.

Second partial solution, upgrading foster child care systems include the following notes that I recorded a decade ago: The primary goal for any foster care management system is to place children from troubled homes in stable loving moral homes. This goal can be neared by using my screening and support strategy.

Most placement care management problems can be prevented by initially placing the "right" child in the "right" home environment. This can be accomplished by conducting a through pre-placement investigation of potential foster parents, which at minimum includes:
1. Credit history checks
2. Criminal and civil background checks
3. Employment stability checks
4. Educational background checks
5. Verify references
6. Medical and mental checks
7. Social checks including marital history
8. Other checks as needed

The support component of screening and support included:
1. Pre-placement and post placement foster parent training and supervision
2. Application of necessary post placement social services
3. Foster child placement and post placement counseling
4. Continued supervision of foster children and foster parents (limit twenty cases per worker)
5. All services shall be provided by private sector and held to civil and criminal accountability standards
6. Could go on, why point has been made.

Since I am in a listing mind state, "America's First Tradition" summarizing points are:
1. The First Amendment is not about separation of church and state by not allowing religious citizens to serve in government. The First Amendment is about not letting government become a false God with establishment of state theocracy.
2. The First Amendment is not about carte blanche religious freedoms. The First Amendment is about voluntary beliefs that do not affect social civil order in name of any religion or ideology (as areIslamic Fascism, Marxism and Science is God crowd.)
3. Sovereign immunity traditionally only applied to king and his appointees not peasants or serfs. In modern times, sovereign immunity only applies to the constitutional elected and appointments not public sector employees.

Closing thoughts, it is not the original intent of the Bill of Rights that is controversial; it is "living document" interpretations by individuals pursuing personal selfish more equal and better than you privileges that are by definition controversial.

If America's first tradition does not trust government to be our God; if America's Second amendment does not trust government with all the guns; maybe government should not be trusted with neglected or abused children.

Almost forgot, third component in security consulting, learning to live with consequences to vain or foolish clients who refuse to accept threats or take necessary counter measures. May sound cold blooded, remember scouts do not earn their livings as social workers.

What does this writing exercise have to do with the 2008 Presidential election? Benedict Arnold was recognized as a great American Revolutionary War hero until he betrayed his country. Will Chamberlain McCain be remembered as a war hero after he appoints Democrats to his Republican administration and is recognized as a collaborator? You might want to think about answer before supporting McCain's campaign.