1. United States
2. Ga.
3. Letter

I am writing as a constituent to express serious concern regarding recent public discussion surrounding the United States acquiring Greenland. I want to be clear this is not a partisan objection nor an attack on any individual. It is a constitutional and philosophical one. Conservatism as Russell Kirk reminded us is rooted in restraint tradition and moral order not impulse or expansion. As Kirk wrote the conservative principle IS preservation. The acquisition of territory absent the clear consent of its people is not preservation it IS disruption. The Founding Fathers were equally clear on this matter. John Adams warned that a republic cannot survive if it abandons its moral foundations for power alone. James Madison reminded us that the people are the only legitimate fountain of power. Government derives its authority from consent not leverage pressure or strategic convenience. To suggest that the United States should obtain a people or territory without their clear and voluntary will is inconsistent with the very principles we claim to defend. To be clear, nothing about the current messaging or logic is conservative and if you disagree I expect you to go on the record explaining the reasoning behind it. I welcome that debate. I expect my elected representatives to speak plainly on this issue and to reaffirm the principles of self determination constitutional restraint and respect for national sovereignty. These principles distinguish a republic from an empire.