I think the previous commentator, Mike Novak, must clearly be a statist due to his spurious claim that 'government' is a superior force "in all ways".

Poppycock and hokum! The state exists for the well-being of free citizen, not the other way around.

Remember before "statism" and general collectivist social policies became humanity's systemic problem, there was a social ideology called INDIVIDUALISM.

Individualism is the heart of this Tennessee Constitution quote. Without individualism, you only have the will and whim of others in positions of authority within the structure of the STATE dictating life to its citizenry.