America’s Founding Fathers believed government is necessary to “secure every basic, natural, inherent right” of its citizens, but to do so in a way “built on the consent of the governed.

So writes American Majority founder Ned Ryun in his forthcoming book, “American Leviathan:”

“The Founders were deeply distrustful of human nature and strongly believed that imperfect human beings should never be trusted with consolidated power. The foundational principle in the Constitution of the separation of power inside of government is meant overtly to weaken and limit government’s power. 

“The Founders firmly believed in a very specific use of government: to secure every basic, natural, inherent right via a republic built on the consent of the governed and to take none of those rights away. But they also realized very clearly that human beings are “no angels.” In a fallen world in which many do what they can, not what they should, there is a need for government: boundaries to prevent and protect against the worst of human nature while providing for the flourishing of inherent rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

American Leviathan, available on the Encounter Books website, details the rise of Progressive Statism and an administrative state that led to the current state of the government in the 21st century.

The book also analyzes how a strengthened executive branch could undo the powers given to the administrative state.

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In addition to being a regular contributor to American Greatness, Ryun is founder and CEO of American Majority, an advocacy organization that wants to “put in place new conservative grassroots political infrastructure.”

Ryun previously created Generation Joshua, a civics education program, was appointed to the 1776 Commission by former President Donald Trump, and is a former writer for President George W. Bush. Ryun lives with his wife and four children in Virginia.