Clarence Thomas argues that progressivism poses a danger to America.

Justice Thomas Critiques Modern Progressivism

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas recently delivered a pointed critique of contemporary progressivism during a public speech, describing it as a threat to the foundational principles of the United States.

Addressing a crowd of students and faculty at the University of Texas at Austin, Thomas spoke in honor of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The longest-serving justice urged Americans to rethink the philosophical underpinning of their governance.

He remarked that the values once cherished by the nation’s founders seem to have “fallen out of favor” and called on younger religious groups to preserve those principles. He emphasized, “If we don’t stand up and take ownership of this country and take responsibility for it, I think we’re going to slowly let other people control our thinking.”

During his talk, Thomas argued that progressivism is challenging the core ideas of the Declaration of Independence and, consequently, the structure of American government itself. He suggested that there’s a growing belief that rights and dignity are granted by the government rather than being inalienable rights bestowed by a higher power, which he views as a troubling shift.

He decried what he sees as a widespread culture of “cynicism, rejection, and hostility” in the U.S., particularly among self-proclaimed “realists” or intellectuals. “They recast themselves as institutionalists, realists, or thoughtful moderates, all to justify their failures,” Thomas said.

While his remarks were stern, Thomas concluded with a rallying cry, urging law students and the audience at home to embody the courage of the Declaration signers. “We need to find within ourselves the same level of courage as those who signed the Declaration so that we can shape our future,” he stated.

He emphasized that the health of American democracy rests on the willingness of citizens to engage actively in upholding their values. “I think if we don’t stand up and take ownership of this country and take responsibility, we’re going to slowly let other people control our thinking,” he reiterated.