Throwback Truths: The Larceny Is Larger than You Think!

At the Institute on the Constitution, we believe that safeguarding our future begins with understanding and reinforcing our foundations. That’s why we’ve created Throwback Truths — a series that revisits classic video presentations from Michael Anthony Peroutka, founder of IOTC. These timeless messages encourage us to reflect on who we are as a nation and the principles that define true liberty.

In this edition, we revisit Peroutka’s powerful warning sparked by a 2014 controversy in Houston, Texas—when the city subpoenaed the sermons of local pastors. This shocking overreach, Peroutka argues, wasn’t just an isolated event. It was the latest in a long line of constitutional violations that Americans have come to accept.

“You Can Keep Your Coin Collection—For Now”

Peroutka opens with a vivid parable: imagine waking up to find a thief in your living room, calmly looting your valuables. When confronted, he offers you a so-called “accommodation”—you can keep one item… for now. Would any sane person celebrate that as a win?

Yet that’s exactly what many Americans have done with government overreach. While some bristle when religious liberty is threatened—such as when the Houston mayor demanded access to sermons—most have remained silent as the federal government systematically overstepped its constitutional bounds in other areas.

The Government’s Illegitimate “Programs”

Peroutka points to programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid—not as benign or helpful, but as unconstitutional expansions of federal power. These programs are not listed among the enumerated powers in the Constitution, and their existence, he argues, represents government theft on a grand scale.

By tolerating these programs, Americans have not only allowed the federal government to “steal” from them, but have essentially handed over the keys to the house—giving bureaucrats permission to trespass into every area of life, including religious liberty.

So when the government finally goes after our “coin collection”—our churches, our pulpits, and our faith—why are we shocked?

It’s Time to Stop the Thief

For Peroutka, this moment isn’t just about protecting pastors in Houston. It’s a wake-up call for all Americans. If we truly want to reclaim our liberty, we must do more than push back when our favorite freedom is under threat. We must confront and reject every unconstitutional act of government overreach—no matter how long it's been accepted.

The solution isn’t more negotiation. It’s not compromise. It’s returning to the Constitution—and holding government accountable to the limits our Founders put in place.

Liberty can’t survive under theft disguised as policy. It’s time to stop the looting—and take back the keys.