Smiling faces and socialist promises: A lesson from Cuban exiles

The sea between Cuba and Florida has been more than a geographic dividing line—it’s been a graveyard for untold lives escaping communism. On one shore were families who had little more than hope. On the other stood a nation founded 250 years ago on the principle that government derives its just powers from the consent of the people. That promise endured because the founders understood that declaring liberty was not enough. Liberty had to be protected from those who govern. From that wisdom came the Constitution: divided powers, independent courts, competing branches, lawful elections and rights no temporary majority could...