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To: yefragetuwrabrumuy

Our nation’s founders weren’t interested in bipartisanship. If they had been they would have sought a single party system where everybody could hold hands and get things done quickly.


13 posted on 10/08/2012 8:23:45 AM PDT by cripplecreek (What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul?)
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To: cripplecreek

It’s important to remember what existed, and what did not, as institutions in the time of the founding fathers.

To start with, while British political parties had been around since the 17th Century, the US only had factions by the time of the constitution, so there is no mention of parties in the document. It can be argued even today that political parties have no constitutional authority, but they also have no direct constitutional restrictions of their activities outside of those that apply to everyone else.

Though they had the offices of Sheriff, Justice, Constable, Marshals, Night Watch and Conservators of the Peace, law enforcement was very fragmented, and citizens were expected to pitch in when a posse or the militia was needed. The big exclusion was the use of the military in police actions.

Highly regimented paramilitary and municipal police, as exist today, also lie generally outside of the constitution, excepting the Bill of Rights.

George Washington was America’s first great spymaster, controlling a large and effective network.

The founding fathers were also far from armchair philosophers about the harsh reality of war. The French and Indian War and Pontiac’s Rebellion were incredibly nasty, no quarters savagery at times.


22 posted on 10/08/2012 2:44:24 PM PDT by yefragetuwrabrumuy (DIY Bumper Sticker: "THREE TIMES,/ DEMOCRATS/ REJECTED GOD")
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