Posted on 09/21/2007 9:30:42 AM PDT by Loud Mime
“They define a republic to be a government of laws, and not of men.” —John Adams
A good government implies two things; first, fidelity to the objects of the government; secondly, a knowledge of the means, by which those objects can be best attained. -- Joseph Story (Commentaries on the Constitution, 1833)
“I consider the foundation of the Constitution as laid on this ground that ‘all powers not delegated to the United States, by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states or to the people.’ To take a single step beyond the boundaries thus specially drawn around the powers of Congress, is to take possession of a boundless field of power, not longer susceptible of any definition.” —Thomas Jefferson
I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country. -- Nathan Hale (before being hanged by the British, 22 September 1776)
From Federalist 45: The powers delegated by the Constitution to the federal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in state governments are numerous and indefinite. The former will be exercised principally on external objects, as war, peace, negotiation, and foreign commerce. … The powers reserved to the several states will extend to all objects which, in the ordinary course of affairs, concern the lives, liberties, and properties of the people, and the internal order, improvement, and prosperity of the states.”
And some from non-founders:
“You should not honor men more than truth.” —Plato
“Every day you meet a delegation going to some convention to try and change the way of somebody else’s life.” —Will Rogers
Jay Leno: General Petraeus [testified] before Congress and a number of senators accused General Petraeus of lying. You’ve gotta understand why they’re upset. If you are going to deceive the American people, you do it the right way: You run for Congress
There’s no hope for the future of this country.
The two great points of difference between a democracy and a republic are: first, the delegation of the government, in the latter, to a small number of citizens elected by the rest; secondly, the greater number of citizens, and greater sphere of country, over which the latter may be extended.
The effect of the first difference is, on the one hand, to refine and enlarge the public views, by passing them through the medium of a chosen body of citizens, whose wisdom may best discern the true interest of their country, and whose patriotism and love of justice will be least likely to sacrifice it to temporary or partial considerations. Under such a regulation, it may well happen that the public voice, pronounced by the representatives of the people, will be more consonant to the public good than if pronounced by the people themselves, convened for the purpose. On the other hand, the effect may be inverted. Men of factious tempers, of local prejudices, or of sinister designs, may, by intrigue, by corruption, or by other means, first obtain the suffrages, and then betray the interests, of the people. The question resulting is, whether small or extensive republics are more favorable to the election of proper guardians of the public weal; and it is clearly decided in favor of the latter by two obvious considerations:
In the first place, it is to be remarked that, however small the republic may be, the representatives must be raised to a certain number, in order to guard against the cabals of a few; and that, however large it may be, they must be limited to a certain number, in order to guard against the confusion of a multitude. Hence, the number of representatives in the two cases not being in proportion to that of the two constituents, and being proportionally greater in the small republic, it follows that, if the proportion of fit characters be not less in the large than in the small republic, the former will present a greater option, and consequently a greater probability of a fit choice.
In the next place, as each representative will be chosen by a greater number of citizens in the large than in the small republic, it will be more difficult for unworthy candidates to practice with success the vicious arts by which elections are too often carried; and the suffrages of the people being more free, will be more likely to centre in men who possess the most attractive merit and the most diffusive and established characters.
Oh, I have hope! But, we’re going to have some big troubles before things get better.
Then leave. America isn’t a good place for quitters.
You were lurking in the Dobson thread I think to pick up that Federalist 45 quote!
You were lurking in the Dobson thread I think to pick up that Federalist 45 quote!
No. I've been a big fan of "10" ever since I understood it....which was probably on my fifth reading. I'm pleased to see that he agrees with me! ;)
I completely disagree. I will never give up on my country.........not until the last bullet is fired. If we all take that stance, no one can take it away from us. We owe this to our kids and grandkids. I still get choked up when our countrys flag goes by in a parade. I still honor those that have died for us and not let them pass in vane. If you give up, you don’t deserve what this country has given you.
There is always hope, so long as there are free men and women in this nation who love liberty.
Don’t fall into pessimism. Stay and fight. We’re on the side of the angels, and will prevail. Optimism always does.
This book examines the impact of certain philosophers on the Framers. But what makes it special is that he covers some philosophers who have been lost to modernity -- people I never heard of -- who were critical in influencing American constitutional thought.
One warning, though. This book is an unusually tough slog for McDonald. But once you reach the end, you'll be rewarded.
sir there is always hope for our country and thank you for those who stood up and said so
Most people don't realize that an amazing amount of history and intellectual thought went into the Constitution.
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One warning, though. This book is an unusually tough slog for McDonald. But once you reach the end, you'll be rewarded.
LOL! It can't be any tougher than Montesquieu....which I still need to read again. :-)
Thank you so much for the Forrest McDonald recommendation!
"In the Soviet Union there is freedom of speech. In the US there is freedom after speech."
Will our Country keep going, or is it headed downhill ?
Rememmber when times were bleakest in American History- around 1900, 1917-1919, 1929- ~1938 and then 1938 to 1946. Take that period...what drove us all ?..It was HOPE...new immigrants came here, got jobs,narried and raised families. They fit in..Immigrants come to America today looking for a better life...divided along ethnic lines?. Yes...divided along bread and butter issues?..yes,but maybe less so..Therein lies the key to winning in ‘08. The candidate who has solutions to our international problems AND who can provide solutions to Health Care and a host of pressing domestic issues—the Wallet issues- will be the one whom people will pay attention to and vote for..America is still a melting pot but we have many common goals..There is HOPE..Now all we need is the right Republican candidate who can inspire that hope in the people and who can do more than ‘mumble incoherently’. We need a Leader and a Speaker..so far, the Reps have not arrived at that point
I strongly recommend anything by Forrest McDonald. I have a whole shelf of his books in my library.
I don’t have that many repeat authors on my bookshelves. About 10 years ago I bought the Chartwell Edition of Winston Churchill’s history of WWII; from there I go to miscellaneous reference books, a couple of Ann Coulter’s and one very used book by Ralph Rossum (about the 17th Amendment).
After looking at Forrest McDonald’s catalog, I have the feeling I will get more than the two that I ordered.
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