James Madison... Fed. #55
by Les Carpenter
Rational Nation USA
No doubt the progressives amongst us wold have a problem with the following. Just as they often have a problem with any rational thought..
Such is life.
Rational Nation USA
No doubt the progressives amongst us wold have a problem with the following. Just as they often have a problem with any rational thought..
Such is life.
"Were the pictures which have been drawn by the political jealousy of some among us
faithful likenesses of the human character, the inference would be, that there is
not sufficient virture among men for self-government; and that nothing less than the
chains of despotism can restrain them from destroying and devouring one another."
James Madison, Federalist No. 55, 1788
Les: What about this by James Madison/The Federalist #51:
ReplyDeleteIt may be a reflection on human nature, that such devices should be necessary to control the abuses of government. But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself. A dependence on the people is, no doubt, the primary control on the government; but experience has taught mankind the necessity of auxiliary precautions.
No one can ever say our Founding Fathers didn’t warn us. What’s it going to take before people open their eyes? Make a stand? Make a move? We’d better wake the heck up or we aren’t even going to have issues to argue over, let alone a country!
Pamela - Great wisdom from a man that recognized that a proper government has two primary functions. Sadly the second part; "... and in the next place oblige it to control itself."
ReplyDeleteThis is no longer a concern of our modern progressive government. Rather, today the so called "wise men" of government see the all inclusive role of government to be the continuous expansion of power and limiting the natural rights and liberties of the individual.