Category — Founding Fathers

The Founders feared an overly powerful government. Governments govern ... which means they exercise power. George Washington may have said it best, “Government is not reason: It is not eloquence, it is Force, like fire it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master.” James Madison chimed in by adding, “The essence of Government is power; and power, lodged as it must be in human hands, will ever be liable to abuse.”   Read the rest of this entry »

The Founders viewed Liberty and Freedom as two very different concepts. In their view, Freedom is something that man can grant to his fellow man, but Liberty is derived from a higher authority. Every human is endowed with natural rights and the free exercise of those rights is called liberty. On the other hand, a person released from slavery or indentured servitude obtains his freedom from the person or persons releasing them from bondage.   Read the rest of this entry »

The Founders believed that the Constitution was a legally binding agreement between Americans and their government. Here are some quotes contrasting the views of some of the document's framers with that of some politicos of more recent times.   Read the rest of this entry »

The Enlightenment concepts of first principles and natural rights were important to the Founders. They served as the basis for the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and many other founding documents.   Read the rest of this entry »

Some words from Founding Father Fisher Ames on the dangers of the mob.   Read the rest of this entry »

An incredibly prescient letter from Madison to Jefferson, in which Madison offers his observations on the dangers of a tyrannical majority in a democratic system. Madison explains his views on the proposed Bill of Rights and one of the reasons for his reticence was simply because he didn't care for all those who supported it! "At the same time I have never thought the omission [of a Bill of Rights] a material defect, nor been anxious to supply it even by subsequent amendment, for any other reason than that it is anxiously desired by others."   Read the rest of this entry »

In the first of our Constitution Day (week) posts, Jim looks at the speed bumps specified by the nation's charter document to restrain government.   Read the rest of this entry »

William Nester’s book explores the roots of America’s unique political culture. Readers will understand why America is not like Greece or Iran.   Read the rest of this entry »

The judiciary should not rule based on what's popular, or perceived as popular. Instead they should recognize that this is not a democracy but a republic based on the rule of law - and the supreme law of the land is the Constitution. If that Constitution is made of wax, it is of no use.   Read the rest of this entry »

James takes a look at what the newly media-proclaimed "expert" (Richard Stengel) on the Constitution has to say in the most recent edition of Time magazine. (Note, Stengel's no expert, his article is rife with errors and his ideology leaks through all over it.)   Read the rest of this entry »