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For the past two years, many people have talked about the need to go back to the original intents of the founding fathers of our country. This is all very good, if only those people had taken the time first to actually read and understand the words and wisdom they perportedly thought from which we had strayed.
After the latest misinterpretation, I think all politicians, political pundits and any others who see the need to "quote" the makers of this great country, should be required to actually read from the original writings that which they quote. Had Sarah Palin done this on The O'Reilly show, or had Bill himself had the facts to set the record straight then and there, the country as a whole would be far better off.
With that said, I think it best to start to post some actual writings of the Founding Fathers so that just maybe a debate may insue that has a basis in fact. It would be easy to start with their actual thoughts on religion and government to aid Sarah in her education, but I feel most everyone is aware of the "seperation of state" foundations there.
Here is an article written by James Madison published in the National Gazette, February 20, 1792. The thoughts expressed here are as pertinent today as they were then.
"On Types of Goverment
No Government is perhaps reducible to a sole principle of operation...... It is useful, nevertheless, to analyze the several kinds of goverment, and to characterize them by the spirit which dominates each.
Montesquieu has resolved the great operative principles of government into fear, honor, and virtue, applying the first to pure despotisms, the second to regular monarchies, and the third to republics. The portion of truth blended with the ingenuity of this system sufficiently justifies the admiration bestowed on its author. Its accuracy however can never be defended against the criticism which it has encountered. Montesquieu was in politics not a Newton or a Locke, who established immortal system, the one in matter, the other in mind. He was in his peculiar science what Bacon was in universal science. He lifted the veil from the venerable errors which enslaved opinion, and pointed the way to those luminous truths of which he had but a glimpse himself.
May not governments be properly divided, acording to their predominant spirit and principles into three species of which the following are examples?
First. A government operating by a permanant military force, which at once maintains the government, and is maintained by it; which is at once the cause of burdens on the people, and of submission in the people to their burdens. Such have been the governments under which human nature has groaned through every age. Such are the governments which still oppress it in almost every country of Europe, the quarter of the globe which calls itself the pattern of civilization, and the pride of humanity.
Secondly. A government operating by corrupt influence; substituting the motive of private interest in place of public duty; converting its pecuniary dispensations into bounties to favorites, or bribes to opponents; accomodating its measures to the avidity of a part of the nation instead of a benefit of the whole; in a word, enlisting an army of interested partisans, whose tongue, whose pens, whose intrigues, and whose active combinations, by supplying the terror of the sword, may support a real domination of the few, under an apparent liberty of the many. Such a goverment, wherever to be found, is an imposter. It is happy for the new world that it is not on the west side of the Atlantic. It will be both happy and honorable for the United States, if they never descend to mimic the costly pageantry of this form, nor betray themselves into the venal spirit of its administration.
Thirdly. A government deriving its energy from the will of the society, and operating by the reason of its measures, on the understanding and interest of the society. Such is the goverment for which philosophy has been searching, and humanity been fighting, from the most remote ages. Such are republican governments which is the glory of America to have invented, and her unrivalled happiness to possess."
Here are some links to help with the references made:
http://www.rjgeib.com/thoughts/montesquieu/montesquieu.html
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/locke/
To read this one article and see the vision that created this country is to understand why an education in the Founding Fathers is more than just an interesting hobby but a requirement that will help preserve what they so labored to establish.
How close are we to falling into the trap which is alluded to in the second case? Do we possess the wisdom that is possessed in this one article?
