To all Republican candidates for the Presidency:
"Ideas have consequences."- Weaver
The only path to making America "great again" begins and ends with understanding of, and adherence to, the ideas and principles underlying the Constitution of the United States of America, as they were explained in the 35 essays of THE FEDERALIST, newspaper essays addressed directly to "the People" prior to ratification of that Constitution by the people in the states.-------------------------
"On every question of construction, let us carry ourselves back to the time when the Constitution was adopted, recollect the spirit manifested in the debates, and instead of trying what meaning may be squeezed out of the text, or invented against it, conform to the probable one in which it was passed."
— Thomas Jefferson, letter to William Johnson, June 12, 1823, The Complete Jefferson, p. 322.
"Our peculiar security is in the possession of a written Constitution. Let us not make it a blank paper by construction." Thomas Jefferson to W, Nicholas, 1803.
In his own 1801 Inaugural Address, after listing what he called the "essential principles" to guide his Administration, Jefferson added:
"These principles form the bright constellation which has gone before us and guided our steps through an age of revolution and reformation. The wisdom of our sages and blood of our heroes have been devoted to their attainment. They should be the creed of our political faith, the text of civic instruction, the touchstone by which to try the services of those we trust; and should we wander from them in moments of error or of alarm, let us hasten to retrace our steps and to regain the road which alone leads to peace, liberty, and safety." - Thomas Jefferson, First Inaugural, 1801
We might contrast Jefferson's understanding with today's Democrat Party "progressive" policies which, in effect, undo all the monumental work accomplished by the Founders on behalf of liberty and leave the law afloat and without anchor, relying, as of old, on mere men and women.