Posted on 01/26/2021 1:45:59 PM PST by Jacquerie
Through a series of lessons arranged in three Books, the thrust of Niccolo’ Machiavelli‘s Discourses on Livy deals with how nations in general, and republics in particular, can design, keep, and if necessary, restore free-government. The media for this exercise are the experiences, trials, successes and failures of the Roman Republic as related by Titus Livius (59BC – 17AD).
J.G.A. Pocock, an historian at Washington University in St. Louis Missouri, coined the term “Machiavellian Moment” to identify the commencement of clear thinking in which civil society realizes that unless it takes corrective action, the corruption into which the nation has fallen may be irreversible.
From the opening of the 18th century, the language of our colonial forebears took on the dialect of the Glorious Revolution (1688) and more. Enlightenment writers and philosophers – Harrington, Milton, Sidney, Trenchard, Gordon, Bolingbroke, Montesquieu, Locke, together with Renaissance master Machiavelli, formed the authoritative literature of American culture. No matter the societal differences between the thirteen colonies, the educated and well-read heroes of the Founding Era were steeped in this neo-classical political tradition. A common language and tradition that bound them together almost guaranteed an eventual break with England.
Some two hundred and fifty years later, we are still familiar with their precepts – a patriotic ideal grounded in unalienable rights, public virtue and private property. Less well known today, yet itemized in our Declaration, are expressions of outrage at the corruption introduced into the colonies by George III. Just as many conservatives today regard our written Constitution as ideal, so our forebears likewise regarded the unwritten English Constitution of mixed and balanced government. However, having been raised in the aforementioned literature, his Majesty’s North American subjects were spring loaded to detect corruption of this most perfect form of government ever devised. American sensitivity was well known. In a March 1775 speech designed to head off further violence, Edmund Burke cautioned MPs to realize that the colonists “augur misgovernment at a distance, and snuff the approach of tyranny in every tainted breeze.”
As illustrated by our colonial experience, corruption of governing institutions isn’t the handiwork of the people; those at the top are responsible for planting the rot that eventually works its way down to society.
Civic personality, the perception of the individual’s place in society is shaped by many things, including one’s form of government, and the roles of religion, property and virtue. By the time ongoing corruption of the civic personality from a system that heretofore had been a source of trust and pride became apparent, the language of the previous seventy years compelled our ancestors to demand a return to the first principles of the British Constitution.
This demand, when virtue confronted corruption, constituted a Machiavellian Moment. One could say it occurred when the Stamp Act congress met, when delegations of leading men from across the colonies convened to devise measures in opposition to accelerating tyranny. Their work culminated in 1789 when the corrupted colonial government of George III was replaced with a new government built largely on old principles.
America is in a similar situation today. Virtue shall confront the corruption of our Constitution in a Machiavellian Moment when an Article V convention of the states is gaveled to order. As in the 18th century, the necessary, practical reforms of our governing system will span decades. It must begin soon, before the once freest and happiest people on earth slide into the depths of subjugation and despair.
<>Build confidence first then move ahead with an annual Article 5 until we get the government under control.<>
Agree to all. 17th . . . 16th, and perhaps most important, an annual Article V Convention of the States.
Imagine Scotus looking over its shoulder every year wondering which of its fubar decisions will be overturned.
Chuckles, they would be feeling the heat wouldn’t they?!
>>the FBI show up and arrest the parties citing a conspiracy to unravel the constitution?<<
After all I’ve seen from the FBI/BATF/DOJ/IRS over the last couple of decades...I’d say not long.
These agencies have been and are currently being weaponized against American citizens.
Hannity always talks about those 99% of good, hard working agents..yada yada. That’s flat BS. These supposed good, hard working agents closed ranks to protect one another and have for years.
I don’t trust them at all. I will never forget Waco, nor Ruby Ridge, nor Bundy ranch siege, nor lil Elian Gonzales, nor Finnican shooting. Look how they treated Roger Stone. How bout Carter Page, Popadopolous.
Not to mention covering up Hunter Biden laptop scandal, Biden’s, Clinton’s hoovering Chinese communist $$$ for years. How bout Wiener’s laptop with classified info on it? Who put it there, why did they sweep it under the rug?
Clinton foundation money laundering, Clinton state dept. pay for play, Clinton secret server allowing her to circumvent government transparency AND containing all kinds of secret documents likely gleaned by foreign intelligence.
Man...the list goes on and on. Yea..the 99% of good, hard working agents. Pfft!! what a joke.
Not ONE whistle blower at the FBI that witnessed corrupt upper echelons? Not one?
Indeed!
What is the point of breathing? You are not going to change anything anyways. Might as well crawl into a coffin and close the lid. /s
Imagine Trump going state state lobbying for the Article V call. Imagine him heading up the Convention itself? By stealing the Presidency from him he could become more powerful than any America since George Washington, who headed up the first Convention!
I agree with all your points. They are looking to legalize voter fraud. We need face it, the dems are EVIL. Evil and just do not exist together. Time for a separation IMO.
<>By stealing the Presidency from him he could become more powerful than any America since George Washington, who headed up the first Convention!<>
The Party remains terrified of Donald John Trump. Good.
Well now, that added tons to the conversation. Now, tell me, do you in fact trust that the participants in an Article V setting, would follow the Constitution and guidelines set forth upon them and not subvert the guidelines, forget the Constitution and do whatever the hell they want? Do you?
It is already a power Congress has, Congress just requires a 2/3's vote then the same 3/4's of the states for Ratification. Funny how there is no fear uncertainty and despair about Congress going off the rails with it's similar power.
For the left the process is finding a sympathetic judge then a Court of Supreme Whim ruling and voila! A proxy amendment by 9 black robed lawyers! It has been over 200 years since the Court seized this final ruling power. The COS could finally do something about that.
The Constitution provides for many safeguards and boundaries as well, yet they continue to do whatever they want, and the courts don't stop them. To think, somehow, that they would abide by any guidelines whatsoever is simply laughable. You want a complete end to the 2nd Amendment? This is how you get it.
Wither you believe it is pointless or not it is the last chance short of Civil War to save the Republic. We have nothing left to lose.
You want to see the 2nd Amendment taken out of the BoR's completely? Have an Article V Convention. You have EVERYTHING to lose with Article V. I understand the concept. I think it's a great concept. But when you have a congress/resident that doesn't care about the Constitution to begin with, it will not turn out even remotely good.
Exactly
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