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To: Jacquerie
Do you disagree with the statement made by Madison at the Virginia ratifying convention?

That checks and balances offer no real security? No! I agree with it! That's what makes Madison such a muddle. It's like he had the truth staring him in the face, but couldn't see it. He was very confused. On the one hand, he designs a national, consolidated government and believes that the checks and balances with the separate departments will provide security from tyranny. On the other hand, he doesn't.

As Patrick Henry said:

But now, Sir, the American spirit, assisted by the ropes and chains of consolidation, is about to convert this country to a powerful and mighty empire: If you make the citizens of this country agree to become the subjects of one great consolidated empire of America, your Government will not have sufficient energy to keep them together: Such a Government is incompatible with the genius of republicanism: There will be no checks, no real balances, in this Government: What can avail your specious imaginary balances, your rope-dancing, chain-rattling, ridiculous ideal checks and contrivances?

The solution, of course, was to reject the plan, and go back to doing what the convention was actually tasked to do---amend the articles of confederation. But the Constitutional Convention was a revolution in its own right. Madison, imo, was a dupe.

Every time I criticize, you complain that it's ad hominem, but none of it is. I literally think he was duped, and had a blind spot that is impossible to fathom. I don't say the same thing about Hamilton--he KNEW what he was after.

Madison, otoh, seems dumbfounded when things transpired just as the skeptics had warned. As P. Henry pointed out, governments are necessary evils. The solution, then, is to have as little of it as possible. The Constitution went in the other direction altogether, and we're paying for it.

22 posted on 12/04/2009 2:49:35 PM PST by Huck (The Constitution is an outrageous insult to the men who fought the Revolution." -Patrick Henry)
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To: Huck
I reject your characterization of James Madison.

I reject your characterization of Alexander Hamilton.

I reject your characterization of Thomas Jefferson.

I reject your degradation of the 4th, 9th and 10th Amendments.

I reject your degradation of our Beloved Constitution.

I will oppose your nonsense at every post. Count on it.

23 posted on 12/04/2009 4:38:02 PM PST by Jacquerie (It is only in the context of Natural Law that the Declaration & Constitution form a coherent whole.)
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