The Federalist papers: Federalist 5

In Federalist 5, John Jay continues to discuss the need for a United States vs 13 individual states, or several groups of states.

This time Jay brings us practical lessons from the nation American had just won it’s freedom from, Great Britain. Here he speaks of the time when a union was being formed between England and Scotland, and how many issues and conflicts were solved through this union.

Jay rightfully warns that a divided America would experience these troubles, and then some. One must remember that trouble was already brewing at the time, with the several states often arguing amongst themselves over trade, and other issues. With the British to the north, and the French and Spanish to the south and west, it would be very easy for foreign interlopers to interfere and insight trouble between the divided, but sovereign, states.....

I wonder if Jay might rethink his prepositions today? Judging by the current efforts of devolution in the United Kingdom, such as an independence movement within Scotland and Wales, not to mention the long history of violence in Ulster, a powerful central government is not the protector of individual rights, but an obstacle of such rights. The United States looks nothing like it did when Jay was alive. There have been huge changes in the UK and the USA since then. If you took Jay’s views to its logical conclusion, the best Union would be a one world government. Think how strong that would be in Jay’s views.

Judging by the current efforts of devolution in the United Kingdom, such as an independence movement within Scotland and Wales, not to mention the long history of violence in Ulster, a powerful central government is not the protector of individual rights, but an obstacle of such rights.

The powerful central government was most assuredly the protector of individual rights during the period 1933-1945, for instance. Louis XIV, Napoleon, Kaiser Wilhelm, Adolph Hitler, Stalin and his sensor's: any of these would have been happy to play off Scotch, Welsh, Irish divergent ethnic interests, vanities and envies to divert the English from any ability to influence Continental affairs, or even to defend themselves.

A strong state is not the issue - the necessity for defense against foreign power settles that for any realistic person. When foreigners can remake your government at their whim you are not free. The issue is to prevent your government from passing from being a servant and protector of your freedom to a master of the people it once served. The balance is inherently unstable and must be adjusted at least once every generation - failure to adjust correctly either leaves you in thrall to foreigners or those who use the power entrusted to them to make them your masters.

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