Posted on 06/06/2016 1:36:42 AM PDT by Jacquerie
In Book XI of The Spirit of the Laws, Charles de Montesquieu touched on the nature of liberty and representation in republics. While the term ‘liberty’ is somewhat ambiguous, he ascribed to it tranquility of mind arising from the opinion each person has of his safety. In order to have this liberty, it is requisite the government be so constituted as one man need not be afraid of another.
To foster liberty, free men send representatives to deliberative bodies to craft laws on their behalf. The great advantage of reps is their capacity to discuss public affairs in the course of making laws, a process for which the people at large are extremely unfit. Montesquieu’s representative was not a simple talking-head repeater of his constituents, for whom he executed general orders on specific issues. While the best men of the community chosen as reps certainly had to be aware of constituent attitudes, they were to exercise their judgment in public matters. With the exception of those in so mean a condition so as to have no will of their own, electors of reps should constitute the adults in the district.
A great fault in most of the ancient republics was the people’s right to participate in making active resolutions, such as require some execution. Montesquieu did not elaborate, but active resolutions could encompass a declaration of war, blanket forgiveness of debt, mob justice . . . any directive to the executive or judicial to perform a particular act.
In sum, the people’s capacity is limited to identifying local men of character; their participation in government should extend no further than choosing their representatives.
(Excerpt) Read more at articlevblog.com ...
The great advantage of reps is their capacity to discuss public affairs in the course of making laws>>>>>>>>>>>
No! That’s NOT politically correct! /S
The reps are supposed to nod their heads in unison like penguins, and also in unison, make exactly the same croaking noise!
Why?
Good Read:
http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/05/barack_obama_the_quintessentia_1.html
Montesquieu never calculated the Republic would face liberal fascism.
A “classic Liberal” in 1776 was an anti-Monarchist anti-Statitst. A modern liberal is a Marxist Statist. 180% phase shift in meaning in a little over 100 years of misuse.
The reality of modern liberalism exists within the boundaries of Lies, Deception & Fraud. As totally conjured as Obama’s past.
Montesquieu and other “great thinkers” certainly understood what was evil in governments. One of the fixtures in my grand parents home was a set of books called Harvard Classics. (I apologize for using the H word, that school was once a seat of learning instead of one of power seekers.) As a young man I tried to read them. Found it interesting but in my early teens I could not possibly have the background to understand much of the content.
The US owes a great debt to the founders of the nation, to those who secured our liberty in battle(s), and to divine providence. Yes, much of the blessings our nation has enjoyed was a gift. Wisdom (not knowledge) is hard to define but the most indispensable ingredient to a great nation. May God again Bless the US.
Authors who mix fascism, communism, Hitler, democracy, marxism, Alinsky all together in one piece typically get a roll-of-the-eyes response.
Occasionally we got things like Prop 13, but mostly we got crapola like the Train From Nowhere to No Place in Particular.
The few decent propositions were declared unconstitutional by judges appointed by our poorly chosen "representatives".
Propositions are now being advanced by weaselly representatives who don't want to take flak by voting on controversial issues.
Propositions are also advanced by PACs created by out-of-state organizations that want to treat Californians as guinea pigs in some sort of political/economic/social experiment.
Even Prop 13 has been turned on its head. Instead of leading to lower taxes overall it has been turned into an excuse to turn more and more power over to the state and away from local jurisdictions.
It's sad how even conservatives still point to propositions as some way to get past or around the decisions of our poorly chosen "representatives".
Indeed.
Fl does the same thing.
I despise the referendum process for passing statutes and even more for passing constitutional amendments.
They allow legislators off the hook and pass difficult decisions to the public.
Authors who mix fascism, communism, Hitler, democracy, marxism, Alinsky all together in one piece typically get a roll-of-the-eyes response. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Which is why very few people listen to Historians.
But the article is dead accurate. The greatest sin of the Obama movement is to unilaterally use executive orders to circumvent the constitution based on superior liberal fascist ideology. A lot has been done in the name of superior ideology including the destruction of Libya, Tripoli lays in rubble.Millions have dies becasue of that allegedly superior ideology.
All Obama has done is exercised one more facet of Obamas own clearly defined US neo colonialism , from the source of his personal ideology.Obama has hoisted himself on his own petard.It actually would be quite laughable if millions had not died, and America’s allies had not left for much greener trustworthy pastures.
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