Posted on 09/07/2007 7:55:28 AM PDT by Loud Mime
"It will be of little avail to the people, that the laws are made by men of their own choice, if the laws be so voluminous that they cannot be read, or so incoherent that they cannot be understood; if they be repealed or revised before they are promulgated, or undergo such incessant changes that no man, who knows what the law is to-day, can guess what it will be to-morrow."
Alexander Hamilton and James Madison (Federalist No. 62, 1788)
"Taxes should be proportioned to what may be annually spared by the individual."
Thomas Jefferson (letter to James Madison, 1784)
““The public cannot be too curious concerning the characters of public men.”
Samuel Adams
I am free to acknowledge that His Powers are full great, and greater than I was disposed to make them. Nor, Entre Nous, do I believe they would have been so great had not many of the members cast their eyes towards General Washington as President; and shaped their Ideas of the Powers to be given to a President, by their opinions of his Virtue.
Pierce Butler (letter to Weedon Butler, 5 May 1778)
Every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle. We have called by different names brethren of the same principle.
Thomas Jefferson (First Inaugural Address, 4 March 1801)
“I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people, except for a few public officials. ... To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them.”
George Mason - - - (Thanks to “Raisetheroof)
“The only freedom deserving the name, is that of pursuing our own good in our own way, so long as we do not attempt to deprive others of theirs, or impede their efforts to obtain it. Each is the proper guardian of his own health, whether bodily, or mental and spiritual. Mankind are greater gainers by suffering each other to live as seems good to themselves, than by compelling each to live as seems good to the rest.”
John Stuart Mill
"Work as if you were to live 100 Years, Pray as if you were to die To-morrow."
Benjamin Franklin (Poor Richard's Almanack, 1757)
“My policy has been, and will continue to be, while I have the honor to remain in the administration of the government, to be upon friendly terms with, but independent of, all the nations of the earth. To share in the broils of none. To fulfil our own engagements. To supply the wants, and be carriers for them all: Being thoroughly convinced that it is our policy and interest to do so.”
George Washington (letter to Gouverneur Morris, 22 December 1795)
"Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.
The Declaration of Independence, 4 July 1776
"But I go on this great republican principle, that the people will have virtue and intelligence to select men of virtue and wisdom. Is there no virtue among us? If there be not, we are in a wretched situation. No theoretical checks--no form of government can render us secure. To suppose that any form of government will secure liberty or happiness without any virtue in the people, is a chimerical idea. If there be sufficient virtue and intelligence in the community, it will be exercised in the selection of these men. So that we do not depend on their virtue, or put confidence in our rulers, but in the people who are to choose them. James Madison Virginia Ratifying Convention, 20 June 1788But I go on this great republican principle, that the people will have virtue and intelligence to select men of virtue and wisdom. Is there no virtue among us? If there be not, we are in a wretched situation. No theoretical checks--no form of government can render us secure. To suppose that any form of government will secure liberty or happiness without any virtue in the people, is a chimerical idea. If there be sufficient virtue and intelligence in the community, it will be exercised in the selection of these men. So that we do not depend on their virtue, or put confidence in our rulers, but in the people who are to choose them."
James Madison Virginia Ratifying Convention, 20 June 1788 - - Thanks to AuntB!
"But I go on this great republican principle, that the people will have virtue and intelligence to select men of virtue and wisdom. Is there no virtue among us? If there be not, we are in a wretched situation. No theoretical checks--no form of government can render us secure. To suppose that any form of government will secure liberty or happiness without any virtue in the people, is a chimerical idea. If there be sufficient virtue and intelligence in the community, it will be exercised in the selection of these men. So that we do not depend on their virtue, or put confidence in our rulers, but in the people who are to choose them."
James Madison Virginia Ratifying Convention, 20 June 1788 - - Thanks to Turretgunner A-20!
“In the beginning of th econtest with Britain,when we were sensible of danger ,we had daily prayers in this room for Divine protection.Our prayers,sir, were heard -and they were graciously answered.”and from the same speech “ We are assured ,Sir, in the Sacred Writings, that ‘except the Lord build the house they labor in vain that build it .’ I firmly believe this, and I also believe that, without His concurring aid,we shall suceed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel...”
Note the prayers the “old Deist” spoke of were like that of Sep.7 1774 Rev.Duche in Congress “in the name and through the merits of Jesus Christ, Thy Son and our Savior, Amen.” - - Thanks to Stony Burk
"Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!"
Patrick Henry - - Thanks, ConorMacNessa
Chuck out the vapid John Stuart Mill quote (any 1960s radical could have written that) and this is a good list.
We’re talking around each other......I’m all for the ‘Fair Tax’
Yep. We agree. Scrap the IRS.
Have a great weekend.
Yep. I didn’t like it either.
Congress lives by the earmark. We will not see a restructure of the IRS - in any way - unless we cure these politicians of their spending habits.
So far, they have stalled every attempt at reform and watered down their previous commitments. It doesn’t look good.
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