Burke and Obama (Thomas Sowell)

Townhall.com ^ | May 29, 2009 | Thomas Sowell

[jazusamo]

The other day I sought a respite from current events by re-reading some of the writings of 18th century British statesman Edmund Burke. But it was not nearly as big an escape as I had thought it would be.

When Burke wrote of his apprehension about "new power in new persons," I could not help think of the new powers that have been created by which a new President of the United States -- a man with zero experience in business -- can fire the head of General Motors and tell banks how to run their businesses.

Not only is Barack Obama new to the presidency, he is new to running any organization. One of Burke's fears was that "we may place our confidence in the virtue of those who have never been tried."

Neither eloquence nor zeal was a substitute for experience, according to Burke. He said, "eloquence may exist without a proportionate degree of wisdom." As for zeal, Burke said: "It is no excuse for presumptuous ignorance that it is directed by insolent passion."

The Obama administration's going back and forth on the question whether American intelligence agents who forced information out of captured terrorist leaders will be subjected to legal jeopardy, even though they were told at the time that what they were doing was not only legal but a service to the nation, came to mind when reading Burke's warning about the dangers of continuing to change the rules and values by which people lived.

Burke asked how we could expect a sense of honor to exist when "no man could know what would be the test of honour in a nation, continually varying the standard of its coin?"

The current drive to take from "the rich" for the benefit of others came to mind when reading Burke's warning against creating a situation where "any one description of citizens should be brought to regard any of the others as their proper prey."

He also warned that "those who attempt to level, never equalise." What they end up doing is concentrating power in their own hands-- and Burke saw such new powers as dangerous, even if they were used only sparingly at first.

He said, "the true danger is, when liberty is nibbled away, for expedients and by parts." He also said: "It is by lying dormant a long time, or being at first very rarely exercised, that arbitrary power steals upon a people."

People who don't like "the rich" or "big business" or the banks may be happy that President Obama is sticking it to them. But such arbitrary powers can be turned on anybody. As Robert Burns said: "Send not to know for whom the bell tolls. It tolls for thee." There was a lot of wisdom in the 18th century.

The Constitution of the United States set out to limit the powers of the federal government but judges have greatly eroded those limitations over the years and the dispensing of bailout money has allowed the Obama administration to exercise powers that the Constitution never gave them.

Edmund Burke understood that, no matter what form of government you had, in the end the character of those who wielded the powers of government was crucial. He said: "Constitute government how you please, infinitely the greater part of it must depend upon the exercise of the powers which are left at large to the prudence and uprightness of ministers of state."

He also said, "of all things, we ought to be the most concerned who and what sort of men they are that hold the trust of everything that is dear to us." He feared particularly the kind of man "whose whole importance has begun with his office, and is sure to end with it"-- the kind of man "who before he comes into power has no friends, or who coming into power is obliged to desert his friends." Jeremiah Wright, Bill Ayers and others came to mind.

The biggest challenge to America -- and to the world -- today is the danger of Iran with nuclear weapons. President Obama is acting as if this is something he can finesse with talks or deals. Worse yet, he may think it is something we can live with.

Burke had something to say about things like that as well: "There is no safety for honest men, but by believing all possible evil of evil men, and by acting with promptitude, decision, and steadiness on that belief." Acting -- not talking.

[vaudine]

Good article, as usual for Sowell.

However "As Robert Burns said: "Send not to know for whom the bell tolls. It tolls for thee." gives Burns credit for something John Donne wrote.

vaudine

[fellowpatriot]

Times may change but human nature stays the same.

[SupplySider]

Good call. That is why morality is crucial. It is why Madison and Washington emphasized that religion was important for society. The leaders must be under God and act in accordance with sound moral principles. If these go out the window, you are well down the road to tyranny. As we can see now.

The fact that the Ivy League (and Oxford/Cambridge) education which is nearly a requirement for high public office, and which is the pedigree of Obama, teaches amorality in the form deconstruction, post-structuralism, critical theory, gender, race, and queer theory, and economic and cultural Marxism, does not give me confidence in our political future.

One can only hope for more Reagans and Palins, raised outside of the elite bubble.

[Daisyjane69]

The wrong black man is in the white house.

:(

[Clemenza]

True, but we need people who are COMPETANT. Ivy League bubble inhabitants OR backwoods hick populists need not apply.

[bert]

I saw him on Fox yesterday or the day before and he looked old. I guess I remember his picture from years ago when he wrote for Forbes and we were both young.

I was embarrassed by glen beck. He had the great man on and used him as window dressing. It was a travesty.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

We’re so screwed.

(I love you, Dr. Sowell!!)

[jazusamo]

Yes, Dr. Sowell’s age is showing but then mine is too. :)

I agree with you on Beck, he should have put the clowning around aside and saved it for another day. It would be nice if Dr. Sowell would only appear with Hannity because Hannity treats him with the respect he deserves.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

You raise a good point.

Gramsci, Fabian Socialism, and the Frankfurt School add more confusion to the Deweyite travesty of modern education.

Without the λόγος and φρόνησις of the Western tradition that would provide an antidote, universities are creating Frankensteins and barbarians to staff the new Leviathan. Many seem not to know what has been lost.

Someone needs to write a book on the Alinsky methods of the emerging Orwellian nanny state. Some of the propaganda is so absurd it seems like a comedy and deliberate parody.

[rockinqsranch]

“Burke had something to say about things like that as well: “There is no safety for honest men, but by believing all possible evil of evil men, and by acting with promptitude, decision, and steadiness on that belief.” Acting — not talking.”

Thanks for the ping jaz.

Yessirree you betcha that old classic cliche about “Action speaks louder than words”.