Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Burke and Obama (Thomas Sowell)
Townhall.com ^ | May 29, 2009 | Thomas Sowell

Posted on 05/28/2009 9:08:20 PM PDT by 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.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Government
KEYWORDS: bho; bhusseinobama; burke; chairmanmaobama; edmundburke; maobama; obama; sowell; thomassowell
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-30 next last

1 posted on 05/28/2009 9:08:20 PM PDT by jazusamo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: abigail2; Amalie; American Quilter; arthurus; awelliott; Bahbah; bamahead; Battle Axe; bboop; ...
*PING*
Thomas Sowell

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Recent columns
Sotomayor: “Empathy“ in Action
Random Thoughts
Housing interview by Brian Doherty

Please FReepmail me if you would like to be added to, or removed from, the Thomas Sowell ping list…

2 posted on 05/28/2009 9:09:31 PM PDT by jazusamo (But there really is no free lunch, except in the world of political rhetoric,.: Thomas Sowell)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: jazusamo

A lot to make one think. I wonder if anyone is listening, or reading, it doesn’t appear that at 1600 W. Pennsylvania anyone has taken any consideration of these warnings.


3 posted on 05/28/2009 9:12:03 PM PDT by rovenstinez
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rovenstinez

Oliver Sowell or Thomas North?


4 posted on 05/28/2009 9:12:39 PM PDT by pissant (THE Conservative party: www.falconparty.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: jazusamo

Obozo is so full of himself that he has utter contempt for the “dead white guys” who formed our government.

He and some of his friends will eventually learn a very painful lesson.

Those “dead white guys” were much much smarter than he is.


5 posted on 05/28/2009 9:16:36 PM PDT by Texas Fossil (Once a Republic, Now a State, Still Texas)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: pissant

Thanks, pissant. Too many things going.


6 posted on 05/28/2009 9:20:37 PM PDT by jazusamo (But there really is no free lunch, except in the world of political rhetoric,.: Thomas Sowell)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: jazusamo
Edmund Burke is one of my favorite writers. He is best known for his criticism of the French Revolution, but at the time, he was a lonely voice in England. His objections sounded somewhat shrill, but this was before the Terror took place. When it did take place, people began to understand what Burke was trying to warn about.

He was a Whig who opposed the crown's taxation of the trade of the American colonists. He warned what these new taxes might provoke. They provoked the American Revolution.

7 posted on 05/28/2009 9:26:48 PM PDT by stripes1776 ("That if gold rust, what shall iron do?" --Chaucer)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: jazusamo

Sowell:"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."

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.

8 posted on 05/28/2009 9:27:04 PM PDT by HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: jazusamo

“... 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.” Oh, Obowma can probably live with Iran having and even using nuclear weapons and/or passing them to al Qaeda suicide bombers, because Barry will likley survive in a government bunker while millions of Israelis and Americans die initially and in the year following.


9 posted on 05/28/2009 9:28:34 PM PDT by MHGinTN (Believing they cannot be deceived, they cannot be convinced when they are deceived.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Billthedrill

Edmund Burke ping.


10 posted on 05/28/2009 9:29:00 PM PDT by Publius
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rovenstinez

Great article. Thanks for posting. Obama may well know of these warnings, but ‘they aren’t about HIM,’ don’t you know?


11 posted on 05/28/2009 9:40:16 PM PDT by bboop (obama, little o, not a Real God)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: jazusamo

Reason for Optimism

My friend recently asked me the reason I am actually thankful that Obama won the last election.

My answer was: “When you drive a car off a cliff, you usually don’t have long to wait until things get shaken up considerably”.


12 posted on 05/28/2009 9:40:43 PM PDT by ChinaGotTheGoodsOnClinton (To those who believe the world was safer with Saddam, get treatment for that!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: jazusamo

>> Worse yet, he may think it is something we can live with.

I’d expect many Liberals to think this way. Unfortunately, the problems are not going to go away without some serious effort.


13 posted on 05/28/2009 9:41:32 PM PDT by Gene Eric
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: jazusamo
"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."

Frankly, Dr. Sowell, I think this quote is much more apropos for Obama than for Iran. Obama is the "evil man."

14 posted on 05/28/2009 9:42:12 PM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: jazusamo

Wow, how chillingly apropriate Edmunds Burke’s comments are to the situation today, with Obama as president. Great column.


15 posted on 05/28/2009 9:46:56 PM PDT by TAdams8591 (Bush's recession, Obama's depression.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: jazusamo

We’ve been ‘Burke’d’ alright.


16 posted on 05/28/2009 10:00:31 PM PDT by Beowulf9
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Beowulf9

“We’ve been ‘Burke’d’ alright.”

No, I rather fear we ‘Burke’d’ ourselves.


17 posted on 05/28/2009 10:21:42 PM PDT by GladesGuru (In a society predicated upon freedom, it is essential to examine principles,)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: jazusamo

Some truths are eternal. Whenever I hear the excuse, “that was then but this is a now” its a good bet you are talking to a fool.


18 posted on 05/28/2009 10:25:48 PM PDT by Nateman (If liberals aren't screaming you're doing it wrong.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Nateman

Well said! Way too many won’t learn from their own mistakes or history.


19 posted on 05/28/2009 10:29:04 PM PDT by jazusamo (But there really is no free lunch, except in the world of political rhetoric,.: Thomas Sowell)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: jazusamo

Sowell is a genius and his application of Burke here is brilliant. If only enough people could wake up and see.


20 posted on 05/28/2009 10:29:58 PM PDT by Yaelle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-30 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson