Dissertation on First Principles of Government

Thomas Paine Archive ^ | July 1795 | Thomas Paine

[BluesDuke]

The Constitution should be taken like mountain whiskey - undiluted and untaxed. - Sen. Sam Ervin.

People must realise that the government in recent years has become far more of an enemy to their rights and liberty. People must recognise that government is now the most dangerous predator. - James Bovard.

Government is not the solution. Government is the problem. - Ronald Reagan

Our enemy, the State... - Albert Jay Nock.

[A.J.Armitage]

Your reference to the optimates is apt; they occupy roughly the same position in Rome the families you mention do in America. If our republic ever falls, the hereditary ruler, like the emperors of Rome, will never call themselves kings.

In our case, I think name recognition has as much to do with it as family money or influence. There was an election a few decades ago (I think in the 70s) in Wisconsin which was messed up by name recognition. A little background: the Secretary of State, in Wisconsin, is a very minor official (unlike Illinois, where he's almost as important as the Governor). For years the same Republican guy held office, and spent all his time playing cards. After he died his son was elected, and polls showed voters thought they were re-electing the old office-holder. So the son got in, and was re-elected term after term. There was a gas station owned by a third party member, and he had hired an attendent with the same name as the son. In order to embarrass the two-party system, he got the attendant to run as a Democrat. He got the nomination. He almost got elected, but the head of the state Democratic told everyone to vote for the Republican that year.

[A.J.Armitage]

If our republic ever falls, the hereditary ruler, like the emperors of Rome, will never call themselves kings.

Rulers.

[Dumb_Ox]

There is no subject more interesting to every man than the subject of government.

Hmm... Wasn't it Hadley Arkes who said that the first thing about politics is that politics is not the first thing?

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Good government ultimately (elected or hereditary) depends on the character of the people who govern.

[Native American Female Vet]

Thanks for the ping!

[KirkandBurke]

Thanks for the BUMP. Now is a very good time to revisit the first principles of gov't. We must revisit the foundation to see where the building program went awry. The current structure looks nothing like the original design, nor does it even capture its spirit.

[mafree]

Thanks for the bump- printing to keep it.

[eskimo]

"... it is the nature and intention of a constitution to prevent governing by party, by establishing a common principle that shall limit and control the power and impulse of party, and that says to all parties, thus far shalt thou go and no further. But in the absence of a constitution, men look entirely to party; and instead of principle governing party, party governs principle." Eloquently stated "commonsense" by Thomas Paine.

I do not believe many would disagree that party at this time governs principle.

Perhaps the constitutionally appointed defenders of the common principle should be notified.

[archy]

If our republic ever falls, the hereditary ruler, like the emperors of Rome, will never call themselves kings.

Rulers.

Oh no. They will call themselves *protectors*, though in fact, the protection of us as individuals rates very low on their list of priorities.

-archy-/-

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

Not to be overly eager to spot the obvious in the punch bowl, but we actually DO have a Versailles-style model class system in terms of wealth/power ratio. It's just based on the lottery of the markets rather than paternal ancestry traced to some 9th-century warrior hero or courtly allegiance and, of course, minus the cinderella pageantry, with much gaudier architecture. Just think of Denise Rich, Enron, Steven Spielberg, Barbara Streisand and other leisurely figures who purchase seats at court. There's plenty that's non-representative in the power structure and political culture.

[First_Salute]

:-)

[Marianne]

Thanks for posting. BTTT

[Dustbunny]

Bump

[Lumberjack]

But in the absence of a constitution, men look entirely to party; and instead of principle governing party, party governs principle.

No words more true have been spoken. Today, no better example of this at play is to be seen but on FR and DU. I'm sure, as a result, that Mr. Paine will be held in contempt and trashed as "anti-Bush", as are most people here and in other forums who do not tow the party line.

There was a reason why this man's writings were so well received two and a third centuries ago. There once existed a nation filled with men and women who believed in ideas and ideals of liberty. What statement is it for today's men and women that so few of us exist any longer?

[Lumberjack]

Thanks for the bump. Its always nice to read the writing of a fellow traveller down our now all but deserted road of liberty. Even as an exercise in language his writing is to be respected. As an exercise in thought, it is to be held in awe.

[Lumberjack]

I honestly don't think there's one single solitary politician alive that would even fathom such thoughts.

Ron Paul? Even taking him, though, that's one out of what, thousands, millions perhaps? Not a good statistical average, in my opinion.

There are people who think at this level and who attempt to communicate these kinds of ideas and ideals. They are now commonly referred to as "extremists" and "crackpots" by the elite and of course the publically "educated" rabble.

[pjd]

I took a look at the other Missing 13th material, and it seems to me that the arguments presented would equally apply to Ph.D's, M.D.'s, etc. As much as I agree that lawyers should not hold public office (because of a conflict of interest) I don't think the interpretation's regarding the Missing 13th Amendment are convincing in this regard.

[Lumberjack]

Fortunately, you screen name alone alerts me to the automatically assumed [/sarcasm] tag in your statement. :)

Sad, isn't it? Can you imagine a world where the greater portion of the people you spoke to had both read and grasped this and other writings of actual, real Patriots? It would have been a joy, to just experience that once in a life time. I sometimes envy those who had the fortune to live in such times.

Be that as it may, we have to work with what we have. At least there are still some left who understand this.