To: Clint N. Suhks
Some thoughts on libertarians:
Morality must be upheld in a Republic for it to survive. The govt. should not need to have a LARGE
role in it unless it gets out of hand; the govt. had a limited role in morality early in the country because
the PEOPLE controlled themselves largely. But, the govt. still had a role to protect the morality of the
people because without it, the Republic will fall.
Samuel Adams
Signer of the Declaration of Independence
"[N]either the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the liberty and happiness of a people
whose manners are universally corrupt."
William V. Wells, The Life and Public Service of Samuel Adams (Boston: Little, Brown, & Co., 1865),
Vol. I, p. 22, quoting from a political essay by Samuel Adams published in The Public Advertiser, 1749.
James McHenry
Signer of the Constitution
"[P]ublic utility pleads most forcibly for the general distribution of the Holy Scriptures. The doctrine
they preach, the obligations they impose, the punishment they threaten, the rewards they promise, the
stamp and image of divinity they bear, which produces a conviction of their truths, can alone secure to
society, order and peace, and to our courts of justice and constitutions of government, purity, stability
and usefulness. In vain, without the Bible, we increase penal laws and draw entrenchments around our
institutions. Bibles are strong entrenchments. Where they abound, men cannot pursue wicked courses,
and at the same time enjoy quiet conscience."
Bernard C. Steiner, One Hundred and Ten Years of Bible Society Work in Maryland, 1810-1920
(Maryland Bible Society, 1921), p. 14.
Benjamin Franklin
Signer of the Constitution and Declaration of Independence
"[O]nly a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have
more need of masters."
Benjamin Franklin, The Writings of Benjamin Franklin, Jared Sparks, editor (Boston: Tappan,
Whittemore and Mason, 1840), Vol. X, p. 297, April 17, 1787.
"[T]he [federal] government . . . can never be in danger of degenerating into a monarchy, and oligarchy,
an aristocracy, or any other despotic or oppressive form so long as there shall remain any virtue in the
body of the people."
George Washington, The Writings of George Washington, John C. Fitzpatrick, editor (Washington: U.
S. Government Printing Office, 1939), Vol. XXIX, p. 410. In a letter to Marquis De Lafayette, February 7,
1788.)
Furthermore, law must be based on morality, at least the issue of property rights, according to John Adams.
"The moment the idea is admitted into society, that property is not as sacred as the laws of God, and
that there is not a force of law and public justice to protect it, anarchy and tyranny commence. If "Thou
shalt not covet," and "Thou shalt not steal," were not commandments of Heaven, they must be made
inviolable precepts in every society, before it can be civilized or made free."
John Adams, The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States, Charles Francis
Adams, editor (Boston: Charles C. Little and James Brown, 1851), Vol. VI, p. 9.
The libertarians are gravely mistaken when trying to separate morality from the government.
To: rwfromkansas
It is a straw man to suggest people like me are attempting to "separate" morality from government. But, like anything government tries to do, when it upholds morality it does it expensively, incompetently, and ineffectively. The only solution is to focus government resources on a limited set of tasks, like enforcing laws against violent and property crime at the state level, and national security at the federal level. There is a reason the Founders specified a far smaller government than we have now, with far fewer police enforcing far fewer laws, and it was not because they were against morality.
So what would you rather have? A law against buggery and a Federal Anti-buggery Agency with ninja suits and MP5s? Or true freedom of association so your church can say "Buggery bad, marriage good!" without it being a hate-crime?
138 posted on
12/06/2002 8:09:01 AM PST by
eno_
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