[Sam Cree]

My understanding of Reagan is that he was, like our founding fathers, a firm believer in individual freedom and limited government. To the extent that that is true, we have certainly moved on, since modern Republicans no longer seem to advocate limited government, or even individual freedom.

"The true conservatives, the founders,'' Diggins rightly says, constructed a government full of blocking mechanisms -- separations of powers, a bicameral legislature and other checks and balances -- in order ''to check the demands of the people.'' Madison's Constitution responds to the problem of human nature. ''Reagan,'' says Diggins, ''let human nature off the hook."

Nice little paraphrase of the founders' intent, and one I agree with. However, I believe Reagan probably also agreed with it.

[hinckley buzzard]

"The true conservatives, the founders,'' Diggins rightly says, constructed a government full of blocking mechanisms -- separations of powers, a bicameral legislature and other checks and balances -- in order ''to check the demands of the people.''

I don't believe this is true at all. The Constitution was constructed not to thwart the will of the people but to prevent the abuse of power among those who would use government power to infringe on the liberties of the people.