Founding Principles


What the Founders really meant
Now that I have explained the real differences in laws, I'd like to look at the principles that the United States was founded on.

As I explained before, the United States Constitution was absolutely unique because it was the first time in recorded history that a government was established by the choice of the people and not by a "Higher Power." There was no Supreme Being enumerated, the people were and remain the higher power that government had to answer to.

The entire document carefully lists out the restrictions on government. The first ten amendments enumerate certain rights for the people without restricting any other rights. That was at the time unheard of. It is still exceedingly rare today.

By now it should be obvious. The United States government was intended to protect people from measurable damage, with an absolute minimum of actions forbidden to the people. At the same time, people were expected to live with the consequences of their choices and actions. There would be no government to bail them out.

This was not an accident of law. It was deliberately calculated. The reasons go back to the English Civil War. The Founders knew without a doubt that once government took on moral authority, tyranny followed.

Should a Catholic follow the moral edicts of a Protestant? Should someone be imprisoned for his beliefs? These were not idle questions. For the American Founders, they were a part of their recent history. How do you make sure that your faith and your beliefs and your morals are protected, no matter who is in office?

Simple. You make sure that the government has no moral authority.

Let's translate that to today's terms. Obviously, it means that the evangelical "Religious Right" should not have the power to force their morality. But friends and neighbors, that sword cuts both ways. People can't use government to force a green or progressive agenda either. No matter how much you think it is a good idea.

If you use the power of government on someone today, don't be surprised if someone uses that same power on you tomorrow.

— NeoWayland

Posted: Mon - December 4, 2006 at 08:46 AM  Tag


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