Why are these beliefs radical or deemed unworthy today?
Cicero?55B.C. (2066 years ago)
"The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance." (Change one word in this quote and it could have been said today. We all know what happened to the Roman Empire.)
Thomas Jefferson
? "My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government."
? "I think myself that we have more machinery of government than is necessary, too many parasites living on the labor of the industrious."
? "I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them."
? "The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."
? "A wise and frugal government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, which shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor and bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government."
? "To preserve our independence, we must not let our rulers load us with public debt."
? "Congress has not unlimited powers to provide for the general welfare but only those specifically enumerated."
? "I place economy among the first and most important of republic virtues, and public debt as the greatest of the dangers to be feared."
George Washington
? "Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force; like fire, a troublesome servant and a fearful master. Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action."
? "A government is like fire, a handy servant, but a dangerous master."
? "The Constitution is the guide which I never will abandon"
'No pecuniary consideration is more urgent, than the regular redemption and discharge of the public debt: on none can delay be more injurious, or an economy of time more valuable."
?"Occupants of public offices love power and are prone to abuse it."
Benjamin Franklin
? "When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic."
? "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither safety nor liberty."
? "This will be the best security for maintaining our liberties. A nation of well-informed men who have been taught to know and prize the rights which God has given them cannot be enslaved. It is in the religion of ignorance that tyranny begins."
? "The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself."
James Madison
? "It will be of little avail to the people that the laws are made by men of their own choice if the laws be so voluminous that they cannot be read, or so incoherent that they cannot be understood."
? "Liberty may be endangered by the abuse of liberty, but also by the abuse of power."
? "No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare."
? "The Constitution of the United States was created by the people of the United States composing the respective states, who alone had the right."
? "The essence of Government is power; and power, lodged as it must be in human hands, will ever be liable to abuse."
? "You must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself."
John Adams
? "In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm, and three or more is a congress. "
? "Power must never be trusted without a check."
? "There are two ways to conquer and enslave a country. One is by the sword. The other is by debt."
? "Liberty cannot be preserved without a general knowledge among the people."
?"If worthless men are sometimes at the head of affairs, it is, I believe, because worthless men are at the tail and the middle"
? "Great is the guilt of an unnecessary war."
? "When legislature is corrupted, the people are undone."
Barry Goldwater
? "A government that is big enough to give you all you want is big enough to take it all away."
? "I will not attempt to discover whether legislation is 'needed' before I have first determined whether it is constitutionally permissible.
? "How did our national government grow from a servant with sharply limited powers into a master with virtually unlimited power?"
? "The federal government has moved into every field in which it believes its services are needed the result is a Leviathan, a vast national authority out of touch with people, and out of their control."
? "The root evil is that the government is engaged in activities in which it has no legitimate business."
? "We can be conquered by bombs or by subversion; but we can also be conquered by neglect ? by ignoring the Constitution and disregarding the principles of limited government."
? "Today neither of our two parties maintains a meaningful commitment to the principle of States' Rights."
Ronald Reagan
? "Government exists to protect us from each other. Where government has gone beyond its limits is in deciding to protect us from ourselves."
? "The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help."
? "Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it."
? "I hope we once again have reminded people that man is not free unless government is limited. There's a clear cause and effect here that is as neat and predictable as a law of physics: As government expands, liberty contracts."
? "Government is not a solution to our problem government is the problem."
? "The federal government did not create the states; the states created the federal government."
? "No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth!"
? "If you analyze it I believe the very heart and soul of conservatism is libertarianism ? The basis of conservatism is a desire for less government interference or less centralized authority or more individual freedom and this is a pretty general description also of what libertarianism is."
? "Government does not solve problems. It subsidizes them."
? "Government always finds a need for whatever money it gets."
One of my favorites is the following:
"Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. And moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue."
Here is the deal concerning myself and many who are older than myself. The Left as well as many on the Right, like to coral many conservatives into a group of people who are held hostage to a certain belief regarding "moral values". To be honest with you, I do not have any issues regarding "homosexuality and marriage", or "the separation of church and state". Do I think it's ridiculous you can't have the Ten Commandments hanging in public buildings? Yes. To me, they are just statements on what is necessary for a societal construct. They may construe principles on whether you make it to heaven or not. I do not know. However, they seem benign to me personally, as well as non-offensive. The fact of the matter is, people of different faiths are allowed to seek citizenship into this country and as long as they don't infringe on my beliefs by making me abide by their beliefs, I am alright.
There are many people in the U.S., who believe government has evened the playing field, and I agree. This should have occurred because many beliefs are archaic. I don't believe in abortion, but I also don't want anyone who feels they need one is compelled to seek the procedure from anyone but a licensed medical doctor. I believe homosexual couples should have protection of the government. However, I do not believe it is necessary homosexuals seek retribution against a group in society who, due to their traditional beliefs, treated them unfairly. Just ignore these bigots. I feel this way about race relations. Our Declaration of Independence declared that all men are created equal. End of argument. It is not necessary to generalize and stereotype and group in America. Sure, there are a lot of bigots in society, but that is their shortcoming and it does not represent an entire group.
Bottom-line: I am conservative concerning the role of government and all I want is a government who can pay it's bills. I do not believe in Keynesian concepts regarding economic policy. I do not believe in loose fiscal policy. However, to be grouped in a sect of society who believe the same things fiscally, but are bigots is totally disingenuous.
Look, I have no debt in my life other than my house and a car payment, as well as "child support" which is my obligation. All I want is a government who helps the folks who need it and leaves alone the people who do not need help. Is this asking too much? Is it asking too much for a person to think twice and use protection before they have a child who is born out of wedlock? Is it asking too much to have this belief considering there has been a whole lot of money spent in education concerning this subject? What responsibility does "We The People" have in being involved with society?
I am totally bewildered. My parents were not wealthy people. All they asked was for us to learn a trade and provide for ourselves. My brother did mission work in Chicago and was stabbed twice back in the 80's. While he was working at a church, he also worked at a Kentucky Fried Chicken. Did you know KFC throws away the food they do not sell at the end of the night? My brother would take this chicken and other items to people who were in need. He was stabbed twice regardless of his efforts.
I read the news every night. I know these people have never lived the life my brother has lived, yet these people report the news in a fashion that totally neglects to tell the "real" story concerning people who "care" and those who "do not".
Our church helps with a food kitchen once a month. About a year ago my son went to the food kitchen with his Sunday School class. One of the homeless people asked the children to sing a song. My son volunteered and sang the following. There is a link.
Put a banana in your ear.
Cicero?55B.C. (2066 years ago)
"The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance." (Change one word in this quote and it could have been said today. We all know what happened to the Roman Empire.)
Thomas Jefferson
? "My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government."
? "I think myself that we have more machinery of government than is necessary, too many parasites living on the labor of the industrious."
? "I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them."
? "The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."
? "A wise and frugal government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, which shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor and bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government."
? "To preserve our independence, we must not let our rulers load us with public debt."
? "Congress has not unlimited powers to provide for the general welfare but only those specifically enumerated."
? "I place economy among the first and most important of republic virtues, and public debt as the greatest of the dangers to be feared."
George Washington
? "Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force; like fire, a troublesome servant and a fearful master. Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action."
? "A government is like fire, a handy servant, but a dangerous master."
? "The Constitution is the guide which I never will abandon"
'No pecuniary consideration is more urgent, than the regular redemption and discharge of the public debt: on none can delay be more injurious, or an economy of time more valuable."
?"Occupants of public offices love power and are prone to abuse it."
Benjamin Franklin
? "When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic."
? "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither safety nor liberty."
? "This will be the best security for maintaining our liberties. A nation of well-informed men who have been taught to know and prize the rights which God has given them cannot be enslaved. It is in the religion of ignorance that tyranny begins."
? "The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself."
James Madison
? "It will be of little avail to the people that the laws are made by men of their own choice if the laws be so voluminous that they cannot be read, or so incoherent that they cannot be understood."
? "Liberty may be endangered by the abuse of liberty, but also by the abuse of power."
? "No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare."
? "The Constitution of the United States was created by the people of the United States composing the respective states, who alone had the right."
? "The essence of Government is power; and power, lodged as it must be in human hands, will ever be liable to abuse."
? "You must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself."
John Adams
? "In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm, and three or more is a congress. "
? "Power must never be trusted without a check."
? "There are two ways to conquer and enslave a country. One is by the sword. The other is by debt."
? "Liberty cannot be preserved without a general knowledge among the people."
?"If worthless men are sometimes at the head of affairs, it is, I believe, because worthless men are at the tail and the middle"
? "Great is the guilt of an unnecessary war."
? "When legislature is corrupted, the people are undone."
Barry Goldwater
? "A government that is big enough to give you all you want is big enough to take it all away."
? "I will not attempt to discover whether legislation is 'needed' before I have first determined whether it is constitutionally permissible.
? "How did our national government grow from a servant with sharply limited powers into a master with virtually unlimited power?"
? "The federal government has moved into every field in which it believes its services are needed the result is a Leviathan, a vast national authority out of touch with people, and out of their control."
? "The root evil is that the government is engaged in activities in which it has no legitimate business."
? "We can be conquered by bombs or by subversion; but we can also be conquered by neglect ? by ignoring the Constitution and disregarding the principles of limited government."
? "Today neither of our two parties maintains a meaningful commitment to the principle of States' Rights."
Ronald Reagan
? "Government exists to protect us from each other. Where government has gone beyond its limits is in deciding to protect us from ourselves."
? "The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help."
? "Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it."
? "I hope we once again have reminded people that man is not free unless government is limited. There's a clear cause and effect here that is as neat and predictable as a law of physics: As government expands, liberty contracts."
? "Government is not a solution to our problem government is the problem."
? "The federal government did not create the states; the states created the federal government."
? "No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth!"
? "If you analyze it I believe the very heart and soul of conservatism is libertarianism ? The basis of conservatism is a desire for less government interference or less centralized authority or more individual freedom and this is a pretty general description also of what libertarianism is."
? "Government does not solve problems. It subsidizes them."
? "Government always finds a need for whatever money it gets."
One of my favorites is the following:
"Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. And moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue."
Here is the deal concerning myself and many who are older than myself. The Left as well as many on the Right, like to coral many conservatives into a group of people who are held hostage to a certain belief regarding "moral values". To be honest with you, I do not have any issues regarding "homosexuality and marriage", or "the separation of church and state". Do I think it's ridiculous you can't have the Ten Commandments hanging in public buildings? Yes. To me, they are just statements on what is necessary for a societal construct. They may construe principles on whether you make it to heaven or not. I do not know. However, they seem benign to me personally, as well as non-offensive. The fact of the matter is, people of different faiths are allowed to seek citizenship into this country and as long as they don't infringe on my beliefs by making me abide by their beliefs, I am alright.
There are many people in the U.S., who believe government has evened the playing field, and I agree. This should have occurred because many beliefs are archaic. I don't believe in abortion, but I also don't want anyone who feels they need one is compelled to seek the procedure from anyone but a licensed medical doctor. I believe homosexual couples should have protection of the government. However, I do not believe it is necessary homosexuals seek retribution against a group in society who, due to their traditional beliefs, treated them unfairly. Just ignore these bigots. I feel this way about race relations. Our Declaration of Independence declared that all men are created equal. End of argument. It is not necessary to generalize and stereotype and group in America. Sure, there are a lot of bigots in society, but that is their shortcoming and it does not represent an entire group.
Bottom-line: I am conservative concerning the role of government and all I want is a government who can pay it's bills. I do not believe in Keynesian concepts regarding economic policy. I do not believe in loose fiscal policy. However, to be grouped in a sect of society who believe the same things fiscally, but are bigots is totally disingenuous.
Look, I have no debt in my life other than my house and a car payment, as well as "child support" which is my obligation. All I want is a government who helps the folks who need it and leaves alone the people who do not need help. Is this asking too much? Is it asking too much for a person to think twice and use protection before they have a child who is born out of wedlock? Is it asking too much to have this belief considering there has been a whole lot of money spent in education concerning this subject? What responsibility does "We The People" have in being involved with society?
I am totally bewildered. My parents were not wealthy people. All they asked was for us to learn a trade and provide for ourselves. My brother did mission work in Chicago and was stabbed twice back in the 80's. While he was working at a church, he also worked at a Kentucky Fried Chicken. Did you know KFC throws away the food they do not sell at the end of the night? My brother would take this chicken and other items to people who were in need. He was stabbed twice regardless of his efforts.
I read the news every night. I know these people have never lived the life my brother has lived, yet these people report the news in a fashion that totally neglects to tell the "real" story concerning people who "care" and those who "do not".
Our church helps with a food kitchen once a month. About a year ago my son went to the food kitchen with his Sunday School class. One of the homeless people asked the children to sing a song. My son volunteered and sang the following. There is a link.
Put a banana in your ear.
