Founding Wisdom - Commentary by Frank Gillispie

Founding Wisdom – Commentary by Frank Gillispie

This American Birthday week is a good time to review some of the opinions of our founders. They expressed themselves on many subjects that are the cause of public and private disputes today. For example:

"Government is not reason, it is not eloquence--it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and fearful master." - George Washington

George Washington warned us against allowing government to dominate our lives. He also warned against international entanglements and political parties. We ignored him. As a result we are heavily entangled in foreign adventures, and ensnared in partisan politics at home. George was right.

"The government is best which governs least." - Thomas Paine

Right again. Our government is out of control. Anything we do is scrutinized and controlled by one or more government agencies. The more government we have, the less freedom and the more taxes we have.

"The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions, that I wish it to be always kept alive." - Thomas Jefferson

Jefferson believed that a little rebellion was essential to keeping government under control of the governed. He suggested that new revolutions ought to occur on a regular basis.

"It does not require a majority to prevail; but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people's minds." - Samuel Adams

Adams warned us that we can easily lose control of our government if we allow screaming minorities to rule. Keeping control of our government takes the efforts of all of us.

"The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only legitimate object of good government." - Thomas Jefferson

It sounds to me like Jefferson was Pro Life. Today he would clearly be politically incorrect.

"Charity is no part of the legislative duty of the government." - James Madison

"I am for doing good to the poor, but I differ in opinion of the means. I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it." - Benjamin Franklin

The largest, most abused and ripped off program in our government is welfare. Madison is right. Government has no business involving itself in welfare. That is the responsibility of family, church and private social clubs. Franklin is right. The welfare programs we have are designed to make people comfortable in their poverty. They do nothing to teach them to escape poverty, only to live on other people's work.

"Society in every state is a blessing, but government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one..." - Thomas Paine -

How true. As Ronald Reagan said, "Government is not the solution to our problems. Government is the problem." Or as Thomas Jefferson said: "Were we directed from Washington when to sow, and when to reap, we should soon want bread."

"He who dares not offend cannot be honest." - Thomas Paine

So much for the "Politically Correct" movement.

Our founders were truly men of wisdom. By choosing to ignore their wisdom, we have created the very problems they predicted. It is time we start listening to them again.