This week the debate continues as the Federalist Papers continuing to examine the need for a strong United States to provide for the Common Defense and the Anti-Federalist Papers to bemoan the power of the Congress.
In the Federalist #4John Jay continues to expound upon his previous note that the colonies were surrounded by enemies who threatened their commercial security as much as their physical.
Hmmm, 18th century trade war, anyone? Therefore, the need to present a strong, united group of states was highly recommended to secure the liberty and peace of America.
To wit:
"It is too true, however disgraceful it may be to human nature, that nations in general will make war whenever they have a prospect of getting anything by it" and "If they see that our national government is efficient and well administered, our trade prudently regulated, our militia properly organized and disciplined, our resources and finances discreetly managed, our credit re-established, our people free, contented, and united, they will be much more disposed to cultivate our friendship than provoke our resentment."
Hmmm, I wonder if anyone in the current Administration or Congress is listening? The fact is, our forefathers remembered the saying "politics ends at the water's edge."
Continuing:
Anti-Federalist #4 is just as feisty as the author continues to warn about an Imperial Congress of fatcats who govern for themselves and not for the people, even to the point of lying, cheating and tyrannical government...
To Wit:
"The object of every free government is the public good, and all lesser interests yield to it. That of every tyrannical government, is the happiness and aggrandizement of one, or a few, and to this the public felicity, and every other interest must submit."
and the quote of the day:
"If then this government should not derive support from the good will of the people, it must be executed by force, or not executed at all; either case would lead to the total destruction of liberty."
WOW, does that familiar? Perhaps in the form of a vaccine passport? Or monster tax increases for the "public good"?
Weird how our Founders feared an overbearing government...as if they knew that the best government was that which governed least. But after the last year...is that still true?
Yup, those ol' 18th century guys sure knew what was commin' huh?
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