philosophy

Return to Common Sense

January 14, 2010

Section: Introduction - Philosophy

“United States began with a fine Constitution and we now need to use our “Common Sense” to force our elected officials to return to its underlying principles that government serves the people, and not vice versa, to reinforce the exceptionalism that makes this country great!”

Philosophy (Background, Issues, Objectives):

Declaration of Independence recorded our founding principles.

All men are created equal
Endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights (NOT negotiable):

o Among them are Life, individual Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.

Founders based Constitution on Judeo-Christian tenets.

America is based on individual freedom.
Americans take personal ownership and responsibility.

Federal government was designed to serve the states.

Adjudicate between the states.
Protect the nation.

Government was designed to serve the people.

Legislature was composed of citizen representatives (no professional politicians).
Changes to laws were intentionally onerous to force due consideration (amendments).

Constitution established a federal government of limited powers, enumerated in Article I, section 8.

Establish justice (courts)
Insure domestic tranquility (punishing crimes)
Provide for common defense (maintain armed services)
Secure the blessings of liberty
Bill of Rights (first ten amendments) was added to Constitution on December 15, 1791.

Government was defined with three, equal, balanced branches.

Legislative – create the laws.
Executive – implement the laws.
Judicial – interpret the laws.

States rights are reaffirmed by 9^th and 10^th Amendments to the Constitution.

People grant specific enumerated 18 powers to the Federal government, thus limiting Federal power.
Each state has its own government, and can create its own laws.
No state may enter any treaty, alliance, or confederation on is own.
Each state is free to tax.
Each state is free to spend.

Revolutionary War era essays helped sell the ideas of the new republic.

“Common Sense” by Tom Paine, 1776.
“The American Crisis” by Tom Paine, 1776-1783.
“The Federalist Papers” by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay, 1787.
“The Rights of Man” by Tom Paine, 1791.
“The Age of Reason” by Tom Paine, 1793.

Principles:

Fundamental American Principles:

Liberty – protect individual rights and freedoms.

o Individual freedom of action.

o Right to think for yourself.

o Trust in your own judgment.

o Freedom and property are inextricably linked.

· Equality – equal justice under law.

o Judiciary interprets, not creates law

o Strong families

· Fraternity – serve the common good

o Serve the majority, while respecting the minority

o Encourage responsible behavior

· Democratic – representative

o Legislature was composed of citizen representatives (no professional politicians).

o Limited government.

· We live in a competitive world.

o Freedom to pursue happiness; does not guarantee achievement of happiness.

o Individuals are free to make life decisions; and live with their consequences.

o Some people win; some people lose.

· We believe in America’s exceptionalism.

o Assume problems and mistakes are exceptions.

Ten Principles of Freedom:

No other human being can tell me what to do, without my consent.
No other human being can compel me to serve what he has created, without my consent.
No other human being can compel me to enter any obligation, without my consent.
No other human being can compel me to work for him, or take my income or property, without my consent.
The family, the union of a man and a woman to create new life, being the only discernible purpose of life, and the only means of perpetuating human life, is sacrosanct.
Do not use or threaten violence.
Do not cause or be party to a betrayal, sexual or otherwise, of your own or any other person’s family obligations.
Do not interfere with the property of others.
Don’t be dishonest.
Do not use your freedom to interfere with the freedom of others.

In 1918, Congress adopted the American's Creed.

The creed is as follows: "I believe in the United States of America as a government of the people, by the people, for the people; whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed; a democracy in a republic; a sovereign Nation of many sovereign States; a perfect union, one and inseparable; established upon the principles of freedom, equality, justice, and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes. I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to love it, to support its Constitution, to obey its laws, to respect its flag, and to defend it against all enemies."
The American's Creed was written in 1917 by William Tyler Page, an employee in the House.
The Creed was accepted by the United States House of Representatives on April 3, 1918.

Getting America Right has defined six simple questions to consider before supporting any policy:

Is it the government’s business? (Constitutional principle of limited federal government)
Does it promote self reliance? (Citizens should be responsible for themselves)
Is it responsible? (Government should live within its means)
Does it make America more prosperous? (Government should not hinder free markets)
Does it make America safer? (Maintain a strong national defense)
Does it unify us? (Our unity depends on a shared national identity)

Government Minimalist Guidelines:

· The need for government in a society varies inversely to the sophistication and affluence of its people.

· Government is a high-cost ay of doing anything.

· The less government does, the better off we are.

· Government cannot spend its way out of the economic hole dug by taxes.

· Since we need so little and the cost is so high, why do we have so much government?

· How to make and keep government small?

o Tell the voters the truth about the high cost of taxes weighed against the often low benefit of spending.

o Force Congress to adhere to a cost-benefit budget procedure, conducted in the open with full public notice and voter participation.

o Give everyone a “tax dividend” when spending reduction targets are met and send the bill for additional taxes when spending goes up.

Recommendations:

Limit size and intrusion of federal government to less than 20% of GDP (limit state and local government to less than 5% of GDP).

Limit federal government to only that role specifically enumerated in the Constitution.

o Ensure general welfare clause is not interpreted as an enumerated power to expand government.

Enact the Enumerated Powers Act to link all legislation to appropriate constitutional authority.

o Require each Act of Congress contain a concise and definite statement of the constitutional authority relied upon for the enactment of each portion of that Act.

Ensure government accountability (annual audits using standard accounting standards).
Ensure program accountability (comparing expected vs. actual results).

Hold people responsible for their words and actions.

Require every member of Congress publicly recite the American’s Creed.
Encourage personal responsibility and avoid blaming others for our own actions.

Champion those who serve the country honorably and make a real difference.

References:

“Taking America Back” by Joseph Farah published by Cumberland House Publishing, 2003.

“The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Constitution” by Kevin R. C. Gutzman published by Regnery Publishing, 2007.

“The Citizen’s Constitution” by Seth Lipsky published by Basic Books, 2009.

“Common Sense” by Glenn Beck published by Simon & Schuster, Inc., 2009.

“Liberty and Tyranny” by Mark R. Levin published by Threshold Editions, 2009.

“The Politically Incorrect Guide to The Founding Fathers” by Brion McClanahan published by Regnery Publishing, 2009.

“The Purpose and Limits of Government” by Roger Pilon dated 1999 published by The Cato Institute at http://www.cato.org/pubs/catosletters/cl-13.pdf .

“L’Etat Cest Vous” by Phil Brennan dated August 20, 2003 published by News Max at http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2003/8/20/12944.shtml .

“An Ownership Society Fosters Responsibility, Liberty, Prosperity” by Tom G. Plamer dated January 13, 2004 published by The Cato Institute at http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=6518&print=Y .

“Principles Count” by Tom Feeney dated July 13, 2004 published by The Heritage Foundation at http://www.heritage.org/Research/PoliticalPhilosophy/upload/71255_1.pdf .

“Competition in Government” by Christopher DeMuth dated October 6, 2004 published by American Enterprise Institute at http://www.aei.org/include/news_print.asp?newsID=21341 .

“How to Read the Constitution: Self Government and the Jurisprudence of Originalism” by Keith E. Whittington dated May 1, 2006 published by The Heritage Foundation at http://www.heritage.org/Research/PoliticalPhilosophy/upload/96515_1.pdf .

“Majority believes government doing too much” by Jeff Greenfield dated October 31, 2006 published by CNN at http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/10/27/poll.government/index.html .

“Revolutionary No. 19” by Paul Jacob dated December 3, 2006 published by Town Hall at http://www.townhall.com/columnists/PaulJacob/2006/12/03/revolutionary_no_19 .

“Believe it or Not: An American’s Creed” by Robert Klein Engler dated February 10, 2007 published by American Daily at http://www.americandaily.com/article/17630 .

“Born in the USA” by Nicholas Eberstadt dated April 19, 2007 published by American Enterprise Institute at http://www.aei.org/publications/pubID.25988,filter.social/pub_detail.asp .

“Liberalism 101” by David Strom dated April 24, 2007 published by Town Hall at http://www.townhall.com/columnists/DavidStrom/2007/04/24/liberalism_101 .

“Getting America Right” by Doug Wilson dated May 14, 2007 published by Town Hall at http://www.townhall.com/columnists/DougWilson/2007/05/14/getting_america_right .

“We Know So Much Better Than We Do” by William D. Bailey dated June 21, 2007 published by American Daily at http://www.americandaily.com/article/19320 .

“Put the ‘Independence’ Back in Independence Day” by Michael S. Berliner dated June 26, 2007 published by American Daily at http://www.americandaily.com/article/19383 .

“’I can…,’ a Conservative Philosophy” by Paul A. Ibbertson dated August 18, 2007 published by American Daily at http://www.americandaily.com/article/19962 .

“Liberty Defined” by F.A. Harper dated August 18, 2007 published by Ludwig Von Mises Institute at http://www.mises.org/story/2593 .

“Government for the Good of the People: Ten Questions about Freedom, Virtue, and the Role of Government” by Ryan Messmore dated September 17, 2007 published by The Heritage Foundation at http://www.heritage.org/Research/Religion/wm1620.cfm .

“Life, Liberty and Freedom: The Greatest Common Good on Earth” by JB Williams dated September 20, 2007 published by American Daily at http://www.americandaily.com/article/20328 .

“The Ten Principles of Freedom: Conclusions, and Some Observations” by Joseph BH McMillan dated September 28, 2007 published by Intellectual Conservative at http://www.intellectualconservative.com/2007/09/28/the-ten-principles-of-freedom-conclusion-and-some-observations/ .

“The Welfare State and How It’s Destroying the West” by Tom Potoms dated September 29, 2007 published by Intellectual Conservative at http://www.intellectualconservative.com/2007/09/29/the-welfare-state-and-how-it%e2%80%99s-destroying-the-west/ .

“What Separation of Powers Means for Constitutional Government” by Charles R. Kesler dated December 17, 2007 published by The Heritage Foundation at http://www.heritage.org/Research/Thought/fp17.cfm .

“Government’s New Minimalist Mission: ‘Just Keep Us Safe And Leave Us Alone’” by Ernest S. Christian and Gary A. Robbins dated February 26, 2008 published by Investor’s Business Daily at http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=288920217167446 .

“What makes America different?” by Henry Lamb dated July 6, 2008 published by American Daily at http://www.americandaily.com/article/22555 .

“Enumerated Powers Act Brings the Constitution to Capitol Hill” by Andrew M. Grossman dated July 30, 2008 published by The Heritage Foundation at http://www.heritage.org/Research/LegalIssues/lm29.cfm .

“For the General Welfare of the Country” J.R. Dieckmann dated August 18, 2008 published by The Conservative Voice at http://www.theconservativevoice.com/article/33970.html .

“The Nature of Rights in American Politics: A Comparison of Three Revolutions” by Charles R. Kesler dated September 30, 2008 published by The Heritage Foundation at http://www.heritage.org/Research/Thought/fp18.cfm .

“Credo in Unam Nationem, Sub Deo-Redux” by Geoffrey P. Hunt dated November 8, 2008 published by American Thinker at http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/11/credo_in_unam_nationem_sub_deo_1.html .

“A Day for Rights” by Paul Jacob dated December 14, 2008 published by Town Hall at http://townhall.com/columnists/PaulJacob/2008/12/14/a_day_for_rights .

“The optimum government” by Richard Rahn dated January 29, 2009 published by The Washington Times at http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jan/29/the-optimum-government/ .

“The Europe Syndrome and the Challenge to American Exceptionalism” by Charles Murray dated March 16, 2009 published by American Magazine at http://www.american.com/archive/2009/march-2009/the-europe-syndrome-and-the-challenge-to-american-exceptionalism .

“Texas guv: ‘Feds have become oppressive’” dated April 14, 2009 published by World Net Daily at http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=94928 .