Category Archives: Our Founding Fathers

facts about their views

Presidential Pardons

Broken in the USA, Government Issues, Our Founding Fathers

Presidential Pardons

While most of what our founders penned in the Constitution is inspired, I suspect they could have had more forethought regarding the power of the pardon. This power is provided in section 2, clause 1.

Section 2 Powers (of the President)

  • Clause 1 Military, Administrative, and Clemency
    • “The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.”

While the “impeachment” exception was a good addition we would be well served if cases involving “relatives” and “associates” were also excluded.

US Patriots

Broken in the USA, Government Issues, Our Founding Fathers, tax related issues

Chapter 64 US Patriots

My opinion is that the two-Party system has overrun its course and the time for a change is overdue. President Washington was not only a visionary, but also a skilled orator.

The following is a direct quote from one of his speeches: “There is an opinion that parties in free countries are useful checks upon the administration of the government, and serve to keep alive the spirit of liberty. This, within certain limits, is probably true; and in governments of a monarchical cast patriotism may look with indulgence, if not with favour, upon the spirit of party: but, in those of the popular character, in governments purely elective, it is a spirit not to be encouraged. From their natural tendency, it is certain there will always be enough of that spirit for every salutary purpose. And there being constant danger of excess, the effort ought to be, by force of public opinion, to mitigate and assuage it. A fire not to be quenched, it demands a uniform vigilance to prevent its bursting into a flame, lest, instead of warming, it should consume.”

My view of the US Patriots movement is proposed not as another political party, but as alternative open to any and all Party members as well as independent thinkers. In order for citizen patriots to take back our country a political revolution is required. The idea would be to support any candidate that agrees to support the following twelve revolutionary principles:

I agree to actively support the following improvements for establishing our democracy:

  1. Our elected: Career politicians will no longer be tolerated. Service to the country will be just that, “service”, and not a path to wealth. I will support all legislation and/or Constitutional Amendments in support of this, including term limits.
  2. Our election process (a): In the future, the impact of special interests on national election outcomes will be eliminated. I will support legislation that severely limits both campaign donations & spending and includes extremely severe consequences for violators.
  3. Our election process (b): In the future, campaigning for national positions will be limited to the 90-day period prior to the election day for Congress persons and 180 days for Senators & the Presidency. I will support this and any other legislation that moves our process in this direction.
  4. Special Interest Lobbying: Recognizing that the lobbying rules, established in 1946, are woefully inadequate I will support any legislation that severely curtails this activity.
  5. Healthcare Reform: Recognizing that our Healthcare System is broken I will support reform legislation that is based on other more successful, lower cost systems that are providing a superior level of care. Example of these systems are in operation in France, Italy, Spain, Japan and several other countries.
  6. Federal Spending: I will support legislation that requires an annual balanced budget with severe consequences for non-compliance by our representatives.
  7. Elected Representation benefits: I will support legislation that requires all elected national officials to be subject to the same healthcare program as the electorate and to abide by the standard civil service retirement plan.
  8. Individual Health Responsibility: I will support legislation that takes into account risk factors for both health system contributions and subsidies. Examples of risk factors would be smoking, obesity, etc.
  9. Government Employee Compensation: Recognizing that government employees make over 50% more in compensation than their counterparts in the private sector I will support legislation that requires for this inequity to be brought into balance in no more than a ten-year transition period.
  10. Income Security: I will support legislation that requires all income assistance recipients (primarily disability & welfare) to make a defined service contribution to the government in order to receive compensation. This will take some creativity, but such a process is possible and necessary.
  11. Dependent Compensation: I will support legislation that limits additional compensation and/or tax deductions to two children. Taxpayers should not financially subsidize large families.
  12. Energy independence: Recognizing that the US has the highest per capita fossil fuel dependence per capita among the 20 most populace countries. Also recognizing that of these, the European countries per capita dependence is only about 40% of our country. I will support legislation that provides assistance and incentives to drastically lessen our dependence on fossil fuels. This is more than an environmental issue. Looking longer term it will be considered a national security issue.

Common traits of the founding Fathers

Our Founding Fathers

Common traits of the founding Fathers:

  • They had careers and other interests that dominated their lives
  • They did not consider themselves career politicians. At the time there was no consideration given to term limits as their services took time away from their other concerns and was self-regulated.
  • They had an amazing command of the language regardless of the amount of their formal education.
  • They opposed slavery, Jefferson tended towards hypocrisy on this issue.
  • Emphasized tolerance of all religious dogmas, supported the moral teachings of Jesus as well as accepting many of the Deist concepts.
  • Did not agree on the role of the Central Government…. There was then, as today, much debate on this issue.

Summary

It seems that many of today’s agenda supporters subscribe their positions to the Founding Fathers, but their views lack substantial evidence.  It seems to me that they (the fathers) were, in general, just people and not perfect folks by any means. However, they were, as a general rule, extremely moral, tolerant, intelligent and sincerely concerned about the welfare of our new country and its citizens. Thankfully none considered their public service a career (with the possible exception of Hamilton).  For the most part they were satisfied with the original constitution sans amendments. The bills of rights (first 10 amendments) were the product of James Madison’s vision.