Category Archives: Our Founding Fathers

facts about their views

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.

Benjamin Franklin:

Our Founding Fathers

Benjamin Franklin:

Politics: Franklin seemed not to concern himself with many of the so called “political” issue of his day regarding central government, state’s rights, etc. Rather, he focused on individual morality and espoused seeking personal virtues of:

  1. “Temperance. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.”
  2. “Silence. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.”
  3. “Order. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.”
  4. “Resolution. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.”
  5. “Frugality. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.”
  6. “Industry. Lose no time; be always employ’d in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.”
  7. “Sincerity. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.”
  8. “Justice. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.”
  9. “Moderation. Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.”
  10. “Cleanliness. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths, or habitation.”
  11. “Tranquility. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.”
  12. “Chastity. Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another’s peace or reputation.”
  13. “Humility. Imitate Jesus and Socrates.”

Additionally he opposed the idea of slavery. While he did own two slaves at one time he did free them.

Occupation: Printer, librarian, newspaperman, publisher, postmaster and inventor.

Religion: Franklin retained a lifelong commitment to the Puritan virtues and political values he had grown up with, and through his civic work and publishing, he succeeded in passing these values into the American culture permanently. He had a “passion for virtue”. These Puritan values included his devotion to egalitarianism, education, industry, thrift, honesty, temperance, charity and community spirit.  Franklin, steeped in Puritanism and an enthusiastic supporter of the evangelical movement, rejected the salvation dogma, but embraced the radical notion of egalitarian democracy. One of Franklin’s notable characteristics was his respect, tolerance and promotion of all churches. Franklin’s rejection of dogma and doctrine and his stress on the God of ethics and morality and civic virtue made him the “prophet of tolerance.

“As to Jesus of Nazareth, my Opinion of whom you particularly desire, I think the System of Morals and his Religion, as he left them to us, the best the world ever saw or is likely to see; but I apprehend it has received various corrupt changes, and I have, with most of the present Dissenters in England, some Doubts as to his divinity; tho’ it is a question I do not dogmatize upon, having never studied it, and I think it needless to busy myself with it now, when I expect soon an Opportunity of knowing the Truth with less Trouble. I see no harm, however, in its being believed, if that belief has the good consequence, as it probably has, of making his doctrines more respected and better observed; especially as I do not perceive that the Supreme takes it amiss, by distinguishing the unbelievers in his government of the world with any particular marks of his displeasure.”[

Other facts: He served as President of Pennsylvania, proposed to 15-year-old Deborah Read and established a “common-law” arrangement 7 years later, fathered an illegitimate son (William), published Poor William’s Almanac, invented bifocals, did not discover electricity, was inducted into the “chess” hall of fame, founded the American Philosophical Society to help scientific men discuss their discoveries and theories and served as Ambassador to France.

stay tuned next week for the wrap up on this topic