"Men by their constitutions are naturally divided into two parties: 1. Those who fear and distrust the people, and wish to draw all powers from them into the hands of the higher classes. 2. Those who identify themselves with the people, have confidence in them, cherish and consider them as the most honest and safe, although not the most wise depositary of the public interests. In every country these two parties exist, and in every one where they are free to think, speak, and write, they will declare themselves. Call them, therefore, Liberals and Serviles, Jacobins and Ultras, Whigs and Tories, Republicans and Federalists, Aristocrats and Democrats, or by whatever name you please, they are the same parties still and pursue the same object. The last one of Aristocrats and Democrats is the true one expressing the essence of all." ~ Thomas Jefferson to Henry Lee, 1824. ME 16:73
Let me simplify: Obama, Hillary and McCain are with Party #1 above and Ron Paul is with Party #2. The Parties called Republicans and Democrats are no longer significant. There is no differentiation between them when it comes to defending your original liberties. Both major parties are corrupted beyond redemption. Their rhetoric and their substance are at odds. The Founders warned us against forming them in the first place — and all of the worst consequences they predicted are coming upon us. There are almost as few allies of Ron Paul in the Congress as there are those who have any regard for the Constitution at all. A government that ignores the supreme Law of the land at its caprice is so far beyond being aristocratic. It is despotic, tyrannical and dangerous.
Please ask yourself: If Hillary, Obama and McCain do not trust me — why should I trust them? It really is that simple. The fact that they ignore the Constitution proves they trust themselves to rule over you arbitrarily.
“Sometimes it is said that man cannot be trusted with the government of himself. Can he, then, be trusted with the government of others? Or have we found angels in the form of kings to govern him? Let history answer this question.” ~ Thomas Jefferson: 1st Inaugural, 1801. ME 3:320
History has been loudly answering Jefferson’s question! Are we listening?
The two camps that exist within all political structures at all times and in all places are those who support government Over man — and those who support government Under man. To the former camp man is the tool of government. To the latter, government is the tool of man. All governments begin as tools of the man or class of men who design them. And so far, all free governments have later been perverted to the extent that individual liberty founded in the protection of life and property is limited, eroded or eradicated completely. The two currents of liberty and tyranny run against each other all of the time.
The Fear of Government Over Man is a principle that we ignore at our extreme peril. If you can observe the latest election cycle [which is more obscene than mud wrestling] and not conclude that we have trusted too much to "government" I will realize you have been "educated" but I will not condemn you. I do however have a few things I would love to have you read — and think about very carefully — as though your life depended upon it.
As soon as a government servant has made a decision based on party association, affinity, or loyalty, and in violation of his oath and ethics — he has in effect sold out. This experience usually happens very early in his party career — unless he is Ron Paul. Once you have sold out in the little things it becomes easier to move on to the big things. But if you happen to be a Ron Paul you tend to gain a reputation for being one of those recalcitrant people of true and enduring principles. Those folks can really annoy the establishment who regards them as hopelessly naïve — right up until the bottom falls out.
By 1824, Jefferson knew even more about human nature than when, at the tender age of 33, he penned the Declaration of Independence. Therefore, let’s assume we can find pearls scattered throughout his voluminous and thoughtful letters to patriot friends of many years. The better we know it the more we may want to be heirs of his legacy. Jefferson had an ability to cut through labels and rhetoric and isolate clear principles — as did many of his generation. Now we witness Ron Paul constantly referring back to the principles of the Founding generation as the other candidates carefully avoid all accurate references to what the Founders believed in its full context. It’s not that the other Party Animals have no choice. But they long ago have decided that lawful government is not as profitable for them in their clubs, cliques and cabals. In a sense we all need to remain Washington Outsiders as much as possible.
Take a look at our modern American institutions and principal players. I like to call them "the powers that think they be." Their power comes only from our perception that we "need" them for this or that. Most of them produce nothing of lasting value — and they have nothing they could exchange in a transparent economy in order to subsist. They are parasites. They need to be rehabilitated. Their existence is always tenuous because sooner or later one or both of two things must happen: Either the "had" fully realize they are being had and refuse to continue their indentured service, or the resources available completely dry up because of the inherent waste in their political spoils system. They can only thrive on live victims that produce real wealth. These folks are no more fit to lead than the head lemming at the edge of the precipice.
Jefferson was not delusional. He and Madison, as well as most of the other Founders and Framers well understood that Liberty and ignorance are incompatible. No matter how hard we want to believe we can all be "Party Animals" in the colloquial sense we cannot make it true. The harder we try, the more we will make fools of ourselves.
More Education = More Liberty!
“The general spread of the light of science has already laid open to every view the palpable truth that the mass of mankind has not been born with saddles on their backs nor a favored few booted and spurred, ready to ride them legitimately by the grace of God.” ~ Thomas Jefferson to Roger C. Weightman, 1826. ME 16:182
Look in the mirror! Do you see a saddle on your back?
Here is a categorical challenge: If you read enough Jefferson you will not be fooled by empty rhetoric and you will not be able to vote for anyone but Ron Paul come next November. The same will be true if you carefully read and study Ron Paul’s new book: The Revolution: A Manifesto. I thoroughly enjoyed the read and thought I was getting to know Ron better as I read. I also recommend it for almost all ages. Having been associated with homeschoolers for a long time I tend to trust them as well — and I have been gratified to know so many of them read and think at advanced levels. No homeschool should be without this great little book.
In the beginning of this Republic of laws and not of men, the person with the second highest number of votes became vice president notwithstanding party affiliation. Isn’t that interesting? Are you beginning to see the wisdom in it, given the destruction that is being wrought by what they like to call partisan politics nowadays? The old cliché "there’s not a dime’s worth of difference," should be modified to "there’s not a fiat dime’s worth of difference."
One good thing: there are very few intelligent Americans remaining who cannot perceive and document the collusion between our Tweedledums and Tweedledees:
In Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking-Glass and what Alice Found There, "Tweedledum and Tweedledee … agree to have a battle, but never have one… The Tweedle brothers never contradict each other, even when one of them, according to the rhyme, u2018agrees to have a battle.’ Rather, they complement each other’s words." ~ Wikipedia
There is one bright light in Washington, and he is of the latter party mentioned by Jefferson above. Ron Paul identifies himself with the people, has confidence in them, cherishes and considers them as the most honest, safe, and [with the proper Education] the most wise depositary of the public interests. He truly believes Education can eventually bridge the gap and America can regain her conscience not through reinventing but through reviving herself. In fact, even Ron has been surprised again and again at the way our young people are flocking to his message. Perhaps the next generation is more mathematically gifted? More ethical?
According to the law of non-contradiction only one of these statements can be true:
1) Mankind is not fit, and cannot be made fit, for self-government. He must be controlled by some type of ruler or ruling class that knows what is best. No matter how much education or conditioning is applied to the human race it cannot be elevated from a state of anarchy or chaos without the dominance and guidance of a superior class or person.
2) Mankind is fully capable of self-government, if, and when, we have been given all of the best tools and all of the most accurate information — especially including the Principles of Liberty as they were handed down after being purchased by the sacrifices of many centuries. And those who would control and abuse their fellow man must always try to hide these principles from the common man.
Ask yourself which of the available candidates’ characters are reflected in the following famous quote: "To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man." ~ Shakespeare
“Let us raise a standard to which the wise and the honest can repair. The event is in the hand of God.” ~ George Washington [In the Framing Convention, 1787]
Vote for Ron Paul! He believes in You and in the Constitutional Republic.
