Comments for FINANCE and INVESTING http://www.usdems.org USDEMS.org official finance and investing blog Wed, 07 Jul 2010 23:01:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 Comment on Become Enlightened and Engaged in Our Great Republican Process by lee http://www.usdems.org/become-enlightened-and-engaged-in-our-great-republican-process/comment-page-1/#comment-2 lee Wed, 07 Jul 2010 23:01:07 +0000 http://www.usdems.org/become-enlightened-and-engaged-in-our-great-republican-process/#comment-2 fatmady... for some reason I couldn't see the whole article when I clicked on it... were you meaning to post this? I understand that there is a word or two changed... By Lee Brown of PublicExaminer.com Become Enlightened and Engaged in our Great Republican Process I write this plea to the People of America, the rightful wielders of the most powerful weapon bestowed upon the human race... freedom. Freedom was not a gift OF man, but TO man. Over the two-plus centuries, since the Founders penned the documents, that we should hold dear second only to the Book from which they were inspired, our freedoms have been whittled and threatened by the very people that should be protecting it. The Founders, however optimistic that the People would never let this happen, warned about the possibility and provided guidance in how to avoid it. There may be those that say "we're still free" or "times have changed"... I subscribe that these same people are of the ilk that have caused the continuous decline of our great nation. Notice I say "our great nation" and NOT "once great nation". I contend that we are still the greatest nation on earth, and have every opportunity to right the wrongs that plague us. We have seen our Constitution trampled on in 20th and 21st centuries. Taxes, privacy, arms, speech and the pursuit of happiness have been under assault since the legacy of our founders faded in the minds of the sleepy populace. What we face in 2010 is a challenge, and opportunity, to recapture the energy of our ancestors and turn this nation back to the course the patriots bled to set. I am not eloquent, nor gifted writer, enough to articulate the argument on my own... so I will lean on the words of the men who wrote our Declaration of Independence, Federalist Papers and other important documents that helped frame our country. We can repent of the great American "Sin", allowing Man to steal our God given rights, and become enlightened, once again, that we can continue to shine as a beacon of freedom throughout the world. In a speech to the New York Ratifying Convention, Alexander Hamilton stated "Here Sir, the people govern". That statement is so profound. As a youth, I learned that the government is of the people and by the people. But, until I reached my mid-twenties I didn't understand that concept as was intended by the framers. It is statements, like Mr. Hamilton's, that are repeated and with such passion that lead me to the conclusion that we have violated a great trust placed on generations that followed the blood shed during our Revolution. I can promise that my generation, and several preceding, does not even grasp an inkling of the responsibility we have as American citizens. Many Americans have a disdain for even talking about government and politics. Often times, less than half of those eligible to vote actually do it. Interestingly enough, just less than half of those that DO vote, happen to be recipients of the freedom sapping programs invented by Constitution-trampling types we have continued to elect. Most Americans have no clue what is written in the Declaration of Independence or the Bill of Rights, let alone the changes that have been made to these founding documents. These things culminate in the first great offense, we citizens, have paid our founding fathers... the refusal to be an enlightened and engaged people. "Promote then as an object of primary importance, Institutions for the general diffusion of knowledge. In proportion as the structure of a government gives force to public opinion, it is essential that public opinion should be enlightened." George Washington, Farewell Address, September 19, 1796. Let's remember the percentage of those that vote and let us, again, remember the percentage of those that are dependent on the Government. Are you engaged? Are you enlightened? How can we possibly expect to keep our liberties, and maintain the status of the greatest nation ever born, if we are not involved in the decisions that drive our future? I often state that I am disgusted with politics or, better yet, the politicians that roam our hallowed halls. That stated, I don't allow those feelings to tune me out from the schemes and power grabs that are propagated every day. I understand that many in the populace would fundamentally disagree with my political leanings, but if they make those decisions on an informed basis, I can tolerate it. If, however, a citizen shirks their responsibility to be informed and refuses to become engaged in the activities required to keep this Republic great, I find myself even more disgusted. "Public virtue cannot exist in a nation without private, and public virtue is the only foundation of republics. There must be a positive passion for the public good, the public interest, honor, power and glory, established in the minds of the people, or there can be no republican government, nor any real liberty: and this public passion must be superior to all private passions." John Adams, letter to Mercy Warren, April 16, 1776. Ask yourself if you're a valuable member to this society, if you're doing your duty as a citizen and if you're content to let others decide your future. Or do you care more about which sports team will win, and what vampire is cuter? Become engaged, or become a slave! "If a nation expects to be ignorant - and free - in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be." Thomas Jefferson, letter to Colonel Charles Yancey, January 6, 1816. "A popular Government, without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a Prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy; or, perhaps both. Knowledge will forever govern ignorance: And a people who mean to be their own Governors, must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives." James Madison, letter to W.T. Barry, August 4, 1822. This is a charge we were given by our founders. We owe it to ourselves and our children... we owe it to the men that risked their lives to provide us the liberty to be here! Until such time that the public once again becomes involved in our processes, and stands firmly against policies that violate the intentions of the framing documents, we have the guiding words of James Madison on which to rely... "As the cool and deliberate sense of the community ought in all governments, and actually will in all free governments ultimately prevail over the views of its rulers; so there are particular moments in public affairs, when the people stimulated by some irregular passion, or some illicit advantage, or misled by the artful misrepresentations of interested men, may call for measures which they themselves will afterwards be the most ready to lament and condemn. In these critical moments, how salutary will be the interference of some temperate and respectable body of citizens, in order to check the misguided career, and to suspend the blow mediated by the people against themselves, until reason, justice and truth, can regain their authority over the public mind?" James Madison (likely), Federalist No. 63, 1788. As we engage our fellow Americans and once again light the flame of passion for our great Republic, we will see that passion flourish... "Enlighten the people, generally, and tyranny and oppressions of body and mind will vanish like spirits at the dawn of day." Thomas Jefferson, letter to Dupont de Nemours, April 24, 1816. We should not be looking for the power-obsessed Administration to provide us with the enlightenment, nor the oppressors that are borrowing our Congressional buildings. We can dust off our library card and check out the Constitution, Bill of Rights, Federalist and Anti-Federalist papers. "Without wishing to damp the ardor of curiosity or influence the freedom of inquiry, I will hazard a prediction that, after the most industrious and impartial researchers, the longest liver of you all will find no principles, institutions or systems of education more fit in general to be transmitted to your posterity than those you have received from your ancestors." John Adams, letter to the young men of the Philadelphia, May 7, 1798. Join me in a pursuit of knowledge. Join me in a renewed excitement for what our country represents. Let us remind the world that we are the greatest beacon of freedom on earth. By Lee Brown http://www.publicexaminer.com Public Examiner is a free central hub for the daily global stories that are captivating the public's attention.We strive to identify breaking and important news stories, and link to those with a one line summary that sets the tone of the article. We also link to your favorite blogs, news sites and special sites that allow you to keep abreast of critical information shaping the world. Visit our site for access to America's founding documents and other works by the Founding Fathers. Feel free to link to our site, for engaging information. fatmady… for some reason I couldn’t see the whole article when I clicked on it… were you meaning to post this? I understand that there is a word or two changed…
By Lee Brown
of PublicExaminer.com
Become Enlightened and Engaged in our Great Republican Process
I write this plea to the People of America, the rightful wielders of the most powerful weapon bestowed upon the human race… freedom. Freedom was not a gift OF man, but TO man. Over the two-plus centuries, since the Founders penned the documents, that we should hold dear second only to the Book from which they were inspired, our freedoms have been whittled and threatened by the very people that should be protecting it. The Founders, however optimistic that the People would never let this happen, warned about the possibility and provided guidance in how to avoid it. There may be those that say “we’re still free” or “times have changed”… I subscribe that these same people are of the ilk that have caused the continuous decline of our great nation. Notice I say “our great nation” and NOT “once great nation”. I contend that we are still the greatest nation on earth, and have every opportunity to right the wrongs that plague us. We have seen our Constitution trampled on in 20th and 21st centuries. Taxes, privacy, arms, speech and the pursuit of happiness have been under assault since the legacy of our founders faded in the minds of the sleepy populace. What we face in 2010 is a challenge, and opportunity, to recapture the energy of our ancestors and turn this nation back to the course the patriots bled to set. I am not eloquent, nor gifted writer, enough to articulate the argument on my own… so I will lean on the words of the men who wrote our Declaration of Independence, Federalist Papers and other important documents that helped frame our country. We can repent of the great American “Sin”, allowing Man to steal our God given rights, and become enlightened, once again, that we can continue to shine as a beacon of freedom throughout the world.
In a speech to the New York Ratifying Convention, Alexander Hamilton stated “Here Sir, the people govern”. That statement is so profound. As a youth, I learned that the government is of the people and by the people. But, until I reached my mid-twenties I didn’t understand that concept as was intended by the framers. It is statements, like Mr. Hamilton’s, that are repeated and with such passion that lead me to the conclusion that we have violated a great trust placed on generations that followed the blood shed during our Revolution. I can promise that my generation, and several preceding, does not even grasp an inkling of the responsibility we have as American citizens. Many Americans have a disdain for even talking about government and politics. Often times, less than half of those eligible to vote actually do it. Interestingly enough, just less than half of those that DO vote, happen to be recipients of the freedom sapping programs invented by Constitution-trampling types we have continued to elect. Most Americans have no clue what is written in the Declaration of Independence or the Bill of Rights, let alone the changes that have been made to these founding documents. These things culminate in the first great offense, we citizens, have paid our founding fathers… the refusal to be an enlightened and engaged people.
“Promote then as an object of primary importance, Institutions for the general diffusion of knowledge. In proportion as the structure of a government gives force to public opinion, it is essential that public opinion should be enlightened.” George Washington, Farewell Address, September 19, 1796.
Let’s remember the percentage of those that vote and let us, again, remember the percentage of those that are dependent on the Government. Are you engaged? Are you enlightened? How can we possibly expect to keep our liberties, and maintain the status of the greatest nation ever born, if we are not involved in the decisions that drive our future? I often state that I am disgusted with politics or, better yet, the politicians that roam our hallowed halls. That stated, I don’t allow those feelings to tune me out from the schemes and power grabs that are propagated every day. I understand that many in the populace would fundamentally disagree with my political leanings, but if they make those decisions on an informed basis, I can tolerate it. If, however, a citizen shirks their responsibility to be informed and refuses to become engaged in the activities required to keep this Republic great, I find myself even more disgusted. “Public virtue cannot exist in a nation without private, and public virtue is the only foundation of republics. There must be a positive passion for the public good, the public interest, honor, power and glory, established in the minds of the people, or there can be no republican government, nor any real liberty: and this public passion must be superior to all private passions.”
John Adams, letter to Mercy Warren, April 16, 1776.
Ask yourself if you’re a valuable member to this society, if you’re doing your duty as a citizen and if you’re content to let others decide your future. Or do you care more about which sports team will win, and what vampire is cuter? Become engaged, or become a slave!
“If a nation expects to be ignorant – and free – in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.” Thomas Jefferson, letter to Colonel Charles Yancey, January 6, 1816.
“A popular Government, without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a Prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy; or, perhaps both. Knowledge will forever govern ignorance: And a people who mean to be their own Governors, must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.” James Madison, letter to W.T. Barry, August 4, 1822.
This is a charge we were given by our founders. We owe it to ourselves and our children… we owe it to the men that risked their lives to provide us the liberty to be here!
Until such time that the public once again becomes involved in our processes, and stands firmly against policies that violate the intentions of the framing documents, we have the guiding words of James Madison on which to rely…
“As the cool and deliberate sense of the community ought in all governments, and actually will in all free governments ultimately prevail over the views of its rulers; so there are particular moments in public affairs, when the people stimulated by some irregular passion, or some illicit advantage, or misled by the artful misrepresentations of interested men, may call for measures which they themselves will afterwards be the most ready to lament and condemn. In these critical moments, how salutary will be the interference of some temperate and respectable body of citizens, in order to check the misguided career, and to suspend the blow mediated by the people against themselves, until reason, justice and truth, can regain their authority over the public mind?”
James Madison (likely), Federalist No. 63, 1788.
As we engage our fellow Americans and once again light the flame of passion for our great Republic, we will see that passion flourish…
“Enlighten the people, generally, and tyranny and oppressions of body and mind will vanish like spirits at the dawn of day.” Thomas Jefferson, letter to Dupont de Nemours, April 24, 1816.
We should not be looking for the power-obsessed Administration to provide us with the enlightenment, nor the oppressors that are borrowing our Congressional buildings. We can dust off our library card and check out the Constitution, Bill of Rights, Federalist and Anti-Federalist papers.
“Without wishing to damp the ardor of curiosity or influence the freedom of inquiry, I will hazard a prediction that, after the most industrious and impartial researchers, the longest liver of you all will find no principles, institutions or systems of education more fit in general to be transmitted to your posterity than those you have received from your ancestors.” John Adams, letter to the young men of the Philadelphia, May 7, 1798.
Join me in a pursuit of knowledge. Join me in a renewed excitement for what our country represents. Let us remind the world that we are the greatest beacon of freedom on earth.
By Lee Brown

http://www.publicexaminer.com Public Examiner is a free central hub for the daily global stories that are captivating the public’s attention.We strive to identify breaking and important news stories, and link to those with a one line summary that sets the tone of the article. We also link to your favorite blogs, news sites and special sites that allow you to keep abreast of critical information shaping the world. Visit our site for access to America’s founding documents and other works by the Founding Fathers. Feel free to link to our site, for engaging information.

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