After discussing the dangers of disunity, the strengths of a United States, and comparing the superiority of the republican form of government to all others, in Federalist 11 Hamilton gets into more practical matters. And a few digs at the Europeans. It seems, they were a tad too arrogant for America’s taste back then as well. .
Then, as now, international trade was an important consideration. America was already an exporter, as well as an importer. So this was a real concern.
In the late 18th century, early 19th century, almost all trading was done over the waters. Even within America, the great waterways were the most efficient way of sending large amounts of freight. It’s not by accident that we call sending things somewhere "shipping" to this day.
As shipping was important, so was protecting that shipping. Many think of pirates, and they were certainly an issue. In fact, America’s first real international war was over issues with the Barbary Pirates. Our first war with radical Muslims, BTW. But shipping in general had it’s hazzards.
Hamilton points out it would be prudent for the United States, already a player on the world’s stage, to create a strong Navy.
Hamilton also speaks to the finer points trade policy, and how America’s new found strength would get established powers upset. In the late 1700's trade policy was often carried out at the end of a bayonet or the barrel of a cannon. Hamilton speaks to the fact a United States would far better meet the challenges of this.
Then as now, strong foreign trade is vital to the economic health of the nation.
The Utility of the Union in Respect to Commercial Relations and a Navy
For the Independent Journal.
Author: Alexander Hamilton
To the People of the State of New York:
THE importance of the Union, in a commercial light, is one of those points about which there is least room to entertain a difference of opinion, and which has, in fact, commanded the most general assent of men who have any acquaintance with the subject. This applies as well to our intercourse with foreign countries as with each other.
There are appearances to authorize a supposition that the adventurous spirit, which distinguishes the commercial character of America, has already excited uneasy sensations in several of the maritime powers of Europe. They seem to be apprehensive of our too great interference in that carrying trade, which is the support of their navigation and the foundation of their naval strength. Those of them which have colonies in America look forward to what this country is capable of becoming, with painful solicitude. They foresee the dangers that may threaten their American dominions from the neighborhood of States, which have all the dispositions, and would possess all the means, requisite to the creation of a powerful marine. Impressions of this kind will naturally indicate the policy of fostering divisions among us, and of depriving us, as far as possible, of an ACTIVE COMMERCE in our own bottoms. This would answer the threefold purpose of preventing our interference in their navigation, of monopolizing the profits of our trade, and of clipping the wings by which we might soar to a dangerous greatness. Did not prudence forbid the detail, it would not be difficult to trace, by facts, the workings of this policy to the cabinets of ministers.
If we continue united, we may counteract a policy so unfriendly to our prosperity in a variety of ways. By prohibitory regulations, extending, at the same time, throughout the States, we may oblige foreign countries to bid against each other, for the privileges of our markets. This assertion will not appear chimerical to those who are able to appreciate the importance of the markets of three millions of people--increasing in rapid progression, for the most part exclusively addicted to agriculture, and likely from local circumstances to remain so--to any manufacturing nation; and the immense difference there would be to the trade and navigation of such a nation, between a direct communication in its own ships, and an indirect conveyance of its products and returns, to and from America, in the ships of another country. Suppose, for instance, we had a government in America, capable of excluding Great Britain (with whom we have at present no treaty of commerce) from all our ports; what would be the probable operation of this step upon her politics? Would it not enable us to negotiate, with the fairest prospect of success, for commercial privileges of the most valuable and extensive kind, in the dominions of that kingdom? When these questions have been asked, upon other occasions, they have received a plausible, but not a solid or satisfactory answer. It has been said that prohibitions on our part would produce no change in the system of Britain, because she could prosecute her trade with us through the medium of the Dutch, who would be her immediate customers and paymasters for those articles which were wanted for the supply of our markets. But would not her navigation be materially injured by the loss of the important advantage of being her own carrier in that trade? Would not the principal part of its profits be intercepted by the Dutch, as a compensation for their agency and risk? Would not the mere circumstance of freight occasion a considerable deduction? Would not so circuitous an intercourse facilitate the competitions of other nations, by enhancing the price of British commodities in our markets, and by transferring to other hands the management of this interesting branch of the British commerce?
A mature consideration of the objects suggested by these questions will justify a belief that the real disadvantages to Britain from such a state of things, conspiring with the pre-possessions of a great part of the nation in favor of the American trade, and with the importunities of the West India islands, would produce a relaxation in her present system, and would let us into the enjoyment of privileges in the markets of those islands elsewhere, from which our trade would derive the most substantial benefits. Such a point gained from the British government, and which could not be expected without an equivalent in exemptions and immunities in our markets, would be likely to have a correspondent effect on the conduct of other nations, who would not be inclined to see themselves altogether supplanted in our trade.
A further resource for influencing the conduct of European nations toward us, in this respect, would arise from the establishment of a federal navy. There can be no doubt that the continuance of the Union under an efficient government would put it in our power, at a period not very distant, to create a navy which, if it could not vie with those of the great maritime powers, would at least be of respectable weight if thrown into the scale of either of two contending parties. This would be more peculiarly the case in relation to operations in the West Indies. A few ships of the line, sent opportunely to the reinforcement of either side, would often be sufficient to decide the fate of a campaign, on the event of which interests of the greatest magnitude were suspended. Our position is, in this respect, a most commanding one. And if to this consideration we add that of the usefulness of supplies from this country, in the prosecution of military operations in the West Indies, it will readily be perceived that a situation so favorable would enable us to bargain with great advantage for commercial privileges. A price would be set not only upon our friendship, but upon our neutrality. By a steady adherence to the Union we may hope, erelong, to become the arbiter of Europe in America, and to be able to incline the balance of European competitions in this part of the world as our interest may dictate.
But in the reverse of this eligible situation, we shall discover that the rivalships of the parts would make them checks upon each other, and would frustrate all the tempting advantages which nature has kindly placed within our reach. In a state so insignificant our commerce would be a prey to the wanton intermeddlings of all nations at war with each other; who, having nothing to fear from us, would with little scruple or remorse, supply their wants by depredations on our property as often as it fell in their way. The rights of neutrality will only be respected when they are defended by an adequate power. A nation, despicable by its weakness, forfeits even the privilege of being neutral.
Under a vigorous national government, the natural strength and resources of the country, directed to a common interest, would baffle all the combinations of European jealousy to restrain our growth. This situation would even take away the motive to such combinations, by inducing an impracticability of success. An active commerce, an extensive navigation, and a flourishing marine would then be the offspring of moral and physical necessity. We might defy the little arts of the little politicians to control or vary the irresistible and unchangeable course of nature.
But in a state of disunion, these combinations might exist and might operate with success. It would be in the power of the maritime nations, availing themselves of our universal impotence, to prescribe the conditions of our political existence; and as they have a common interest in being our carriers, and still more in preventing our becoming theirs, they would in all probability combine to embarrass our navigation in such a manner as would in effect destroy it, and confine us to a PASSIVE COMMERCE. We should then be compelled to content ourselves with the first price of our commodities, and to see the profits of our trade snatched from us to enrich our enemies and p rsecutors. That unequaled spirit of enterprise, which signalizes the genius of the American merchants and navigators, and which is in itself an inexhaustible mine of national wealth, would be stifled and lost, and poverty and disgrace would overspread a country which, with wisdom, might make herself the admiration and envy of the world.
There are rights of great moment to the trade of America which are rights of the Union--I allude to the fisheries, to the navigation of the Western lakes, and to that of the Mississippi. The dissolution of the Confederacy would give room for delicate questions concerning the future existence of these rights; which the interest of more powerful partners would hardly fail to solve to our disadvantage. The disposition of Spain with regard to the Mississippi needs no comment. France and Britain are concerned with us in the fisheries, and view them as of the utmost moment to their navigation. They, of course, would hardly remain long indifferent to that decided mastery, of which experience has shown us to be possessed in this valuable branch of traffic, and by which we are able to undersell those nations in their own markets. What more natural than that they should be disposed to exclude from the lists such dangerous competitors?
This branch of trade ought not to be considered as a partial benefit. All the navigating States may, in different degrees, advantageously participate in it, and under circumstances of a greater extension of mercantile capital, would not be unlikely to do it. As a nursery of seamen, it now is, or when time shall have more nearly assimilated the principles of navigation in the several States, will become, a universal resource. To the establishment of a navy, it must be indispensable.
To this great national object, a NAVY, union will contribute in various ways. Every institution will grow and flourish in proportion to the quantity and extent of the means concentred towards its formation and support. A navy of the United States, as it would embrace the resources of all, is an object far less remote than a navy of any single State or partial confederacy, which would only embrace the resources of a single part. It happens, indeed, that different portions of confederated America possess each some peculiar advantage for this essential establishment. The more southern States furnish in greater abundance certain kinds of naval stores--tar, pitch, and turpentine. Their wood for the construction of ships is also of a more solid and lasting texture. The difference in the duration of the ships of which the navy might be composed, if chiefly constructed of Southern wood, would be of signal importance, either in the view of naval strength or of national economy. Some of the Southern and of the Middle States yield a greater plenty of iron, and of better quality. Seamen must chiefly be drawn from the Northern hive. The necessity of naval protection to external or maritime commerce does not require a particular elucidation, no more than the conduciveness of that species of commerce to the prosperity of a navy.
An unrestrained intercourse between the States themselves will advance the trade of each by an interchange of their respective productions, not only for the supply of reciprocal wants at home, but for exportation to foreign markets. The veins of commerce in every part will be replenished, and will acquire additional motion and vigor from a free circulation of the commodities of every part. Commercial enterprise will have much greater scope, from the diversity in the productions of different States. When the staple of one fails from a bad harvest or unproductive crop, it can call to its aid the staple of another. The variety, not less than the value, of products for exportation contributes to the activity of foreign commerce. It can be conducted upon much better terms with a large number of materials of a given value than with a small number of materials of the same value; arising from the competitions of trade and from the fluctations of markets. Particular articles may be in great demand at certain periods, and unsalable at others; but if there be a variety of articles, it can scarcely happen that they should all be at one time in the latter predicament, and on this account the operations of the merchant would be less liable to any considerable obstruction or stagnation. The speculative trader will at once perceive the force of these observations, and will acknowledge that the aggregate balance of the commerce of the United States would bid fair to be much more favorable than that of the thirteen States without union or with partial unions.
It may perhaps be replied to this, that whether the States are united or disunited, there would still be an intimate intercourse between them which would answer the same ends; this intercourse would be fettered, interrupted, and narrowed by a multiplicity of causes, which in the course of these papers have been amply detailed. A unity of commercial, as well as political, interests, can only result from a unity of government.
There are other points of view in which this subject might be placed, of a striking and animating kind. But they would lead us too far into the regions of futurity, and would involve topics not proper for a newspaper discussion. I shall briefly observe, that our situation invites and our interests prompt us to aim at an ascendant in the system of American affairs. The world may politically, as well as geographically, be divided into four parts, each having a distinct set of interests. Unhappily for the other three, Europe, by her arms and by her negotiations, by force and by fraud, has, in different degrees, extended her dominion over them all. Africa, Asia, and America, have successively felt her domination. The superiority she has long maintained has tempted her to plume herself as the Mistress of the World, and to consider the rest of mankind as created for her benefit. Men admired as profound philosophers have, in direct terms, attributed to her inhabitants a physical superiority, and have gravely asserted that all animals, and with them the human species, degenerate in America--that even dogs cease to bark after having breathed awhile in our atmosphere.[1] Facts have too long supported these arrogant pretensions of the Europeans. It belongs to us to vindicate the honor of the human race, and to teach that assuming brother, moderation. Union will enable us to do it. Disunion will will add another victim to his triumphs. Let Americans disdain to be the instruments of European greatness! Let the thirteen States, bound together in a strict and indissoluble Union, concur in erecting one great American system, superior to the control of all transatlantic force or influence, and able to dictate the terms of the connection between the old and the new world!
PUBLIUS.
1. "Recherches philosophiques sur les Americains.''
For more information, check out Constituting America here.
Madison takes us on a whole other path today than we have been on. Though he is still talking about the benefits of unity, and the dangers of inner strife and insurrection, in Federalist 10, Madison explains very well why a democracy is due to fail, and why the representative republican form of government is the answer.
I know we often say we live in a democracy, even those that know better are guilty, but the truth is, we do not live in a democracy, we live in a Representative Republic. History is laced with governments that have been set up as true democracies, one man...one vote. All have failed, and the end result is a strong dictatorial, command and control government. This cycle has repeated itself over and over.
It’s almost the same case with Marxism, communism, socialism: People who see that true democracies always fail, but still put forth the plans to become that kind of government are of a kindred spirit to those who think communism will work this time because THEY are the ones doing it!
You see, to the true believer, whether it be the aforementioned isms, communism, socialism, and so forth, or a democracy....the problem is not with the plan, no...the problem, in their eyes, is simply the wrong people have been in charge! These so-called intellectuals just KNOW that if they are at the helm, proven failure can be turned into the Utopian Paradise they all dream of. Such is the folly of the intellectual elites who have no practical experience in any facet of real life.
For a perfect example of this, see the complete and total failure represented by the Obama regime, and those that support it. .
Madison makes the case for the republican form of government quite well. In theory, solid statesmen, who are accountable to the people, would streamline government, and best represent the will of the people, and at least counter the dangers that occur from certain factions who would seek to oppose their will on the rest, causing much strife and even insurrection.
I know most will say, that through the lens of our current situation, the representative republican form of government has failed. Well, as the old saying goes, the republican form of government is the worst kind there is, except for all of the rest!
What has failed, and this will be hard to accept, are the people of this great Nation. That means you and I. You see, most of us get so involved in just living life, doing our own thing, that we simply don’t think about government at all, until something happens that is completely upsetting, then we stand around complaining, and well, doing little else.
I can’t tell you how many friends and acquaintances over the years have said "I don’t do politics." In fact, looking at the rather sad voting habits of Americans, or lack there of, there are a whole lot of Americans who "don’t do politics."
Now frankly, this is understandable. Politics can be quite frustrating and time consuming. It is quite easy to get caught up in it, and little else. Also, like religion, we are often timid to speak openly about politics, even with friends, because like religion, wars have been fought over political differences! Friends have ceased to be friends over heated discussions of either subject.
What happens though, is while the public is distracted with other affairs, government, even one so well designed, starts to fail us. Human nature takes over our elected representatives, and with no supervision, all sorts mayhem ensue.
This is the time to insert the reminder that our elected representatives work for us, we have a direct employer-employee relationship. We are like a major corporation, with the people being the employer, and the government being the employee. We are government’s supervisor. Anyone who has worked with a number of people knows that if the supervision is poor, and the direction is not clear, it’s very easy to have the mission stray, and for employees to spend more time working against the interests of the company, and for their own.
In our system, the people of each Congressional district serve as supervisors, managers of their elected representatives. It is their duty to keep an eye on their representative, to make sure that they are in line with not only their values, but the Constitution. While we can’t fire them on the spot when they fail, we do have a remedy, our vote.
By not doing our duty as American citizens, our government has now drifted into crisis mode. A tyrannical regime has come to power, and we have been subjected to many Intolerable Acts by our government. Such is the price we pay for not "doing politics."
Ours is an advanced form of government that requires a certain amount of effort from each of us to be at least minimally involved.
The Tea Parties are the natural consequence of our failure to do our job and supervise our government. Government has grown into an out of control monster and it will take a herculean effort to put the genie back in the bottle, so to speak.
Thankfully, as the people are waking up, and joining activist groups, like the Tea Parties, we are slowly, steadily, turning the corner. Many unworthy politicians are seeing their careers end, or about to end, as their employers are finally giving them their long overdue work review, and the results of that review show our employees have performed poorly, and some have even performed criminally.
Though Madison is selling us on the idea of the republican form of government, he is also reminding us that in order for this to work, we must do our part.
The Same Subject Continued: The Union as a Safeguard Against Domestic Faction and Insurrection
From the New York Packet.
Friday, November 23, 1787.
Author: James Madison
To the People of the State of New York:
AMONG the numerous advantages promised by a well-constructed Union, none deserves to be more accurately developed than its tendency to break and control the violence of faction. The friend of popular governments never finds himself so much alarmed for their character and fate, as when he contemplates their propensity to this dangerous vice. He will not fail, therefore, to set a due value on any plan which, without violating the principles to which he is attached, provides a proper cure for it. The instability, injustice, and confusion introduced into the public councils, have, in truth, been the mortal diseases under which popular governments have everywhere perished; as they continue to be the favorite and fruitful topics from which the adversaries to liberty derive their most specious declamations. The valuable improvements made by the American constitutions on the popular models, both ancient and modern, cannot certainly be too much admired; but it would be an unwarrantable partiality, to contend that they have as effectually obviated the danger on this side, as was wished and expected. Complaints are everywhere heard from our most considerate and virtuous citizens, equally the friends of public and private faith, and of public and personal liberty, that our governments are too unstable, that the public good is disregarded in the conflicts of rival parties, and that measures are too often decided, not according to the rules of justice and the rights of the minor party, but by the superior force of an interested and overbearing majority. However anxiously we may wish that these complaints had no foundation, the evidence, of known facts will not permit us to deny that they are in some degree true. It will be found, indeed, on a candid review of our situation, that some of the distresses under which we labor have been erroneously charged on the operation of our governments; but it will be found, at the same time, that other causes will not alone account for many of our heaviest misfortunes; and, particularly, for that prevailing and increasing distrust of public engagements, and alarm for private rights, which are echoed from one end of the continent to the other. These must be chiefly, if not wholly, effects of the unsteadiness and injustice with which a factious spirit has tainted our public administrations.
By a faction, I understand a number of citizens, whether amounting to a majority or a minority of the whole, who are united and actuated by some common impulse of passion, or of interest, adversed to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the community.
There are two methods of curing the mischiefs of faction: the one, by removing its causes; the other, by controlling its effects.
There are again two methods of removing the causes of faction: the one, by destroying the liberty which is essential to its existence; the other, by giving to every citizen the same opinions, the same passions, and the same interests.
It could never be more truly said than of the first remedy, that it was worse than the disease. Liberty is to faction what air is to fire, an aliment without which it instantly expires. But it could not be less folly to abolish liberty, which is essential to political life, because it nourishes faction, than it would be to wish the annihilation of air, which is essential to animal life, because it imparts to fire its destructive agency.
The second expedient is as impracticable as the first would be unwise. As long as the reason of man continues fallible, and he is at liberty to exercise it, different opinions will be formed. As long as the connection subsists between his reason and his self-love, his opinions and his passions will have a reciprocal influence on each other; and the former will be objects to which the latter will attach themselves. The diversity in the faculties of men, from which the rights of property originate, is not less an insuperable obstacle to a uniformity of interests. The protection of these faculties is the first object of government. From the protection of different and unequal faculties of acquiring property, the possession of different degrees and kinds of property immediately results; and from the influence of these on the sentiments and views of the respective proprietors, ensues a division of the society into different interests and parties.
The latent causes of faction are thus sown in the nature of man; and we see them everywhere brought into different degrees of activity, according to the different circumstances of civil society. A zeal for different opinions concerning religion, concerning government, and many other points, as well of speculation as of practice; an attachment to different leaders ambitiously contending for pre-eminence and power; or to persons of other descriptions whose fortunes have been interesting to the human passions, have, in turn, divided mankind into parties, inflamed them with mutual animosity, and rendered them much more disposed to vex and oppress each other than to co-operate for their common good. So strong is this propensity of mankind to fall into mutual animosities, that where no substantial occasion presents itself, the most frivolous and fanciful distinctions have been sufficient to kindle their unfriendly passions and excite their most violent conflicts. But the most common and durable source of factions has been the various and unequal distribution of property. Those who hold and those who are without property have ever formed distinct interests in society. Those who are creditors, and those who are debtors, fall under a like discrimination. A landed interest, a manufacturing interest, a mercantile interest, a moneyed interest, with many lesser interests, grow up of necessity in civilized nations, and divide them into different classes, actuated by different sentiments and views. The regulation of these various and interfering interests forms the principal task of modern legislation, and involves the spirit of party and faction in the necessary and ordinary operations of the government.
No man is allowed to be a judge in his own cause, because his interest would certainly bias his judgment, and, not improbably, corrupt his integrity. With equal, nay with greater reason, a body of men are unfit to be both judges and parties at the same time; yet what are many of the most important acts of legislation, but so many judicial determinations, not indeed concerning the rights of single persons, but concerning the rights of large bodies of citizens? And what are the different classes of legislators but advocates and parties to the causes which they determine? Is a law proposed concerning private debts? It is a question to which the creditors are parties on one side and the debtors on the other. Justice ought to hold the balance between them. Yet the parties are, and must be, themselves the judges; and the most numerous party, or, in other words, the most powerful faction must be expected to prevail. Shall domestic manufactures be encouraged, and in what degree, by restrictions on foreign manufactures? are questions which would be differently decided by the landed and the manufacturing classes, and probably by neither with a sole regard to justice and the public good. The apportionment of taxes on the various descriptions of property is an act which seems to require the most exact impartiality; yet there is, perhaps, no legislative act in which greater opportunity and temptation are given to a predominant party to trample on the rules of justice. Every shilling with which they overburden the inferior number, is a shilling saved to their own pockets.
It is in vain to say that enlightened statesmen will be able to adjust these clashing interests, and render them all subservient to the public good. Enlightened statesmen will not always be at the helm. Nor, in many cases, can such an adjustment be made at all without taking into view indirect and remote considerations, which will rarely prevail over the immediate interest which one party may find in disregarding the rights of another or the good of the whole.
The inference to which we are brought is, that the CAUSES of faction cannot be removed, and that relief is only to be sought in the means of controlling its EFFECTS.
If a faction consists of less than a majority, relief is supplied by the republican principle, which enables the majority to defeat its sinister views by regular vote. It may clog the administration, it may convulse the society; but it will be unable to execute and mask its violence under the forms of the Constitution. When a majority is included in a faction, the form of popular government, on the other hand, enables it to sacrifice to its ruling passion or interest both the public good and the rights of other citizens. To secure the public good and private rights against the danger of such a faction, and at the same time to preserve the spirit and the form of popular government, is then the great object to which our inquiries are directed. Let me add that it is the great desideratum by which this form of government can be rescued from the opprobrium under which it has so long labored, and be recommended to the esteem and adoption of mankind.
By what means is this object attainable? Evidently by one of two only. Either the existence of the same passion or interest in a majority at the same time must be prevented, or the majority, having such coexistent passion or interest, must be rendered, by their number and local situation, unable to concert and carry into effect schemes of oppression. If the impulse and the opportunity be suffered to coincide, we well know that neither moral nor religious motives can be relied on as an adequate control. They are not found to be such on the injustice and violence of individuals, and lose their efficacy in proportion to the number combined together, that is, in proportion as their efficacy becomes needful.
From this view of the subject it may be concluded that a pure democracy, by which I mean a society consisting of a small number of citizens, who assemble and administer the government in person, can admit of no cure for the mischiefs of faction. A common passion or interest will, in almost every case, be felt by a majority of the whole; a communication and concert result from the form of government itself; and there is nothing to check the inducements to sacrifice the weaker party or an obnoxious individual. Hence it is that such democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property; and have in general been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths. Theoretic politicians, who have patronized this species of government, have erroneously supposed that by reducing mankind to a perfect equality in their political rights, they would, at the same time, be perfectly equalized and assimilated in their possessions, their opinions, and their passions.
A republic, by which I mean a government in which the scheme of representation takes place, opens a different prospect, and promises the cure for which we are seeking. Let us examine the points in which it varies from pure democracy, and we shall comprehend both the nature of the cure and the efficacy which it must derive from the Union.
The two great points of difference between a democracy and a republic are: first, the delegation of the government, in the latter, to a small number of citizens elected by the rest; secondly, the greater number of citizens, and greater sphere of country, over which the latter may be extended.
The effect of the first difference is, on the one hand, to refine and enlarge the public views, by passing them through the medium of a chosen body of citizens, whose wisdom may best discern the true interest of their country, and whose patriotism and love of justice will be least likely to sacrifice it to temporary or partial considerations. Under such a regulation, it may well happen that the public voice, pronounced by the representatives of the people, will be more consonant to the public good than if pronounced by the people themselves, convened for the purpose. On the other hand, the effect may be inverted. Men of factious tempers, of local prejudices, or of sinister designs, may, by intrigue, by corruption, or by other means, first obtain the suffrages, and then betray the interests, of the people. The question resulting is, whether small or extensive republics are more favorable to the election of proper guardians of the public weal; and it is clearly decided in favor of the latter by two obvious considerations:
In the first place, it is to be remarked that, however small the republic may be, the representatives must be raised to a certain number, in order to guard against the cabals of a few; and that, however large it may be, they must be limited to a certain number, in order to guard against the confusion of a multitude. Hence, the number of representatives in the two cases not being in proportion to that of the two constituents, and being proportionally greater in the small republic, it follows that, if the proportion of fit characters be not less in the large than in the small republic, the former will present a greater option, and consequently a greater probability of a fit choice.
In the next place, as each representative will be chosen by a greater number of citizens in the large than in the small republic, it will be more difficult for unworthy candidates to practice with success the vicious arts by which elections are too often carried; and the suffrages of the people being more free, will be more likely to centre in men who possess the most attractive merit and the most diffusive and established characters.
It must be confessed that in this, as in most other cases, there is a mean, on both sides of which inconveniences will be found to lie. By enlarging too much the number of electors, you render the representatives too little acquainted with all their local circumstances and lesser interests; as by reducing it too much, you render him unduly attached to these, and too little fit to comprehend and pursue great and national objects. The federal Constitution forms a happy combination in this respect; the great and aggregate interests being referred to the national, the local and particular to the State legislatures.
The other point of difference is, the greater number of citizens and extent of territory which may be brought within the compass of republican than of democratic government; and it is this circumstance principally which renders factious combinations less to be dreaded in the former than in the latter. The smaller the society, the fewer probably will be the distinct parties and interests composing it; the fewer the distinct parties and interests, the more frequently will a majority be found of the same party; and the smaller the number of individuals composing a majority, and the smaller the compass within which they are placed, the more easily will they concert and execute their plans of oppression. Extend the sphere, and you take in a greater variety of parties and interests; you make it less probable that a majority of the whole will have a common motive to invade the rights of other citizens; or if such a common motive exists, it will be more difficult for all who feel it to discover their own strength, and to act in unison with each other. Besides other impediments, it may be remarked that, where there is a consciousness of unjust or dishonorable purposes, communication is always checked by distrust in proportion to the number whose concurrence is necessary.
Hence, it clearly appears, that the same advantage which a republic has over a democracy, in controlling the effects of faction, is enjoyed by a large over a small republic,--is enjoyed by the Union over the States composing it. Does the advantage consist in the substitution of representatives whose enlightened views and virtuous sentiments render them superior to local prejudices and schemes of injustice? It will not be denied that the representation of the Union will be most likely to possess these requisite endowments. Does it consist in the greater security afforded by a greater variety of parties, against the event of any one party being able to outnumber and oppress the rest? In an equal degree does the increased variety of parties comprised within the Union, increase this security. Does it, in fine, consist in the greater obstacles opposed to the concert and accomplishment of the secret wishes of an unjust and interested majority? Here, again, the extent of the Union gives it the most palpable advantage.
The influence of factious leaders may kindle a flame within their particular States, but will be unable to spread a general conflagration through the other States. A religious sect may degenerate into a political faction in a part of the Confederacy; but the variety of sects dispersed over the entire face of it must secure the national councils against any danger from that source. A rage for paper money, for an abolition of debts, for an equal division of property, or for any other improper or wicked project, will be less apt to pervade the whole body of the Union than a particular member of it; in the same proportion as such a malady is more likely to taint a particular county or district, than an entire State.
In the extent and proper structure of the Union, therefore, we behold a republican remedy for the diseases most incident to republican government. And according to the degree of pleasure and pride we feel in being republicans, ought to be our zeal in cherishing the spirit and supporting the character of Federalists.
Be sure to visit Constituting America for more thoughts and essays on the Constitution and The Federalist.
Governor Jan Brewer has released a scathing video attacking Obama for his absolutely stupidity on the immigration issue. Arizona is under attack by an invading foreign force, as well as Marxist elements in this country, and... well... Obama himself. The federal government has failed to fulfill it’s constitutional requirement, and protect the nation, and Obama has failed to fulfill the Oath of Office he took to protect America and the Constitution.
He did find the time, however, to make a joke about Arizona at the recent White House Correspondents' Dinner.
Nice huh? Of course, let’s never let facts get in the way of a good anti-American rant! What’s really pathetic is this Marxist clown in the video below is a HISTORY teacher in Los Angeles. Quite reassuring if you have children in the L. A. School district.
The fact is, under the conditions of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo the United States paid Mexico $15 million (equivalent to $380 million today) for the territory. The U.S. also agreed to take over $3.25 million (equivalent to $81.4 million today) in debts Mexico owed to American citizens.
Considering the shape California is in now, one could most certainly debate who got the better of that deal.
As you watch this video you hear all of the boilerplate Communist rants against Capitalism, Freedom and Liberty. Amazingly, as much as these morons hate Capitalism, they have absolutely no problem taking a pay check while doing it!
This video was taken at a La Raza rally at UCLA. La Raza,...BTW...stands for “The Race” and these people are every bit as racist as any Klan member you ever met, and more dangerous.
Some more gems from this traitor:
“Communist Revolution”
'Frail, racist white people'
“Northern Front of Latin Revolution”
"40 million...revolutionaries...in the belly of the beast"
"Our enemy is Capitalism and Imperialism".
Nice of this idiot to let us know he has 40 million more anti-American traitors here that are just like him. Sure makes our argument stronger!
Is it any wonder why the people of America are alarmed by the invasion of illegal aliens? Is it any wonder that the Nation is horrified that our President, a Communist born and bred, is just itching to make all of the anti-American communists legal citizens (and voters)?
No American is against LEGAL immigration. Americans welcome immigrants with open arms. People that jump through the hoops one must jump through to do it the right way, the legal way, make great Americans and real Patriots. These men and women understand America is that Shining City on a Hill. The world’s last best hope. A Beacon of Freedom and Liberty to the world.
When people work hard to come to America they hope to become part of the American experience, to jump into the great melting pot of American society. They want to build a new life that only America provides.
On the other hand, those who sneak across our border are criminals from day one. They are parasites who drain the host. They cost the United States hundreds of billions of dollars annually as they flood the welfare roles, hospital emergency rooms, and jails. They have absolutely no love or regard for the American way. To them, this is just a place to make a fast buck to send back home.
Even worse, many of them, with this racist, Klannish, La Raza nonsense show they actually want to destroy the host, America, that they feed on. Typical parasitic behavior.
This is why we must seal our borders by any means possible, and send the illegals back home. The very idea we would give these communist radicals safe haven, and citizenship, so they can vote to destroy our Republic, to turn it into the same hell hole they left, is just too fantastic to fathom.
You can bet that any politician who signs onto an amnesty bill, which the Marxist Obama regime will frame as “immigration reform” is a traitor to the Republic, and should be treated as such.
We have STRONG laws on the books already. We don’t need to write another single piece of legislation. We simply need to enforce the laws we have, seal the borders, and remove the invaders.
Oh...and we probably need to take a better look at who in the hell we are letting teach our children!
I know some will say we can’t just round up all of the illegals and send them home. That it would be impossible. President Eisenhower would tend to disagree. Eisenhower was the last President to really deal with this properly. You can read how he handled the problem here.
While I don’t agree with the unfortunate name....I most certainly agree with Eisenhower’s methods!
The American way of life is under assault by radical Marxism. It’s bad enough we have a radical Communist President, and a Congress filled with these anti-American devils, we shouldn’t need to import any more revolutionaries to aid their cause!
Act now America, or lose your Nation forever.
Oh, and will someone tell that nimrod Joe Klein that THIS is what sedition looks like!
Sedition:
The organized incitement of rebellion or civil disorder against authority or the state; insurrection or rebellion
The carbon trading system being pushed here has spawned crime and fraud across the pond. Cap-and-trade is not about saving the planet. It's about money and power, and absolute power corrupting absolutely.
We’ve written much about the organized crime syndicate that is the Obama regime. It’s bad enough that Obama is a radical Marxist, hell bent on the destruction of society as we know it, the fact that he is also a money and power hungry crook is just icing on cake.
Doug at The Patriot’s Flag has done yeomen’s work in researching all of this as well. You can read all of his great works here.
What this boils down to is a conspiracy to defraud that includes Barack Obama, his boss...George Soros, Al Gore, Maurice Strong, disgraced Fannie Mae chair Franklin Raines, terrorist William Ayers’ brother, the Joyce Foundation, the Chicago Climate Exchange, Goldman Sachs, several labor unions, and who knows how many smaller bit players. As Joe Biden would say: "This is a big f-ing deal!"
The troubling thing about all of this is, instead of investigating, and arresting all of these absolute crooks on charges of organized crime and racketeering, Marxist elements in our Congress are planning to introduce legislation THIS WEEK, to put make this scam the law of the land!
Carbon trading is the biggest nonsensical idea since the Pet Rock. The only difference is folks who purchased the Pet Rock actually got something of value, something they could hold in their hand that had at least some value as entertainment.
Carbon credits are literally nothing. There is absolutely no value to them, nor do they solve any problem. They create nothing, except great wealth for those who seek to traffic in them. Global warming is a proven hoax, and frankly, with all of damage people like Al Gore have caused: Millions of jobs lost, unnecessary deaths due to ignorant and ill-advised policies, and just the general mayhem and misery they have caused, there should be long prison sentences and public floggings in their future. These people are evil.
However, just for fun, lets pretend that global warming is real. What would trading carbon do for it? How would buying carbon credits from one person, and then selling them to another, make any difference whatsoever? The short answer is, it wouldn’t. You would still have the same amounts of carbon in the air, the same amount of pollution. The only thing effected in how much lighter your wallet is about to be, and how much heavier Crime Inc.’s will be!
Here’s how this scam will work. Everyone will be assigned "carbon credits" based on whatever the government decides. This of course, is a worldwide scheme. People (businesses and countries) who actually produce things,... commodities,... and of course JOBS, will not have enough of these credits to function.
On the other hand, countries that do not produce, will have all the "credits" one could need.
Now, there has to be a way for those countries that have all of these "credits" to sell them to People who actually contribute to society, who produce things like products, and JOBS. This is where Obama and Crime Inc. Come in. By now you know Obama was key in setting up the Chicago Climate Exchange as the mechanism for selling these bogus carbon credits. $100's of millions have already been invested in this scheme, in hopes of making $10's of TRILLIONS.
The way Obama and his crime syndicate will get rich beyond anyone’s wildest dreams is simple. When a non-producing entity wants to sell a "credit" they will have to do that on the Chicago Climate Exchange. Along the same lines, when a productive member of society needs a "credit" in order to remain a productive member of society, they will have to purchase this "credit" through the Chicago Climate Exchange. Of course, Obama and Crime Inc. will make commissions from both the seller and the buyer. It’s a beautiful scam!
Look, a few years back when these reprobates started this activity, it was a menace. But now we have one of the conspirators, sitting in the Oval Office, with the ability to sign into law legislation that will actually make this criminal enterprise a reality.
As this will effect the price of pretty much every thing you buy. You can expect the cost just to survive to be unsustainable. Obama has actually bragged that under his plan energy prices would "necessarily sky rocket." This is "necessary" so that Obama and the rest of his criminal enterprise can become wealthy!
If this outrageous scheme is allowed to become reality it’s over. As pretty much everything we do needs energy, and pretty much every business will be effected by the carbon credit trading scam, absolutely every product we buy will cost more, a lot more. Energy prices, already out of control due to inept government policies, will double, and possibly triple. So will the price of everything else. Even the most basics like food, clothing, and shelter will be priced out of reach for many. Right down to the last morsel of bread.
Investor’s Business Daily has more on this. Europe already has a carbon trading scheme and corruption is out of control:
Europe's Carbon Mafia, And Ours
Corruption:
The carbon trading system being pushed here has spawned crime and fraud across the pond. Cap-and-trade is not about saving the planet. It's about money and power, and absolute power corrupting absolutely.
All across Europe authorities have been conducting raids, rounding up individuals involved in a new version of Climate-gate. This time the data aren't corrupted. Europe's Emissions Trading System is. The system is so sick, it's turned out to be a scam built upon a scam.
Twenty-five people have been arrested in raids by British and German authorities as part of a pan-European crackdown on carbon credit VAT tax fraud.
U.K. officials announced raids on 81 offices and homes, nabbing 13 people in England and eight in Scotland. The operation involved 450 investigators from Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs office.
German authorities raided 230 locations, including the headquarters of Deutsche Bank in Frankfurt and the offices of RWE, one of the largest energy firms in Europe. The German operation involved 1,000 investigators targeting 50 companies and 150 suspects.
The amount of money involved in carbon trading is huge and the temptations vast. While our Congress demagogues about banks and their "complex financial instruments," they are simple compared to cap-and-trade, which as we have noted involves essentially the buying and selling of air. Throw in an oppressive value-added tax and you have a recipe for corruption and fraud.
Last December, Europol, the European criminal intelligence agency, announced that Emissions Trading System fraud had resulted in about 5 billion euros in lost revenues as Europe's carbon traders schemed to avoid paying Europe's VAT and pocket the difference. In announcing the raids, the agency said that as much as 90% of Europe's carbon trades were the result of fraudulent activity.
"Carbon markets are highly susceptible to fraud, given their complexity and the fact that it's not always clear what is being traded," says Oscar Reyes of Carbon Trade Watch.
Climate change has been found to be a fraud. Now the system to fight it has been. Yet it's that system the administration and others want to establish here through cap-and-trade legislation such as Waxman-Markey and Kerry-Boxer.
As we also have noted, the mechanism for such phantom carbon trading here has already been established in the form of the Chicago Climate Exchange. The Joyce Foundation in 2000 and 2001 provided the seed money to start CCX when Barack Obama sat on its board.
CCX founder Richard Sandor estimates the climate trading market could be "a $10 trillion dollar market." It is an invitation to fraud that would make Europe's ETS scandal seem like petty theft.
In 2000, according to Joyce Foundation records, $347,600 was allocated to Northwestern University's Kellogg Graduate School of Management, where Sandor was a research professor, "to design a Midwestern pilot program for the voluntary trading of carbon dioxide and other emissions that cause climate change."
Now President Obama would make such carbon trading mandatory, limit total emissions and make carbon as valuable a commodity as booze during Prohibition.
The Joyce Foundation's two grants totaled just over $1 million. CCX has proved very lucrative for Sandor, whose 8 million shares in the exchange has grown to more than $260 million even before a national cap-and-trade system like Europe's is established.
Al Gore, who recently increased his carbon footprint by spending $8.9 million on an oceanview villa near Santa Barbara, Calif., sitting on 1.5 acres with a swimming pool, spa, fountains, five bedrooms, nine bathrooms and no fewer than six fireplaces, is co-founder of Generation Investment Management LLP, the fifth largest shareholder in CCX.
The largest shareholder is, uh, Goldman Sachs. Other CCX founders include former Goldman Sachs partner David Blood, as well as Mark Ferguson and Peter Harris, also of Goldman Sachs. Presumably they know a lot about playing shell games with other people's money.
What has happened in Europe is going to happen here and may already have begun. We, too, can save the earth for fun and profit.
For Obama and his minions this scam, and the upcoming legislation that will force it upon the world, will serve several purposes. First it will feed Obama’s communist heart as this will be the greatest re-distribution of wealth in history. Rich nations, nations that produce, will be forced, under the threat of law, to pay tribute to non-producers...just for the privilege of producing and being valuable members of society.
Of course, along the way, a large portion of this wealth re-distribution will finds it’s way into the pockets of Obama and his cohorts. Tens of TRILLIONS of dollars will find their way into Crime Inc.’s pockets!
As a bonus, this scheme will destroy the American economy, collapsing it, which will also make Obama and the other anti-American Marxists happy. This will give Obama a chance for Government to come in and take total control of your lives, to "help you." He can then build the communist Utopia his parents and grandparents often spoke of.
This is dangerous to no end folks. We are only days away from the introduction of a bill that will make this nightmare a reality. If you don’t think Obama and Congress won’t use every trick in the book to shove this down America’s throat, then you weren’t paying attention with ObamaCare! That was simply a test to see if they could pull it off. Cap and trade legislation is the Holy Grail, the Golden Goose. With tens of TRILLIONS of dollars on the line, a fortune beyond the wildest of fantasy about to be realized, you can bet that this bunch will do absolutely anything to make this a reality!
It is the Responsibility of the Patriot to protect his Country from it’s government.
~Thomas Paine
What can you do?
Take action. Let members of Congress know that even an attempt at this will have dire consequences for them. You can also organize, protest and DEMAND this entire set up be investigated and all of those involved, including Obama, Gore, Soros, and the rest, be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Prison is too good for them, but sadly, that’s all we got.
When we have our bull sessions, at the [virtual] clubhouse, one notion we throw around quite a lot is the fact that Sarah Palin is playing chess, while the rest of the world is playing checkers. That truly seems to sum up Sarah’s ability to see the big picture, to be a leader.
We all kind of figured there would be some detractors when Sarah decided to step in and endorse Carly Fiorina in the Californian Republican primary. But the over the top histrionics, and the unprofessional reaction from the DeVore camp simply amazed me.
Oh, it didn’t amaze me that people were upset, especial Chuck DeVore. I mean he wanted the endorsement as well. An endorsement from Sarah Palin is money in the bank and an almost sure victory. It also means that other politicians, the more timid among them, will suddenly fight over who will make the next endorsement in your favor, once Sarah had made it "cool."
We’ve seen it before, most notably with Doug Hoffman in New York. Jeri Thompson really "discovered" the guy. She and Fred worked tirelessly, but once Sarah weighed in, EVERYBODY rushed to be next in line, well everyone but Newt....who went down with the sinking S.S. Scozzafava ship. We are seeing it in Kentucky with Rand Paul, another endorsement from Sarah that sent a few knee jerk reactionaries into convulsions.
Look, at this point everyone and their uncle has written something about this, including Stacy Drake and I. You can read our thoughts here and here.
Our favorite Barbarian also has a nice piece up that details the reasoning behind many of the endorsements of Carly over DeVore. The reasoning behind a Carly Fiorina endorsement is laid out quite well by the California Pro-Life Council. You should take the time to read this well thought out reasoning here.
The bottom line though is this: Chuck DeVore has zero chance of becoming the Republican nominee for the United States Senate race. Zero.
There are a any number of reasons why DeVore simply didn’t get traction. Most of it can be narrowed down to the fact that he ran a poor campaign The DeVore campaign had trouble raising money, and even more trouble managing money.
Evidently, DeVore doesn’t play well with others, as noted here and here.
The thing is though, and this is what the "educated," the "political strategists," the pundits, and the armchair quarterbacks fail to understand: This ain’t about Chuck DeVore!
The reason why Sarah stepped into this race is Tom Campbell. Campbell, as has widely been written, is a far left progressive posing as a Republican. Tom was not a factor early on, because he was running for Governor. When reality slapped him in the face, telling him he couldn’t win, he decided to jump in the Senate race and really muddy the waters. Campbell is so radical, morally bankrupt, and corrupt, that it would almost be preferable to leave Barbara Boxer in place over electing Tom Campbell. At least Boxer stands up for Israel, and has never taken campaign money from a convicted terrorist!
This is why Sarah stepped in. As crazy as California politics are, Campbell, who is further to the left than Boxer, is leading in the polls! (At this point Stacy Drake usually goes off on "Country Club Republicans," but I digress!) On the other hand, Carly is only a couple of points behind and within the margin of error in some polling. Carly can beat Campbell.
Sadly, DeVore is barely polling double digits, and has never polled well in a 3-way race. He simply cannot win the primary. Now I know everyone is saying that polling shows DeVore might beat Boxer, the operative word being "might," but that is no real feat in this climate. That Boxer is going down is all but a forgone conclusion. The problem is, you have to make the field, to be in the race, and take the big win. Sadly, there is simply no way for that to happen for DeVore.
We are only a month away from the California Republican primary, and DeVore is barely treading water, and barely breaking into double digit numbers. Here’s a clue...if you are a month out, and after all of your campaigning,...you are sweating it just to get over 10% of the voters to back you, it’s time to call it a day. Reality is staring you in the face, and it isn’t smiling.
Sarah saw this as well. Look, Sarah is the only real leader we have in this country. Other politicians are just that, and way too timid for their own good. Of course it may simply be they aren't smart enough to see just how dire the situation is.
At any rate, Sarah looked at reality, the same reality Chuck DeVore is looking at, and did what leaders do...She led! Sarah knew this race needed to be shaken up, she knew the real deal here was to defeat Tom Campbell, and stave off ceratin disaster for California and the American people.
This wasn’t personal, it was practical. It’s truly disappointing to see the way DeVore and his people have reacted. One understands the disappointment, and sympathizes, but one cannot accept their complete divorce from reality.
Chuck DeVore, is not a viable candidate at this point, and hasn’t been for some time. The minute Tom Campbell entered the race, it was all over. It is what it is...deal with it.
On the other hand, Carly Fiorina has ran a good campaign. She’s a solid candidate. She has no problem raising money, or support. She stands for the right things, and brings a life time of solid business experience to the table. She’s the real deal. She’s pro-life, pro-Second Amendment, pro-Business, against dangerous "cap and tax" legislation, as well as ObamaCare.
More importantly, Carly can not only beat Tom Campbell, who is arguably as bad, or worse than Boxer, she can beat Boxer as well.
This is simply reality. That only Sarah Palin recognized this, and took the steps to prevent disaster, says a lot about not only Sarah, but the sorry state the Republican Party is still in. We refer to Sarah as the Leader of the Free World, because,....well,....she is. Sure would be nice if some of the lessor players would help pick up the slack though!
Oh, and now that Sarah has endorsed, Senators Tom Coburn and Rick Santorum have also endorsed Carly.
Frankly, it’s time folks took hard look at reality, set aside personal egos and agendas, and got behind Carly Fiorina. It’s what’s good for California, and what’s good for America. We will long remember the actions of those who would stand in the way of the defeat of Tom Campbell, and the ultimate defeat of Barbara Boxer, and the Obama regime’s dangerous Marxist-progressive agenda.
***As luck would have it, while putting the finishing touches on this bit of writing, DeVore was putting the finishing touches on his Senate bid. In the California debate today...Sunday...DeVore proclaimed that the Taliban and al Qaeda do not pose "existential threats" to the United States. Oh my...does Chuck not watch TV or read the papers? The Times Square Bomber has ties to the Taliban!
Say goodnight Gracie!
Hello Senator Fiorina.
Our friends over at The Right Scoop have more on this here.
Ted Nugent has always been one of my favorite guitar slingers and he is a true patriot and philanthropist. As only Ted can, he describes what the tea party movement really is all about: Freedom, Liberty, and the return to using the Constitution and the Rule of Law in this country.
It’s about holding corrupt politicians in BOTH parties accountable, and stopping this out of control Marxist government, Fedzilla, as Ted calls it.
It’s no wonder Time Magazine chose Ted to write the introduction for Sarah Palin on the occasion of her honor as one of the World’s Most Influential Leaders.
I constantly hang out with great Americans from every walk of life. We understand that the American Dream is about being the best that you can be, to work as hard as possible and be accountable in order to be an asset to our families, communities and country.
We expect our government to secure our borders, keep us safe from our enemies, and play by the rules as laid out in the Constitution, Bill of Rights, Golden Rule and Ten Commandments, and otherwise pretty much stay the heck out of our way. We the people know that the government is supposed to work for us, not run amok and abandon all accountability as the out-of-control, gluttonous, criminal Fedzilla is currently overtly guilty of.
The Tea Party is so simple, it’s stupid. Named after the uprising of Americans sick and tired of tyrants usurping the new American freedom lifestyle and dream, taxation without representation was merely the tip of that 1773 culture war spear, and now accurately represents the spirit of the 2010 Tea Party movement.
This glorious experiment in self-government is not supposed to be a spectator sport as it has been reduced to for so long. As the boss of government, we the people were supposed to stay in touch with politics and politicians, making sure our will was the force behind policies and law making.
Remember that? The Tea Party Americans do, and we are demanding its return immediately. The New Deal was a raw deal and the Great Society was for losers. A hand out creates the curse of dependency. A hand up is nationalism at its finest.
It is no surprise that the Glenn Beck's and Sarah Palin's of the world are so inspiring and in direct accord with the Tea Party. To listen to these great leaders is to hear the pulse of the best that America has to offer. Faith, hope, charity, honesty, a Herculean work ethic and a vapor trail of positive energy is all the Tea Party stands for.
We don't believe in bail outs, we demand accountability.
We don't want an exit strategy, we want a victory strategy.
We can't believe that Navy SEAL warriors are being indicted for roughing up a murderous terrorist leader in their heroic professional military action to bring in evil criminals.
We are deeply offended by the speaker of the House telling us that we can find out what's in the healthcare bill after they sign it and it becomes law. This is outrageous and it must stop now.
We refuse to accept any longer the rampant corruption, cronyism, and outright abuse of power by willfully disconnected, arrogant bureaucrats.
Who can believe that Fedzilla is taking Goldman Sachs to task while denying that government waste and idiotic policies are behind the economic ruin?
How can such a rookie with zero experience call the shots when it comes to Iran developing nuclear arms?
We are shocked that the President of the United States surrounds himself with self avowed communists, Marxists, Socialists, tax cheats, law breakers, far-left animal right's goons, Mao and Che fans, and czars whose records are so far out of whack with American values as to make the head spin.
We are mad as hell that Fedzilla continues to spend and waste our hard earned tax dollars on laughable programs, bail outs, ridiculous so-called stimulus packages and other boondoggles that have failed miserably in the past, and are failing miserably again. It is sheer lunacy to repeat actions and expect a different outcome. It is time to reign in Fedzilla, and the Tea Party is just that force to reckon with, and clearly the logical voice and action to get it done.
A prime motivator for the Tea Party is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who so eloquently stated, "Those who engage in nonviolent direct action are not the creators of tension. We are merely bringing to the surface a tension that is already there".
Dedicated to standing up for our rights and the American Way through nonviolent direct action, just like the glorious and pivotal American upgrade of the civil rights movement in the 1960s, the Tea Party represents a long overdue wake up call for America, and more importantly, American politicians and its lapdog media megaphone.
All that being said, anyone with a working brain knows that Fedzilla is behind every problem America faces today. But the real culprit in the current American tragedy is apathy—a nation with citizens who abandoned our prime responsibility to stay on top of things, to monitor our government, to research candidates, to vote intelligently. The burden falls square on the shoulders of we the people who bent over and let these rotten bureaucrats trample the American Dream.
Better late than never, the Tea Party is a return to paying attention, remaining engaged, and good old American activism, the very soul of America.
I salute the Tea Party and pray to God that it builds steam, galvanizes energy and focus, and enlightens enough Americans to begin the take back in November and beyond.
Rock legend Ted Nugent is noted for his conservative political views and his vocal pro-hunting and Second Amendment activism. His smash bestseller Ted, White & Blue: The Nugent Manifesto, is now available at www.amazon.com. Nugent also maintains the Official Ted Nugent Site at www.TedNugent.com.
