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Tag Archives: First Principles
First Principles: Too Much Discretionary Power Is Unwise
“We repose an unwise confidence in any government, or in any men, when we invest them officially with too much, or an unnecessary quantity of, discretionary power.” –Thomas Paine, Serious Address to the People of Philadelphia, 1778 The complete text … Continue reading
First Principles: The Right to Vote Is A Solemn Trust
“Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote that he is not making a present or a compliment to please an individual — or at least that he ought not so to do; but that he … Continue reading
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Tagged Accountable, Citizen, Citizenship, First Principles, Responsibility, Samuel Adams, Solemn Trust, Vote
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First Principles – Our Children Should Be Taught Our History
“Every child in America should be acquainted with his own country. He should read books that furnish him with ideas that will be useful to him in life and practice. As soon as he opens his lips, he should rehearse … Continue reading
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Tagged Beliefs, Books, Children, Country, Education, Edudcation of Youth In America, First Principles, History, Literature, Noah Webster, Patriotism
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First Principles: Good Behavior Is Necessary For Continuance In Office
“The standard of good behavior for the continuance in office … is certainly one of the most valuable of the modern improvements in the practice of government.” —Alexander Hamilton , in Federalist Paper No. 78 (1788) Perhaps Al Franken and … Continue reading
First Principles: It Is Not An Easy Task To Be President
“The second office of this government is honorable and easy, the first is but a splendid misery.” —Thomas Jefferson (1797) It is easier to be a critic and a naysayer than it is to govern. It’s harder still when you … Continue reading
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Tagged Criticism, First Principles, Government, Impeachment, Opposition, Presidency, Thomas Jefferson
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First Principles: Our Ways and Means Should Balance Our Promises
“There is not a more important and fundamental principle in legislation, than that the ways and means ought always to face the public engagements; that our appropriations should ever go hand in hand with our promises.” —James Madison in a … Continue reading
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Tagged Balance, First Principles, James Madison, Legislation, Obligations, Public Debt, Public Works, Ways and Means
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First Principles: Peace Requires Strength and The Willingness To Use It
“These people are either too superstitiously religious, or too cowardly for arms; they either can not or dare not defend ; their property is open to anyone who has the courage to attack them… The supposed quietude of a good man … Continue reading
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Tagged 2nd Amendment, Arms, Defense, First Principles, History, Peace, Strength, Thomas Paine
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First Principles: Know the Difference Between Opinions and Facts
“Nothing is so contagious as opinion, especially on questions which, being susceptible of very different glosses, beget in the mind a distrust of itself.” — James Madison (1790)
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Tagged Contagious, Facts, First Principles, Gossip, James Madison, Opinionated, Opinions
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First Principles: The Constitution Is Not Written On Blank Pages
“Our peculiar security is in the possession of a written Constitution. Let us not make it a blank paper by construction.” –Thomas Jefferson, letter to Wilson Nicholas, 1803 Every word in the Constitution either means something of particular intent or … Continue reading
First Principles: Neither the Constitution Nor Law Protects A Corrupt People
“[N]either the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the liberty and happiness of a people whose manners are universally corrupt.” –Samuel Adams (1749) How about that, the Founders called out the conditions of today more than we might … Continue reading
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Tagged Constitution, Corruption, First Principles, Laws, Samuel Adams, Wisdom, Wise
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ALOHA PROMISES FOREVER 