Tag Archives: Government

First Principles: The Aim of Constitutions Is To Obtain Leaders Who Pursue the Common Good of Society

Posted on March 14, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“The aim of every political constitution is, or ought to be, first to obtain for rulers men who possess most wisdom to discern, and most virtue to pursue, the common good of the society.” – James Madison (1788) … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Common Good, Discernment, First Principles, Goal, Government, James Madison, Leaders, Political Constitution, Society, Virtue, Wisdom | Leave a comment

First Principles: Power Directed Only By Human Wisdom and Benevolence Is Dangerous

Posted on March 13, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“Power in any form … when directed only by human wisdom and benevolence is dangerous.” –John Adams, An Attempt to Land a Bishop in America, 1769 Someone once asked me here if I felt the Founding Fathers did not believe … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged An Attempt To Land A Bishop In America, Benevolence, Dangerous, First Principles, Government, Human Wisdom, John Adams, Power | Leave a comment

First Principles: A Good Government Is Wise and Fiscally Responsible To Its Citizens

Posted on March 12, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“A wise and frugal government … shall restrain men from injuring one another, shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Bread, Earnings, First Principles, Frugal, Government, Industry, Labor, Restraint From Injury, Thomas Jefferson, Wise | Leave a comment

First Principles: Our Constitution Was Meant For A Moral People

Posted on February 22, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” – John Adams (1798) Times like these require and deserve a reminder of this. The truth. Plain and simple, … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Adequacy, Consequences, Constitution, Government, Inadequacy, John Adams, Moral, People, Religious, We The People | Leave a comment

First Principles: Secrecy Should Not Be A Regular System of Government

Posted on February 20, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“Secrecy, being an instrument of conspiracy, ought never to be the system of a regular government.” -Jeremy Bentham, jurist and philosopher (15 Feb 1748-1832) While I recognize we are borrowing another country’s philosopher to illustrate a valid point, it is, … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Conspiracy, First Principles, Governance, Government, Instrument, Jeremy Bentham, Secrecy | Leave a comment

Thought For the Day: The People Will Find Their Own Right Way To Go

Posted on February 8, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“The maxim, that governments ought to train the people in the way in which they should go, sounds well. But is there any reason for believing that a government is more likely to lead the people in the right way … Continue reading →

Posted in Thought For the Day | Tagged Government, Maxim, Self Government, The People, Thomas B Macaulay, Thought For the Day, Train | Leave a comment

First Principles: The Role of the Elected Is to Serve the People

Posted on February 4, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“We are not to consider ourselves, while here, as at church or school, to listen to the harangues of speculative piety; we are here to talk of the political interests committed to our charge.” – Fisher Ames (1789) … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles, Uncategorized | Tagged Duty, Elected, First Principles, Fisher Ames, Govenance, Government, Self Righteousness, Service | Leave a comment

First Principles: A Certain Amount of Resisting Government Should Be Kept Alive

Posted on February 1, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions, that I wish it to be always kept alive.” – Thomas Jefferson (1787)

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Duty, First Principles, Government, Injustice, Justice, Resistance, Thomas Jefferson, Valuable | Leave a comment

Thought For the Day: Indifference Allows Rule By Evil Men

Posted on January 26, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“The penalty good men pay for indifference to public affairs, is to be ruled by evil men.” – Plato (429-347 BC)

Posted in Thought For the Day | Tagged Evil, Government, Indifference, Penalty, Plato, Public Affairs, Rule, Thought For the Day | Leave a comment

First Principles: Aim Toward Your Honest Duty In Governance

Posted on January 23, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“It behooves you, therefore, to think and act for yourself and your people. The great principles of right and wrong are legible to every reader; to pursue them requires not the aid of many counselors. The whole art of government … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Credit, Diligence, Discredit, Duty, First Principles, Governance, Government, Honesty, Honor, Morality, Thomas Jefferson | Leave a comment