Tag Archives: Government

First Principles: The Direction of War Is A Crucial Element Defining the Executive Authority

Posted on April 17, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“Of all the cares or concerns of government, the direction of war most peculiarly demands those qualities which distinguish the exercise of power by a single hand. The direction of war implies the direction of the common strength; and the … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Alexander Hamilton, Common Strength, Direction of War, Executive Authority, First Principles, Government, Unitary Power | Leave a comment

First Principles: The Most Productive Finance System Will Always Be The Least Burdensome

Posted on April 14, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“There is no part of the administration of government that requires extensive information and a thorough knowledge of the principles of political economy, so much as the business of taxation. The man who understands those principles best will be least … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Administration, Alexander Hamilton, Burdensome, Finance, First Principles, Government, Oppression, Political Economy, Revenue, Taxation | Leave a comment

First Principles: Self Defense Is A Natural Right

Posted on April 10, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“Self-defence is a part of the law of nature; nor can it be denied the community, even against the king himself.” – John Locke (1632-1704)

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Community, Denial, First Principles, Government, John Locke, Liberty, Life, Natural Law, Property, Right, Self Defense | Leave a comment

First Principles: An Objective Standard of Right and Wrong Morality Is Best Applied To the Affairs of Mankind

Posted on March 30, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“If the people are capable of understanding, seeing and feeling the differences between true and false, right and wrong, virtue and vice, to what better principle can the friends of mankind apply than to the sense of this difference?” – … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Application, Comprehension, Constitution, First Principles, Government, John Adams, Mankind, Morality, Objective, Understanding | Leave a comment

First Principles: The Power of the People To Establish Government Presupposes the Duty of Individuals To Be Good Citizens

Posted on March 18, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“The very idea of the power and the right of the people to establish government presupposes the duty of every individual to obey the established government.” – George Washington, Farewell Address, 1796 You may read the entirety of this address … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Authority, Citizenship, Farewell Address, First Principles, George Washington, Government, Power, Right | Leave a comment

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