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Tag Archives: Power
First Principles: Love of Power Is Natural and Often Abused
“A fondness for power is implanted, in most men, and it is natural to abuse it, when acquired.” – Alexander Hamilton (1775) I hasten to add that therein is the reason we have so carefully guarded against this human proclivity … Continue reading
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Tagged Abuse, Alexander Hamilton, Checks and Balances, First Principles, Fondness, Human Nature, Power
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First Principles: To Love Liberty Is To Love Others
“The love of liberty is the love of others; the love of power is the love of ourselves.” —William Hazlitt (1778-1830) This writer, though as British as John Locke, may be much overlooked these days, but he is on point … Continue reading
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Tagged First Principles, Hypocrisy, Liberty, Love, Love of Others, Ourselves, Power, William Hazlitt
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First Principles: Unlimited Taxation Is the Power to Destroy
“An unlimited power to tax involves, necessarily, a power to destroy; because there is a limit beyond which no institution and no property can bear taxation.” —John Marshall (1819) In an interesting aside the Plaintiff in this matter was represented … Continue reading
First Principles: Power Should Be Restrained
“It will not be denied that power is of an encroaching nature and that it ought to be effectually restrained from passing the limits assigned to it.” – James Madison, in Federalist 48 (1787) To read Federalist 48 in its entirety: http://www.constitution.org/fed/federa48.htm … Continue reading
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Tagged Encroach, First Principles, Government, James Madison, Law, Limits, Natural Law, Nature, Power, Restrain, The Federalist Papers
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First Principles: The Unlimited Power To Tax Is the Power to Destroy
“An unlimited power to tax involves, necessarily, a power to destroy; because there is a limit beyond which no institution and no property can bear taxation.” – John Marshall, in McCullough v. Maryland, 1819 This landmark decision may be read … Continue reading
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Tagged Decision, Destruction, John Marshall, Limits, McCullough v Maryland, Power, Property, Supreme Court, Taxes
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First Principles: The Accumulation of Power Into the Hands of the Few Leads To Tyranny
“The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, self-appointed, or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny. “ – James Madison, in Federalist … Continue reading
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Tagged Accumulation, Federalist Papers, First Principles, James Madison, Power, Tyranny
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First Principles: The Power Of the Nation Belongs To The People
“The power of the people pervading the proposed system, together with the strong confederation of the states, will form an adequate security against every danger that has been apprehended.” – John Dickinson, Letters of Fabius, 1788 The Letters of Fabius … Continue reading
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Tagged Confederation of States, First Principles, John Dickinson, Letters of Fabius, Power, Security, The People
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First Principles: On Understanding the Balance Between Liberty and Power
“[I]n the mouths of some [Liberty] means anything, which enervate a necessary government; excite a jealousy of the rulers who are our own choice, and keep society in confusion for want of a power sufficiently concentered to promote good.” – … Continue reading
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Tagged AntiFederalist Papers, Balance, Justice, Landholder, Liberty, Oliver Ellsworth, Power, Supreme Court
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ALOHA PROMISES FOREVER 