"[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
"Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." - John Adams
"Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters." - Benjamin Franklin
By Douglas V. Gibbs
There is a direct relation between freedom and a country that remains a moral and religious nation. Not religion in the sense of denominations, but religious in the sense of adherence to the biblical principles of morality.
America has been prosperous because America has been good. The moral compass of Americans has always centered upon God's laws, and doing what is moral and right. However, the definition of morality has been changed to mean things it was never meant to mean before. The government has inserted itself into the conversation, and the result has been disastrous.
At the time of the founding of this nation the European mindset was all about luxury, indolence, amusement, and pleasure. In the British Colonies, from the very beginning, to survive one had to be hard-working, self-reliant, industrious, frugal, moral, personally responsible, and honest. These virtuous character traits existed partially due to the fact that the people in America had to struggle to survive in the beginning, making them dependent upon nobody else. Another reason was because unlike Europeans, Americans owned property.
When a person owns private possessions that person maintains more human rights. The ability to own property is a right, and the maintenance of that right opens up the rights to sell, trade, mortgage, give freely, bequeath, or do none of the above. An individual who enjoys the full rights of property ownership are then more apt to respect the property of others, and in some cases may even pursue the ownership of more property.
Property ownership, and the pursuit of financial gain through the free market, encourages a strong economy, and also encourages public virtue. When the concept of individualism is above the concept of the community, the community benefits because the individual's success creates jobs, moves goods and services, and increase the flow of capital through the community. The concept of putting the village first actually hinders production and the opportunity to succeed.
When the means of production is given to the government, personal rights become secondary, and all property rights fall under the control of the government. This, in turn, enables the government to dictate to the people what is virtuous and moral, while taking away the very freedoms that made them successful individuals.
As a moral people, we recognize the need to help the needy. Biblical principles instruct us to be giving, and loving. Jesus Christ supported helping the poor, but he encouraged that activity by individuals through their own voluntary decisions, not by government.
When giving to the poor is fueled by our personal morality, it encourages the recipients to build themselves up so that they can do the same for others. This is called "charity." When government provides entitlement programs, claiming that they are doing it for the purpose of taking care of the poor, in reality it is legal plunder, where the government forces funds from the successful and redistributes it to the lower classes. The poor, then, rather than working to get out of poverty, begin to view the entitlements as simply a way of life, become dependent upon the government gifts, and loses the ability to take care of themselves. Then, the politicians use the entitlements as a tool to stay in power, buying the votes of the recipients by simply saying that their opponents will take the entitlements away should they opposition be elected.
This is why the war on poverty has been such a failure. However, fighting poverty was never the intention. The democrats use entitlements not to help the poor, but to guarantee they have a loyal constituency who will vote for the democrats in perpetuity.
When the means of production is given to the government, personal rights become secondary, and all property rights fall under the control of the government. This, in turn, enables the government to dictate to the people what is virtuous and moral, while taking away the very freedoms that made them successful individuals.
As a moral people, we recognize the need to help the needy. Biblical principles instruct us to be giving, and loving. Jesus Christ supported helping the poor, but he encouraged that activity by individuals through their own voluntary decisions, not by government.
When giving to the poor is fueled by our personal morality, it encourages the recipients to build themselves up so that they can do the same for others. This is called "charity." When government provides entitlement programs, claiming that they are doing it for the purpose of taking care of the poor, in reality it is legal plunder, where the government forces funds from the successful and redistributes it to the lower classes. The poor, then, rather than working to get out of poverty, begin to view the entitlements as simply a way of life, become dependent upon the government gifts, and loses the ability to take care of themselves. Then, the politicians use the entitlements as a tool to stay in power, buying the votes of the recipients by simply saying that their opponents will take the entitlements away should they opposition be elected.
This is why the war on poverty has been such a failure. However, fighting poverty was never the intention. The democrats use entitlements not to help the poor, but to guarantee they have a loyal constituency who will vote for the democrats in perpetuity.
A lack of virtue has brought about these mechanisms that, though sold as "the right thing to do," are in reality slavery to the federal government, and a vote buying gimmick by the democrats.
Through virtue a society is successful. Morality is then the key to freedom. When one is willing to forfeit the virtue of individuality for the gift of entitlement, they trade freedom for slavery.
Through virtue a society is successful. Morality is then the key to freedom. When one is willing to forfeit the virtue of individuality for the gift of entitlement, they trade freedom for slavery.
George Washington declared in his farewell address:
Of all dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that men claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens... Let it simply be asked, where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice? And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education...reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle. (Padover, The Washington Papers, pp. 318-19.)
The destruction of the family and marriage, removing prayer from schools, and inserting debauchery into our society has been the liberal progressive's way of killing morality, for how can one be willing to be a slave to the government if they are morally bound to self-reliance and personal responsibility?
Like a disease in our body, the lack of morality in a society decays the community, and ultimately destroys the ability of the society to think and do for itself. The ruling elite then take advantage, and freedom becomes nothing more than a memory.
Independence is hard work. Individuality is difficult to fight for. Self-discipline, it seems, is needed to remain virtuous. So, we sometimes are easily tempted by the poisoned apple offered by government.
Our Constitution was made only for a moral and righteous people and is wholly inadequate to govern any other. As righteousness struggles, and virtue is all but dead, in the world today, it is no wonder our Constitution is being trampled upon.
If we are not willing to adhere to simple moral standards given to us by God, what makes anyone thing we will be willing to abide by the political standards provided by the Constitution?
That said, I am an optimist. I believe this can be turned around. Be it by revelation, revival, or revolution, this will get turned around. Deep down we are a virtuous and moral people, and we are rising up. We are gaining the courage to stand up to the onslaught of liberal progressive madness, and we do have the courage to be involved.
We must ask ourselves, however, some important questions. Do we have enough time? Do we have the resolve to keep it up? Are we willing to vote in virtuous and moral leaders, and then not become complacent, but hold their feet to the fire too?
The answers to those questions will determine whether America lives or dies during this very serious test we are currently experiencing.
I'm a fighter. Are you?
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
Of all dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that men claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens... Let it simply be asked, where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice? And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education...reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle. (Padover, The Washington Papers, pp. 318-19.)
The destruction of the family and marriage, removing prayer from schools, and inserting debauchery into our society has been the liberal progressive's way of killing morality, for how can one be willing to be a slave to the government if they are morally bound to self-reliance and personal responsibility?
Like a disease in our body, the lack of morality in a society decays the community, and ultimately destroys the ability of the society to think and do for itself. The ruling elite then take advantage, and freedom becomes nothing more than a memory.
Independence is hard work. Individuality is difficult to fight for. Self-discipline, it seems, is needed to remain virtuous. So, we sometimes are easily tempted by the poisoned apple offered by government.
Our Constitution was made only for a moral and righteous people and is wholly inadequate to govern any other. As righteousness struggles, and virtue is all but dead, in the world today, it is no wonder our Constitution is being trampled upon.
If we are not willing to adhere to simple moral standards given to us by God, what makes anyone thing we will be willing to abide by the political standards provided by the Constitution?
That said, I am an optimist. I believe this can be turned around. Be it by revelation, revival, or revolution, this will get turned around. Deep down we are a virtuous and moral people, and we are rising up. We are gaining the courage to stand up to the onslaught of liberal progressive madness, and we do have the courage to be involved.
We must ask ourselves, however, some important questions. Do we have enough time? Do we have the resolve to keep it up? Are we willing to vote in virtuous and moral leaders, and then not become complacent, but hold their feet to the fire too?
The answers to those questions will determine whether America lives or dies during this very serious test we are currently experiencing.
I'm a fighter. Are you?
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
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