Foundations of the American Political System - Role of Government Poll
Friday October 24, 2008
Lately there has been a lot of rhetoric about the principles upon which America was founded. The idea of a redistribution of wealth has caused an uproar amongst those who believe that this is akin to socialism. But what were the foundational principles upon which the founding fathers created the US Constitution? Ironically, a required economic system is not alluded to in the Constitution. Instead, the US Government was founded upon the following principles:
- Popular Sovereignty
- Limited Government
- Separation of Powers
- Checks and Balances
- Judicial Review
- Federalism
Poll: In your opinion, should the US Government be in the business of spreading the wealth around?
1) Yes
2) No
3) Not Sure
Comments
The foundation of our country is unknown to the people in the U.S. The foundations of our country was laid out by the first leader in America. John Smith was asked by the first settlers in Virginia to lead. When John Smith excepted he made one rule, “NO WORK, NO EAT”. That is how this country made it’s self what it once was. One could write all day on the history of the U.S., but it would do very little, because todays population is not interested in it’s own History. Learn HISTORY and you will love your country because you will know the greatness of the U.S.’s progress to be the greatest nation in the world.
Hi;
It’s not hard to understand why our country is going in the direcion it going. No History, the people in the U.S. have no knowledge of our history dating back to the starting of this once great country, in 1607. John Smith was the first elected leader, when asked to take command of the settlement he created one law to live by, “no work no eat”. You were to carry yourself, be responsible for your actions to obtain your life. Today outhers will take care of you if you don’t work,the govwernment has become the Nanny of the people that want but do not give and they get from those that do give. Jefferson “do not not take from the mouth of labor what it has earned”. Today the more you earn the more the Government takes. People don’t know we fought or independence because of unfair TAXES, average worker pays 54% in all taxes, fed., state,local etc. Like Madison said we will have a Republic form of government until the mgovernment learns how to make the people beg for it’s own money back. Could spend all day on the Founding Father and the basics of our country, but the importance of the day is for this country to learn it’s own HISTORY.
Throughout history, all governments have been redistributing wealth. That’s what taxation does, redistributes income.
In unenlightened times, the wealth is redistributed upward, concentrating more and more in the hands of a relatively small number of people. Prolonged periods of unenlightenment result in a generally disfuncional society that fails to meet the basic needs of the populace. Such periods tend to end violently; think guillotine.
The two middle quarters of the last century were a period of enlightenment in the US. Wealth was redistributed from the top down, sensible regulations to check unbridled greed were adopted, and the entire nation prospered. It’s time to go back to those “good old days.” Let’s hope we can do so without the guillotine …..
If the government would stop tipping things in favor of businesses, THEN I would say they shouldn’t spread the wealth. My preference would be that they not cater to either … BUT, I think they do!
I have to disagree on one point…Independence wasn’t fought for by the sole purpose of taxation. If that were the case, then why aren’t there/haven’t been more recent revolutions from the American people? The purpose for declaring independence runs deeper than just ‘taxes’. It was done on the basis of the violation of the colonists rights. “That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government.” There were all sorts of influences…John Locke, the Great Awakening, Common Sense. I agree that many of the taxes placed on the colonists did seem unfair, but the taxes alone were not cause for independence. It was the taxation without representation, and the 28 grievances listed in the Declaration.