TRUTH WILL ALWAYS PREVAIL AS LONG AS WE DO NOT ALLOW OUR GOVERNMENT ( OR OTHERS) TO SUPPRESS IT.
WE MUST REMAIN EVER VIGILANT TO PROTECT THE UNFETTERED RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH,
THIS IS WHY, THE 2ND AMENDMENT, IRONICALLY, MAY BE MORE IMPORTANT THEN THE 1ST AMENDMENT.............
INDISPENSABLE INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS ARE:
1. PROTECTION OF PRIVATE PROPERTY ( CLICK HERE FOR MY ARTICLE ON SUBJECT)
2. PROTECTION OF CONTRACTS ( actually a property right)
3. RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS
4. RIGHT OF FREE SPEECH
MY POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY HEROS:
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| David Hume |
Scottish philosopher, historian, economist and essayist. Hume wrote
An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, brilliantly articulating on the science of human nature. Hume understood what made people tick and what their likely reactions would be given certain circumstances.
Hume was an ardent defender of private property and grasped the role of private property in creating order and stability, not to mention wealth which benefited all of society.
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| Adam Smith |
Smith, another Scotsman, wrote the Wealth of Nations in 1776, a book which is still the bible in explaining the relationship of human nature and private property in producing wealth. Smith described the "invisible hand " of the market place and the unforeseen wonders of allowing free markets to exchange in voluntary trade. He understood the division of labor and introduced other economic principles by employing 'real life" examples of how ordinary people, serving their own interests actually serve all of society. He also understood the radical benefits of free trade.
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| John Locke |
JOHN LOCKE
Much of Locke's work is characterized by opposition to authoritarianism. This opposition is both on the level of the individual person and on the level of institutions such as government and church. For the individual, Locke wants each of us to use reason to search after truth rather than simply accept the opinion of authorities or be subject to superstition. He wants us to proportion assent to propositions to the evidence for them. On the level of institutions it becomes important to distinguish the legitimate from the illegitimate functions of institutions and to make the corresponding distinction for the uses of force by these institutions. The positive side of Locke's anti-authoritarianism is that he believes that using reason to try to grasp the truth, and determining the legitimate functions of institutions will optimize human flourishing for the individual and society both in respect to its material and spiritual welfare.
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| Edmund Burke |
EDMUND BURKE
British Whig. A "liberal" in the finest sense of the word. A friend to America and author of this, one of my favorite quotes: " The surest way for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing."
JAMES MADISON
James Madison of Virginia. Father of the Constitution. Author of the Bill of Rights. Primary author of the Federalist Papers, and author of the brilliant essays Federalist Papers # 10 and #51. Understood that the United States was to be a country of law over men, not men over law. "If men were angels, there would be no need for government." Perhaps the greatest politicist of all time. We owe this man gratitude beyond measure.
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| James Madison GEORGE MASON An unsung hero, and an example of the incredible class of Enlightenment thinkers living on tobacco farms all over Virginia. Never in history has there been such an enlightened class of leaders that did so much, so unselfishly for civil society and the rights of man. Mason wrote “That all men are born equally free and independent, and have certain inherent natural Rights… among which are the Enjoyment of Life and Liberty, with the Means of acquiring and possessing Property, and pursuing and obtaining Happiness and Safety.” -- George Mason. Virginia Declaration of Rights, May, 1776.
THOMAS JEFFERSON Thomas Jefferson, another great Virginian. As a student at the University of Virginia, we were taught to revere Mr. Jefferson. There was/is a lot of revere in that he was perhaps the world's greatest renaissance man. Yet, as I got older, I distanced myself from some of his radical political views and statements. I believed he was too Jacobin and still believe that while Hamilton had an outstanding grasp of markets, finance and wealth creation, Mr. Jefferson's thinking was deficient in these areas. However, now I believe that Mr. Jefferson's views in these matters were purposeful rhetorical excesses designed to limit crony capitalism and the inevitable corruption that occurs when government favors some business enterprises over others. With ever fiber of his being, he believed in limited government, the rights of man and academic freedom. He is the GIANT intellectual force of the most enlightened age. He was also very, very human. His Head and Heart letter to Maria Cosway is one of the most beautiful love letters in history.
MARGARET THATCHER Margaret Thatcher, the Iron Lady. Perhaps if I was not a product of the later 20th century, I would find reasons to write about Pitt or Disraeli, but I am a creature of my time and I loved the Iron Lady for this reason. Modern conservative is an exercise in rational thought and not emotive gooeyness. MP Thatcher was not afraid to state what was right and true, regardless of how unpopular it was. The Left and the "warm and fuzzy" crowd went berserk, but she stuck to her guns and didn't back down. She did not "go wobbly." Eventually, people began to respect her, then listen to her and then be won over by her arguments. The daughter of a grocer, she had to fight not only the loony left, but the pretty boy (no guts) Etonian set in her own party. She fought against statism and changed the debate because she was unafraid to state the truth. She's my gal.
RONALD REAGAN
WALTER WILLIAMS I LOVE THIS GUY! All economic derives from human behavior. Human behavior is perfectly predictable. Walter Williams "gets it," can explain it in simple everyday terms and is unafraid to say it.  |
