See Introducing Egalitarianism II and the Declaration of Independence.
Quarles (continued):
although Congress retains the final authority, a century of legislation has given more scope to government, thus more power to those who execute legislation;
democratic government is legitimized by the popular will which in practice means the most effective pressure groups;
the US began as a republic, not as a pure democracy;
(according to Wiki, in a republic, power is attained not through inheritance but through democracy, oligarchy or autocracy.)
Constitutional guarantees have been re-interpreted until they scarcely exist - states no longer control their internal policies, individuals can no longer bear arms;
(Do we want to bear arms as individuals?)
the republic has become part democracy, part oligarchy, with the latter steadily strengthening;
the noble concept of liberty is not identical with democracy which is a single governmental form;
liberty is possible only within a culture of duties and privileges;
calling himself a "libertarian," (p. 104) Quarles says that belongingness should be freely chosen;
a man should not give more than he wishes but should not take more than he contributes;
"'...the poor we always have with us...'" (p. 105) (See Matthew 26:11);
(No, we don't, not when technology can eliminate poverty.)
the poor must be cared for but not in ways that become restrictive.
To be continued.
3 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
And the rise of the administrative state since WW I bears out what Quarles said about the relative decline of the actual authority of Congress vis a vis the agencies it created.
It's better to say the US began as a FEDERATED republic in which states were SUPPOSED to have as much authority as Congress. And the Constitution attempted to set restraints on the power of Congress and President alike.
Yes, we have the NATURAL right to bear arms if we so wish.
And only free enterprise economics can create the technology needed for reducing or eliminating poverty. Also, it should be kept in mind that some people will always be "poor," compared to others, simply because of DIFFERENCES in luck, characters, abilities, talents, etc.
Sean
Sean,
Yes, I thought that the US was primarily a federation to start with.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
Yes, that was the IDEAL. But, beginning with the Civil War, and even more, with the so called New Deal of Franklin Roosevelt, power has come to be more and more concentrated in the Federal government. AT the expense of the states. And I say that was and is bad for the US.
Sean
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