Liberty and law

From "The Oxford Book of Aphorisms"

The sense of liberty is a message read between the lines of constraint. Real liberty is as transparent, as odourless and tasteless, as water.
Michael Frayn, Constructions, 1974


Laws always are a constraint on the lives of its subjects. Liberty is freedom from law. Can a nation set at liberty its own citizens? Only with faith in the nature of man; in lawlessness, imperfections in the citizenry are not restrained.

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Public service is a calling

From "365 Daily Treasures of Wisdom"

... Thou, Almighty, Who art with me, yea, before I am with Thee. To such then whom Thou commandest me to serve will I discover, not what I have been, but what I now am and what I yet am. But neither do I judge myself. Thus therefore I would be heard.
Saint Augustine (354-430A.D.)

Service is the highest calling of God. Jesus exhorts, "Love God with your whole heart, mind and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself." Hence, the term for our own legislators as 'public servants'. All eligible candidates for- and holders of- public office feel a calling to serve their community; and by serving others they, creatures of God, serves themselves. By serving others we do not judge ourselves but speak to God.

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Corrupt government

From the Facebook.com page of Daniel De Bonis:


"I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country. . . . Corporations have been enthroned, an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money-power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until the wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed."
Often attributed to Abraham Lincoln

Indeed, in the United States we have, since this quote was given, reached this critical democratic problem twice: once in the late 1800's- early 1900's, when this economic crisis was relieved during the administration of Theodore Roosevelt, and today, in the early 21st Century. The U.S. Constitution allows the people to take recourse if we believe our Republican form of government needs fundamental correction; the U.S. Bill of Rights asserts this right for all of its citizens. As happened 100 years ago, we in the U.S.A. may rightfully restore our democratic system from the corrupting hands of the monied few.

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Faith and the Roman Empire

From "The World's Great Letters"

Well may we be unhappy, for it is our sins that have made the barbarians strong; as in the days of Hezekiah, so today is God using the fury of the barbarian to execute His fierce anger. Rome's army, once the lord of the world, trembles today at sight of the foe.
Saint Jerome, letter to a friend, 410A.D.


"... the wolves of the North have been let loose..." writes Saint Jerome as he hears of the first sack of Rome. Among his accomplishments was the first translation of the Holy Bible into latin, the Vulgate; Saint Jerome had lived much of the first 70 years of his life under the safe and wealthy governance of the "mother of nations." And yet his Christian faith assures his eternal service to the one eternal God- he tells this tale after the second sack "to those that come after..."

"... so that they may know that even in the midst of swords and deserts and wild beasts virtue is never made a captive, and that he who has surrendered himself to Christ may be slain but cannot be conquered."

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In Memory

From "The Spirit of Seventy-Six: The Story of the American Revolution as Told by Participants"

Letter of an unknown Patriot soldier.
New York, September 1, 1776
... Most of our generals, on a high hill in the lines, viewed us with glasses as we were retreating, and saw the enemy we had to pass through, though we could not. Many thought we would surrender in a body without fighting. When we began the attack, Gen. Washington wrung his hands and cried out, "Good God! what brave fellows I must this day lose!"
Onderdonk, Revolutionary Incidents, pp. 147-148.

We shall aways remember the brave men and women who have fought and died for us, that we may live in freedom from tyranny. The general was viewing the most stirring action of the one-day Battle of Long Island, Aug. 27, 1776. For heroism, nothing matched the actions of a band of close to 400 gallant men from Maryland led by American Brig. Gen. William Alexander, better known as Lord Stirling. When the effort finally collapsed, 259 American men lay dead, and another 100 or so were wounded.

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Liberty

From "The Oxford Book of Aphorisms"

Liberty is the right to do whatever the law permits.
Montesquieu, De l'esprit des lois, 1748


Politically speaking, the rule of thumb is: the less laws one is under, the more liberty he has. To measure one's liberties, one has to consider the number and weight of the laws, rules and regulations his government has imposed on him. To increase or decrease one's liberties, one must advocate for the respective decrease or increase of such laws; this applies to all levels of government, from local to international.

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At the polls: a song

AT THE POLLS: A SONG
By David Weller


Lasting in Line
is a crazy thing...
There is so much to do
before you can be voting

there is the heartfelt
chatter of hazing,
by those that have voted...

there is the cute
crashing of the computer,
by those that sell to voters...

there is the quaint
intimidation,
by those that legislate the vote...

Yes, Lasting in Line
is a crazy thing...
There is so much to do
by those that help voting

Oh, Lasting in Line
is a crazy thing...
There is so much to do
by those that help voting

This is a tongue-in-cheek look at the polling place during election day. As nerves get frayed waiting for the final count of delegates for each of the remaining presidential hopefuls this election season, a little light humor is quite called for! And, as they say, there is a little truth in humor, as, in fact, yours truly has experienced the same things mentioned in this poem at one polling place in one voting session! Seriously, though, we must honor the men and women who take time off their own busy schedules for the oft-maligned job of poll worker and thank them for the thankless work they do.

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Intellectual hatred

From "The Oxford Book of Aphorisms"

An intellectual hatred is the worst.
W. B. Yeats, 'A Prayer for My Daughter', 1919


A legislature, such as the US Congress, is a deliberative body during its legislative process; the president may deliberate with Congress during a bill's debates. In the interest of the public, an intellectual curiosity must be sustained until a final bill is passed or failed. The federal government must reflect the diversity of opinion of the people at all times- a thorough understanding of the bill in question, reception of constituents' input, arms-length advise from experts and an open legislative process are critical to a well-thought-out final vote.


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Peace and aggression

From "A Treasury of the World's Great Speeches"

"... If we adhere faithfully to the Charter of the United Nations and walk forward in sedate and sober strength, seeking no one's land or treasure, seeking to lay no arbitrary control upon the thoughts of men; if all British moral and material forces and convictions are joined with your own in fraternal association, the high-roads of the future will be clear, not only for us, but for all, not only for our time, but for a century to come."
Ex-Prime Minister Winston Churchill, "The Sinews of Peace" speech, March 5, 1946

These words, spoken at Missouri's Westminster College in reference to the then new "iron curtain", strike very truthfully and aptly for today, as well. We are presently a major ally with Britian and others on a world stage darkened by the aggression of extremist religion. Perhaps, we in the United States have not heeded some of Churchill's admonishments while confronting this new threat. We should take heart, that, for another 40 years of Winston's dream, we can return to his seasoned wisdom and take the "high-road" to peace.

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Patriotism

From www.poets.org

Patriotism
by Sir Walter Scott

Breathes there the man with soul so dead,
Who never to himself hath said,
'This is my own, my native land!'
Whose heart hath ne'er within him burn'd
As home his footsteps he hath turn'd
From wandering on a foreign strand?
If such there breathe, go, mark him well;
For him no Minstrel raptures swell;
High though his titles, proud his name,
Boundless his wealth as wish can claim;
Despite those titles, power, and pelf,
The wretch, concentred all in self,
Living, shall forfeit fair renown,
And, doubly dying, shall go down
To the vile dust from whence he sprung,
Unwept, unhonour'd, and unsung.

Whether in peace or war, patriotism runs deep in the proud citizen. His land (country) lives whole in his heart, and nothing escapes its riches, honor, fruit, fortitude and well-being. When times are threatening to his land, he takes a stand and says "no more." This is ours, and you can't take it away from me.

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Government by Idea

From "The Oxford Book of Aphorisms"

Government by Idea tends to take in everything, to make the whole of society obedient to the idea. Spaces not so governed are unconquered, beyond the border, unconverted, unconvinced, a future danger.
Lord Acton, MSS notes, Cambridge, late 19th-C


Of course, the 20th Century is ripe with governments by Idea, some of which are still surviving. Even in the U.S.A., the political landscape has at times been thick with one type or another of mostly leftist or rightist social philosophy; these have had a profound influence on public office candidate preference. Individuality takes second stage- he is but a pariah outside the realm of political correctness. Socrates knew the wisdom of self reflection and contemplation:

I am the wisest man alive, for I know one thing, and that is that I know nothing.

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Musical campaigns

From "The Oxford Book of Aphorisms"

What matters most about political ideas is the underlying emotions, the music, to which ideas are a mere libretto, often of very inferior quality.
Sir Lewis Namier, Personalities and Powers, 1955


Emotions are the glue that hold people together. Campaigns, whether they be emotional or not, for office are serenades to the voters- for as no idea is perfect, one solution must be forwarded. People will want to follow, if the idea is "sweet music to the ear."

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Politics and happiness

From "The Oxford Book of Aphorisms"

Vain hope to make men happy by politics!
Carlyle, Journal, 1831


"Vain" is the key word here, as everyone is a politician. No two souls have the same politics, so how does one make another completely happy? Hence, the value of debate and negotiation in legislation. No form of government has been found to be perfect, but an open political process generates transparency and accountability.

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The coarseness of government

From "The Oxford Book of Aphorisms"

The Government of the World is a great thing, but it is a very coarse one, too, compared with the fineness of speculative knowledge.
Marquess of Halifax, Moral thoughts and reflections, late 17th-C


Planks of political platforms are very narrow stands on major societal problems. But, there is a value in various viewpoints for healthy legislative debate. The two dominant political parties in the US government include many caucuses within them with their own platforms, but their respective national platforms are staid. Healthy democratic elections enjoy competition among more platforms- more caucuses for party primaries, and, more "parties" (major, minor and/or independent) for general election.

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The people and government

From "The Oxford Book of Aphorisms"

There has never been a perfect government, because men have passions; and if they did not have passions, there would be no need for government.
Voltaire, Politique et legislation: Idees republicaines, 18th-C


We have a government of, by and for the people; because of this, there will always be a terse, yes, perhaps cynical, eye on government from the people. An open democracy in a republican form of government requires a dispassionate concern for the people by the government.

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Indignant attitude

From "The Oxford Book of Aphorisms"

An attitude of permanent indignation signifies great mental poverty. Politics compels its votaries to take that line and you can see their minds growing more and more impoverished every day, from one burst of righteous anger to the next.
Valery, Tel Quel, 1941-3


Blind anger dilutes the mind in favor of the object of their indignation. And as indignation grows, so does their contentment of themselves and their own unwillingness to improve. It's how you use that anger that determines your nobility.

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Ordinary selves

From "The Oxford Book of Aphorisms"

Everything in our political life tends to hide from us that there is anything wiser than our ordinary selves.
Matthew Arnold, Culture and Anarchy, 1869


The great danger is that our "ordinary selves" in politics is anything less than the highest ethics and morals. Noone gets past themselves in the legislative process without losing his integrity and thus his actions.

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Great affairs

From "The Oxford Book of Aphorisms"

There are no small steps in great affairs.
Cardinal De Retz, Memoirs, 1673-6


I think of great legislative initiatives that require intense debate and time. That could be declarations of war, fundamental tax system reform and government social services reform. Rash and awkward completion of great initiatives are borne with problems right away.

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Contempt

From "The Oxford Book of Aphorisms"

In politics nothing is contemptible.
Benjamin Disraeli, Vivian Grey, 1826-7


Thomas Mann said "Everything is politics." I believe Disraeli should have been cynical in mood when he said this, though he is correct. However, there is "good" politics and not so good; a good politician should always strive to hold high ethics and high morals.

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Circumstances

From "The Oxford Book of Aphorisms"

Circumstances (which with some gentlemen pass for nothing) give in reality to every political principle its distinguishing colour and discriminating effect. The circumstances are what render every civil and political scheme beneficial or noxious to mankind.
Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France, 1790


The economy, the culture, global warming, war are the surroundings of which the current political campaigns for office work within. These circumstances color how people view political platforms by our candidates. And of course all of these same circumstances color constituents' views of their legislators, too.

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Boldness

From "The Oxford Book of Aphorisms"

In civil business; what first? boldness; what second and third? boldness; and yet boldness is a child of ignorance and baseness.
Sir Francis Bacon, 'Of Boldness', Essays, 1597-1625


Often, the more successful legislators are bold; they are outspoken and aggressive. Does this make it right? True legislation is a pragmatic affair, requiring a thorough understanding of the bill under debate. Negotiation is the outcome of debate. Just the opposite of ignorance and baseness.

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