🚀 go-pugleaf

Stephen W. Anderson wrote:
> 
> Maddox wrote:
> 
> > > RobInteresting comments, Rob.  I'd like to know more.  Can you lead me to a
> > decent site on the web where there are articles on this issue.  And are
> > the Federalist Papers found up here someplace?  I'd love to find an
> > indexed set where I can read in them what they have to say about
> > particular subjects.
> 
> Project Gutenburg has its edition of the Federalist papers. Bear in mind
> that not all editions are identical, but theirs is all right.
> 
> Remember especially when reading them that the Federalist point of view
> was only one of the two leading ones of the time, viewpoints the
> unresolved tension between which still plays a powerful role in our
> political wars today, 1994 being a notable case in point. The Papers
> were written to enhance the chances of ratifcation of the main body of
> the Constitution and form our best record of the arguments of those who
> supported the establishment of a strong national state. Despite having
> hijacked the Convention and even the name "Federalist," they couldn't
> get quite what they wanted; note, revealingly, that forms of the word
> "nation" appear in the Constitution only with reference to foreign
> sovereignties, not the U.S., even though it was perhaps the one term
> most important to the Federalists. The Federalists also argued against
> the inclusion of any provisions recognizing individual rights (one of
> their points was that none was needed because the Constitution does not
> delegate any authority over individual rights to the United States
> government); they in the end were forced to accept the Bill of Rights in
> order to gain ratification, and it consequently is generally regarded as
> an integral division of the original Constitution. Knowing the
> Federalists for the closet statists many of them were the
> Antifederalists insisted on the subsequently much ignored 9th and 10th
> Amendments as a part of it.
> 
> The point, however, is that the Federalist Papers, while invaluable,
> provide only a minor portion of the background essential to gaining a
> well-rounded picture of the Constitution's intent. It is necessary to
> take into account the views of the Antifederalists and the States as
> well, and once one has done so he often will find his eyes unexpectedly
> opened to the issue of the Constitutionality of the concentration of
> political power we have permitted the United States government to
> accumulate. An informed discovery of how far we've gone in that
> direction can be quite a shock, so if you're serious about doing some
> industrial-strength study on this score brace yourself.
> 
> _________________________________________________________________
>      Stephen Worley Anderson,  Rocky Mount,  North Carolina
>                        swa@interpath.com
Stephen,
  Your grasp of American History is a "breath of fresh air" compared to
the many arguements I have come across on the subject of the Political
History of this country.  The Federalists were very narrow-minded in
their views of individual liberty and the government, (as can be seen in
the passing of the Alien and Sedition Act during the administration of
John Adams).  Thankfully the country was able to grow out of that way of
thinking.
   It seems that the schools today, and many of the students, do not
appreciate the value of history.  Many feel that the historical views
are jaded because (in Star Trek Klingon) "History is written by those
who are victorious."  Even if that premise is true, which I believe it
is, there are still "oversites" on the recorded history which will be
the truth of what actually happened.
  This is an election which people would do well to look at the history
of each candidate.  We have a President who has a history of
"situational ethics" which change as the moods and public opinions
change."I believed it was right at the time" is but a flimsy excuse for
their actions.
  On the other hand we have a candidate whose support or lack of
support, of certain measures for the past 35 years is questioned.  Who
is right, and who is wrong?
  This is where history should be most important.  People should
research for themselves the decisions which they make.  What we have
today is a laziness and apathy concerning the governing of their own
lives.  What is dangerous is that each candidate will use this to
further their cause.
  Tuesday is a very important day.  Vote for the candidate of your
choice, but make that vote an intelligent one.  Find the answers for
yourself.  Don't allow the media to make up your mind for you.
-- 
Thanks, Lee Trollinger, President
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