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Forum Post: On the need for a political philosophy

Posted 12 years ago on Feb. 4, 2012, 1:27 p.m. EST by Algernon (26)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement

I'd like to encourage submissions to my noncommercial journal, to discuss the ideas of the Founders of the United States, and to communicate the important fact that they too were opposed to corporate oligarchy. The War of Independence was inspired by Whigs opposed to the control of the American colonies by the East India Company. www.newindependentwhig.blogspot.com

12 Comments

12 Comments


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[-] 1 points by dreamingforward (394) from Gothenburg, NE 12 years ago

While I don't have to resources to craft a whole article, out of sympathy to your cause, I'll mention two things:

1) The Founders had not envisioned what would happen when the West "ran out". This dramatically upsets the notion of "right to property".

2) The ideals of a perfect union were an impossible dream. One would either need a messiah or a complementary public infrastructure to ensure the informed citizenry essential to a healthy democracy. (Note that the internet has arisen purely out of this need.)

[-] 1 points by Algernon (26) 12 years ago

Thank you for your reply. I agree on the first point -- although the Founders' definition of "property" wasn't confined to land, but to rights. Certainly Thomas Jefferson was correct in advocating for robust public education, which we regrettably lack today.

[-] 1 points by TheMisfit (48) 12 years ago

From the Founders up to Lincoln, we had leaders who were expressly against corporate influence and control as well as being against a central bank taking the monetary power away from the people. My how the times have changed.

[-] 1 points by Algernon (26) 12 years ago

True, although even in 1816, Jefferson was writing, "I hope we shall ... crush in its birth the aristocracy of our moneyed corporations, which dare already to challenge our government to a trial of strength and bid defiance to the laws of our country." Lincoln was the last of the great Whigs.

[-] 2 points by TheMisfit (48) 12 years ago

Our national identity has been under attack since its beginning, but it appears we are in the last gasps of liberty (though limited as it is today) and we will all soon be subjects of the multinational corporations. It is unfortunate that nearly 60% of the voting population cannot see this because they are too beholden to partisan tripe. We have been sold out by the "left" and the "right", but so many on each side will defend the actions of those they associate with, blindly following the lemming before them. We need new political parties, new ideas and new leaders, but it is probably too late.

[-] 1 points by Algernon (26) 12 years ago

The great political observers Thomas Gordon and John Trenchard wrote, of the monied and landed oligarchs, "They will create [political] parties ... and, by playing them by turns upon each other, will rule both ... they will make themselves the mediums and balance between the two factions; and both factions, in their turns, the props of their authority, and the instruments of their designs."

[-] 1 points by TheMisfit (48) 12 years ago

I agree; other than lip service and few laws targeted toward social issues, there isn't much of a difference between the Rs and Ds. Rs support bailouts and health insurance mandates until Ds do it and Ds are against tax cuts and deficits until the Ds do it. Neither truly help the people, but too many have bought into the propaganda.

[-] 1 points by BannedForTruth (233) from Christiana, TN 12 years ago

Funny you would mention philosophy .... http://occupywallst.org/forum/how-to-unite-the-people/ .... The philosophy of liberty

[-] 1 points by Algernon (26) 12 years ago

I would respectfully suggest that there are flaws in libertarian thinking, stemming from a misinterpretation of the Founders' Whig philosophy.

[-] 1 points by BannedForTruth (233) from Christiana, TN 12 years ago

That is almost red baiting, just against libertarians. With some people if you mention freedom it is always, LIBERTARIANISM is bad. So ill ask you this, what other philosophy could we agree on? Also remember that the point of a philosophy is to apply "guiding" principals. So when making laws and regulations we have a guiding principles that always ends peacefully with liberty as a guide.

[-] 1 points by Algernon (26) 12 years ago

I believe that the original philosophy of the Founders of the nation would provide an excellent guide. Over the years, this philosophy has become increasingly misunderstood, but a careful reading of the Founders' personal writings and other documents reveals their opposition to corporate oligarchy and concern for the well-being of all Americans (rich and poor alike).

[-] 1 points by BannedForTruth (233) from Christiana, TN 12 years ago

Social programs at state level and corporation basically working on charters to ensure they serve the people and area. Funny that is American libertarianism, so whats the problem?