The Philosophy of Government

As I've said before, I've lost faith in the government.  Yet not all is lost, I say, when I look at some of the philosophies held by the Framers of the nation.  One of the most interesting discourses on the matter took place between Thomas Jefferson and John Adams (an interesting piece at theNation.com covers what I am about to quote); the best of which I feel is as follows:

"Be just and good."  Indeed, what else can be said?  All moral debates and ethical dilemmas seem to branch down to this one simple principle in determining what many would consider the moral high road.  Occam's Razor...the simplest explanation is best.  And those four words are about as simple as you can get.

This should be our philosophy for government; it explains why our government should be as small as necessary, thus preventing waste and excess from corrupting the just distribution of benefit; further, it explains why our government must be as large as needed, thereby enabling the greatest benefit to all at the least expense or burden (a burden, which, by its collective nature, should be so widely distributed as not to be noticed).  Ultimately, we must let go of such petty and small-minded divisions of conservative and liberal in favor of doing the most good possible and allowing equal access to it by all.

Is such thinking really that un-American?  I think not.


Posted by pdmccaul [Philosophical] ( October 16, 2007 01:09 PM ) Permalink | Comments[0]