Prophetic...

Circa 1787~  Lord Macauley, the English historian, after a careful study of our government and our Constitution warned the American people:

"Your Constitution is all sail and no anchor. Either Caesar or Napoleon will seize the reins of government with a strong hand, or your Republic will be as fearfully plundered and laid waste by the barbarians in the twentieth century as the Roman Empire was in the fifth - with this difference, that the Huns and Vandals who ravaged the Roman Empire came from without, and your Huns and Vandals will have been engendered within your own country by your own institutions."

Comments

[Dave Anthony]

Your candidacy was a subject of discussion on a discussion thread on FaceBook yesterday. DeWitt Edwards referred posters to your site to learn more, so I've been looking around. The quote above may not be the best to cite regarding the Constitution. If one is to be a rock-solid 'Constitutionalist', then one certainly doesn't want to quote someone pointing out its limitations. Macauley, in modern terms, had an 'agenda' seeing the U.S. had just handed the British Empire it's lunch during the Revolution, but he has a cogent point. The Constitution, among other things, was written with George Washington in mind. It was a 'given' he was going to be the first president and like it or not the powers granted were entrusted to him because he was trusted. Unfortunately, the Framers did not take the long view about who would come after Washington and the likelihood they would not be as honorable and trustworthy as Washington. That was what Macauley was speaking to and we're reaping the whirlwind.

Ms. Craybill, I mean you no ill will, but I would suggest rather than hitching one's wagon to the Constitution, question's unasked, one might consider a simpler principle of 'limited government'. That was the issue then and it is THE issue today. Governments are not to be trusted - period - any of them. They are a necessary evil, and the less power and authority granted them the better. It is my own view, but God is going to institute limited government in His own way in His own time. Despite its oppressive, overbearing presence, this government is a house of cards nearing collapse. It is judging itself into oblivion by trying to replace God's ordinances. I have no interest in perpetuating it. Let it fall. One might want to start considering how authority will be reoonstituted that implements the principle of limited government based upon the time-tested fact that men are sinners and cannot be trusted with any more power and authority over each other than is absolutely necessary.

I say all this because I take Romans 13:1-7 seriously. Talk of 'war', 'guns' and 'fights' against God-ordained authority is reckless and irresponsible. The implication is one wishes to seize the power in existence not to diminish and limit it, but for it's own sake. Macauley was speaking to that too.

[Catherine]

Dave, the Founding Fathers were acutely aware of the Bible and constructed a form of government that was intentionally symbiotic to it. Therefore, the original intent of the Constitution was one that would not be at odds with the liberties God ordained. For us to submit to 'authority' was an authority that did not contradict the Bible thus avoiding conflict of convictions.

In addition, I reference our Founders who 'talk of war and guns'. I am in agreement with their worldview and recognize with them the threats to liberty that may ultimately provoke a defensive response, God forbid. I am no way, shape, or form, advocating violence.

And yes, I know that this response is MONTHS late. I have neglected maintaining my website due to lack of interest.