Here's To Our Founding Fathers
George WashingtonClassic American
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| By Rembrandt Peal (1778 - 1860) |
What a privilege to read the wise and eloquent words in George Washington’s Farewell Address To the People of the United States. First printed in Philadelphia’s American Daily Advertiser on September 19, 1796 the Address appeared seven days later in Boston’s The Independent Chronicle.
As we countdown to Election Day 2012 our nation seems “a house divided” instead of united as Washington admonished. Political parties and their politicians wage class warfare, scare senior citizens, make unfounded accusations and deluge the airwaves with negativity. We the People must diligently preserve our United States and elect leaders, not followers, determined to solve the problems that threaten the heart and soul of our great nation.
Our first President fought for liberty in a country united, where citizens were free to pursue their dreams, raise their families, and worship as they pleased. In his farewell address Washington announced his return to retirement “from which I had been reluctantly drawn” and issued words of advice and counsel to his fellow citizens. It was his fervent desire that the Constitution be “sacredly maintained.” He warned Americans to be alert to any attack from internal or external enemies who threaten the independence and liberty so fiercely fought for and prized. He bid his fellow patriots to prevent “every attempt to alienate any portion of our country from the rest” and to preserve the Union as a whole.
Realizing the party system was inevitable Washington offered a comprehensive warning about the danger and “baneful effects of the spirit” of political parties. He feared jealousies, animosity, “domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension.” Washington spoke from experience when he warned us about party politics. His tenure was not immune to party divisiveness.
In the early days of our country there were two parties distinguishable by their support of the Constitution (Federalists) or resistance to adopting the Constitution (Anti-Federalists). While Washington staffed his cabinet with only men who had supported the Constitution’s adoption, two purely political parties, Federalists and Democrat-Republicans, emerged in his first term as president. Serious differences, including opinions on fiscal and foreign policy, created bitterness between the two parties and personal discord between Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton of the Federalist Party and Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, a leader of the Democrat-Republicans.
In his Address Washington reminded Americans that “Religion and Morality are indispensable supports” for political prosperity, happiness and successfully carrying out responsibilities of citizenship. He bid his countrymen to “cherish public credit.” While desirous of peace and the cultivation of good faith towards other countries Washington acknowledged the need to allocate funds to prepare for danger and the possibilities of war. Taxes, he believed, while unpleasant, are necessary to protect the country. Adverse to debt Washington realized the likelihood for debt in times of war but the importance of discharging debts quickly in times of peace.
Washington encouraged commerce with other nations but limited political involvement or favoritism. However where alliances are formed, “let them be fulfilled with perfect good faith.”
In conclusion, Washington anticipated “the sweet enjoyment of partaking, in the midst of my fellow-citizens, the benign influence of good laws under a free government, the every favorite object of my heart, and the happy reward, as I trust, of our mutual cares, labors, and dangers.”
Washington might be disappointed in our current report card since many of these wise admonitions are unheeded. Our founding principles are under attack. Here are a few examples:
Washington said, "Protect the Constitution."
• As written, the Constitution limits the power of government while securing our God-given rights but today the federal government increasingly regulates every aspect of our life.
• Judicial activism is turning the courts into policy making bodies instead of staunch protectors of the Constitution.
• The elected members of the legislative branch increasingly delegate responsibilities to executive branch administrators and bureaucratic policymakers.
• The President, who is responsible for executing the laws, is increasingly making, amending or abolishing laws through executive order.
Washington said, "Ward off threats, internal or external, to independence and liberty."
• Violent expressions of hatred against America are taking place across the world.
• The economic crisis threatens to destroy America as we know it and rob Americans of independence as we are forced to look to government for cradle to grave sustenance.
• One in six Americans lives in poverty.
• 47 million Americans are dependent on food stamps.
• At least 12.5 million Americans are unemployed. Approximately 50% of recent college graduates are unemployed or underemployed.
• The largest tax increase in American history, nearly $500 billion, is scheduled for January 1, 2013 and affects all Americans and businesses. A middle-class family of four can expect taxes go up by more than $4,100 just next year. The burden will be crushing.
• Tax increases from Obamacare total over $836 billion with over $36 billion taking effect in 2013.
Washington said, "Preserve the Union as a whole without alienating Americans from each other."
• Washington’s admonition that we squash “every attempt to alienate any portion of our country from the rest” goes unheeded when politicians try to divide us and create mistrust among people of different races, wealth, gender or age when we are first and foremost all Americans.
• We do not succeed only if someone else fails.
Washington said, "Avoid the dangers of political parties."
• Most would agree with Washington that parties are inevitable although potentially polarizing. Anyone tuning in to both parties’ conventions in September saw and heard firsthand the stark difference in the platforms of the Republicans and the Democrats. There is a wide gap between the priorities and philosophy, little common ground and considerable animosity “sharpened by the spirit of revenge” as Washington warned.
• Are the parties and the politicians distracted by elections, re-elections, power and the “inside the Beltway” thrills to the detriment of the people they are elected to serve? Government exists to secure God given rights and serve the people. People do not serve the government.
Washington said, "Maintain Religion and Morality."
• It is imperative that we reign in today’s excesses and leave the world a better place for the next generation.
• Judeo-Christian values are under attack and the federal government forces Catholic institutions to go against their basic beliefs.
• “Virtues” of courage, self-control, justice, prudence are increasingly replaced by “values” that are self prescribed – whatever you want or feel.
Washington said, "Cherish public credit."
• In July 2011 the credit rating firm Eagan-Jones Rating Company (EJR) downgraded the U.S. sovereign debt from AAA to AA+ citing the high level of debt and lack of spending cuts.
• In August 2011 Standard & Poor’s Rating Services (S & P) downgraded the U.S. credit rating from AAA to AA+.
• In April 2012 Egan-Jones downgraded the U.S. credit rating from AA+ to AA citing the rising national debt.
• In September 2012 Egan-Jones downgraded the U.S. government debt from AA to AA- citing the potential for the Federal Reserve’s third round of quantitative easing.
Washington said, "Allocate funds to prepare for danger and the possibilities of war."
• Massive additional national defense cuts of almost $500 billion over the next decade are scheduled to begin on January 2, 2013 if sequestration goes ahead as planned. This is in addition to the almost $500 billion in cuts over a decade already approved.
• Our safety and standing as global leader will steeply decline if these cuts are maintained.
Washington said, "Avoid debt."
• The debt of the United States of America is over $16 trillion, borrowing approximately $3.5 billion a day.
• The deficit for fiscal year 2012 surpassed the $1 trillion mark.
Washington said, "Honor our alliances with other nations."
• There is strain in our relations with Israel as the showdown over Iran’s threat of nuclear bomb capability appears imminent.
• Extremists are filling void in leadership throughout the Middle East and North Africa to the detriment of the world.
The problems of our nation affect each and every American and their decedents. Americans must remain knowledgeable about the issues we face and play a role in changing our perilous state to preserve the American Dream. Sadly many Americans withdraw from civil discourse due at least in part to frustration with the acrimony and divisiveness among the parties. It is hard to maintain our freedoms without an educated and involved citizenry.
We must elect leaders who will:
• restore America to a position of economic strength and fiscal prudence that doesn’t saddle our children and grandchildren with the staggering burden to fund our unmanageable debt;
• restore our standing as the leader in the free world;
• ensure individuals have the freedom to pursue their dreams to the best of their abilities and know the joy of self sufficiency;
• restore Constitutional limits on government.
In exercising our right and responsibility to vote on November 6 freedom loving Americans will decide who will restore us to the path of prosperity, freedom and security in a volatile world.
William Cabot Lodge wrote a wonderful biography in two volumes about George Washington. Volume I was published in 1889 and Volume II followed in 1893. Lodge wrote of the time in young George’s life when he was a boy just out of school facing daunting challenges. “Being an American, his one idea was to earn his living honestly, because it was the creed of his country that earning an honest living is the most creditable thing a man can do. Boy as he was, he went out manfully into the world to win with his own hands the money which would make him self-supporting and independent.”
Earning an honest living…Self-supporting…Independent. What noble objectives for all able bodied Americans! Our job is to see that we maintain the liberty to make the ideals of our Founding Fathers possible. We must stay diligent – and united.
Debt Over $16 Trillion
Food Stamp Participation the highest ever - and growing
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