Founders knew we need one another

Larry Seitter (11/25, Letters, “Declaration of Dependence?”) and others portray a conservative view of America and its history that has become increasingly more myth than fact.

The founders of this nation declared themselves free and independent from Great Britain, not the human community or one another. Indeed, national independence, as they realized, meant much greater dependency upon one another and their new community.

  As they drafted the Constitution, the record indicates they understood that frontier traditions of fierce independence and individual self-reliance must in time soften and yield to interdependency, or the national experiment would not work. 

Most people want a society in which their children have access to health care, the poor and elderly do not fear starvation or homelessness and people value one another. To characterize those desires as an embrace of slavish bondage, serfdom or unearned handouts strikes me as both pathetic and bombastic nonsense.

Steve Klein
Overland Park

Comments

[NoMoreMrNiceGuy]

Steve has never gone head to head against a unlimited resource governemnt. Steve fails to realize, enterprise can not take your property or put you in jail, government can and does, without merit. And there is not hing you can do about it unless you have a ton of money, even then, chances of making the government accountable and fess up to proven criminal activity is nearly impossible. Steve, you need to look around you, no one is denied access to health care, a fair amount of homeless are just fine with their situation, ask them yourself.

[Arminius]

Steve obviously fluked U.S. history.

[NoMoreMrNiceGuy]

Personally we used to much more charitable, we are now unable to afford to do so since we are punished for being moderately successful and not being single parents.
We also used to be more cash charitable to people bumming on the streets, unitl we started offering to buy them someting to eat and then they all of a suddn do not want to eat JUST the money. According to family court law, that makes us deadbeats.
Responsibility, providing and supporting has nothing to do with providing only giving money to government to benefit with windfall profits and handout to often fiscally irresponsible individuals that CHOOSE to be in their situation.

[Sammy]

Also, I suggest that you read about Adam Smith's "Theory of Moral Sentiments" and "Wealth of Nations." Smith's ideas were influential on the Founders.

In these books, he explained rather well the invisible mechanisms that work in a free and voluntary society to the betterment of all.

Like Kee wrote, we are the most charitable nation. Smith explain why that is.

[Sammy]

Here's some words from a few people who had a hand in the Constitution:

James Madison: "I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents. ... If Congress can do whatever in their discretion can be done by money, and will promote the General Welfare, the Government is no longer a limited one, possessing enumerated powers, but an indefinite one, subject to particular exceptions."

Alexander Hamilton: "It's not tyranny we desire; it's a just, limited, federal government."

George Washington: "Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master."

[Sammy]

Steve - What record are you referring to? The Founders wanted to protect individuals from those who seek to use government power to overreach into our lives.

They understood something that you don't: absolute power corrupts absolutely. Their goal was to protect us from that.

I think our Founders also understood that better results happen when we work together voluntarily, rather than under the edict of someone like you.

[Gary]

Steve, the interdependency you refer to was among the several states, not individuals. If you disagree, please cite to the record.

[NoMoreMrNiceGuy]

Steve I think what many of us are tired of is seeing "poor" folks wearing top of the line Nike and designer clothes. Carrying the latest cell phone. Spending money at casinos. Buying STEAK and name brand with their EBT card. Having tattos and plenty of bling. There are some folks that actually need and deserve help, however these folks do not posses the above. Disabled, veterans and retirees, fine, we help them. Everyone else can get off their duffs. Children have access to healthcare and CHEAP health insurance. MC+ in Missouri is dirt cheap and the threshhold income to qualify for single moms is relatively high.

[Kee]

For crying out loud Steverino, get a step-ladder and climb down off your high horse. We are the most charitable nation in the world, and "love thy neighbor" is a basic tenant of our prominent religion.

Conservative views do no contradict that. Conservatives not believe in womb to tomd oversight by massive government. That my friend is not bombastic.