Theory and the Framers – The Liberty Belle

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Arbitrary Power: The Court’s Ability to Declare Government Acts Constitutional

The issue with arbitrary power is not necessarily what it’s used for but that it’s arbitrary. Arbitrary power has been used for good, many times. There have been innumerable Kings and Queens and Emperors and benevolent rulers who’ve possessed arbitrary power and, at times, used their power for what many deemed “the good of the …

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The Liberty Bell Philadelphia Pennsylvania

“Constitutional Liberty and Arbitrary Power”

2 Comments / Theory and the Framers / By C. McMasters Ph.D.

Does this title sound familiar to you? These are the two concepts I’ve been harping on for the duration of this liberty loving blog, so if you’ve been following me at all, these concepts should sound familiar to you. But this title is not my own, it is the title of a speech, delivered in …

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Remember, The Constitution Is A STANDARD

2 Comments / Theory and the Framers / By C. McMasters Ph.D.

I’ve written about the Constitution and the fact that it is NOT a list of our rights. Further, I clarified that it only applies to government (and originally, prior to selective incorporation, it only applied only to the federal government). Today I want to remind everyone of something that I’ve already written about. The beauty …

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Liberty Means Responsibility

8 Comments / The Politics Guide, Theory and the Framers / By C. McMasters Ph.D.

Friends, liberty must first live in the hearts of the people before it can reside in the chambers of government. Consider: what if we do re-establish the supremacy of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and liberty at the government level? Does this guarantee liberty? No. It does nothing if liberty is not firmly established, practiced and embraced at the individual level. Click to read more.

Locke: Four Limitations to Legislative Power

4 Comments / Theory and the Framers / By C. McMasters Ph.D.

Where does this gut level reaction in us against the government’s expansion of power come from? Let’s ground the reason for such a reaction in some theory. It’s better to really know why government’s overreach is a problem than to blindly claim it’s a problem without any theoretical footing. Click to read more.

Federalist 51: If We’re Going to Debate, Let’s Debate Over Things That Are Real

4 Comments / The Federalist Papers, Theory and the Framers / By C. McMasters Ph.D.

I’ve been feeding y’all a lot of information recently, with long articles that require heightened mental engagement. So, today I’m going to give you (and myself) a slight mental break and simply discuss with you a topic that has been bothering me. It aligns perfectly with this last quote from Federalist 51. Click to read more.

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Employer (The People), Employee (The Government) and Job Description (The Constitution)

2 Comments / The Politics Guide, Theory and the Framers / By C. McMasters Ph.D.

“In the eyes of democracy, government is not a good; it is a necessary evil” (194). “This is seen very clearly in the United States, where wages seem in a way to decrease as the power of officials is greater” (204). – Alexis de Tocqueville An analogy has been crystalizing in my mind the more I …

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