Government POwer

"The essence of Government is power; and power, lodged as it must be in human hands, will ever be liable to abuse." --James Madison, speech in the Virginia constitutional convention, 1829

Jefferson’s Wisdom

"I know no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion by education. This is the true corrective of abuses of constitutional power." --Thomas Jefferson, letter to William Charles Jarvis, 1820

The Wisdom of John Adams

"The only foundation of a free Constitution, is pure virtue, and if this cannot be inspired into our people, in a greater measure than they have it now, they may change their rulers, and the forms of government, but they will not obtain a lasting liberty." --John Adams, letter to Zabdiel Adams, 1776

Thomas Paine

"Freedom had been hunted round the globe; reason was considered as rebellion; and the slavery of fear had made men afraid to think. But such is the irresistible nature of truth, that all it asks, and all it wants, is the liberty of appearing." --Thomas Paine, Rights of Man, 1791

James Madison

"If individuals be not influenced by moral principles; it is in vain to look for public virtue; it is, therefore, the duty of legislators to enforce, both by precept and example, the utility, as well as the necessity of a strict adherence to the rules of distributive justice." --James Madison, in response to Washington's first Inaugural address, 1789

Ben was right

"Repeal that [welfare] law, and you will soon see a change in their manners. St. Monday and St. Tuesday, will soon cease to be holidays. Six days shalt thou labor, though one of the old commandments long treated as out of date, will again be looked upon as a respectable precept; industry will increase, and with it plenty among the lower people; their circumstances will mend, and more will be done for their happiness by inuring them to provide for themselves, than could be done by dividing all your estates among them." -- Benjamin Franklin (letter to Collinson, 9 May 1753)

A poem written on my visit to S.E. Arizona

                                                    

 

                                          The Spirit of Silverado

Beside a highway in Southeast Arizona that was once the Butterfield Stagecoach Line

Lies a place of mystery that seems unconstrained by the  surly bonds of time

And in evening quiet one may find the scenes and sounds of times long ago

Here at this place of quiet and mysterious beauty, this wondrous Silverado

 

Listen carefully now and you may hear the sounds of the clattering hoofbeats and drivers shout

In the mind's eye one may see the tired and dusty travelers alight the coach and walk about

For the ghosts of those who struggled and blazed the trails that we in our time travel to and fro

May be found among the many spirits here today  at this quiet and mystic spot known as Silverado

 

The weak and lame, the lonely and hurt, the fearful and troubled, and all who of this life  despair

Will find here in this high desert among our Makers other creatures , a place where troubles repair

The comfort of the soft touch and silent commune with the creatures found here,   you will know

At this place of quiet beauty and mystery, this place of peace, comfort and healing, called Silverado

 

When at the end of your stopover here, like the travelers of old, rested , you remount your coach and

Continue your journey  to other destinations in the great and  wondrous  America land

Know that a part of you will always dwell here among the peaceful spirits, and no matter  where you go

You will be remembered and welcome here at this quiet and mystic place called Silverado