by Frank Li
After listening to Winston Churchill, Ronald Reagan, Abraham Lincoln, and Thomas Jefferson, let’s listen to George Washington, shall we? Here you go …
“My first wish is to see this plague of mankind, war, banished from the earth.“
He meant: President George W. Bush, it was reckless for you to launch the Iraq war in 2003! President Obama, end the war in Afghanistan now! Stop listening to the generals, including General David Petraeus, because “the wars are too important to be left to the generals” (per Georges Clemenceau). The Afghan war, any war, should not have been part of consideration for re-election (For Obama the Road to Reelection Runs through Kabul)!
“Observe good faith and justice toward all nations. Cultivate peace and harmony with all.“
He meant: Peace and prosperity. For more, read: Top-10 American Misconceptions about The World.
“The constitution vests the power of declaring war in Congress; therefore no offensive expedition of importance can be undertaken until after they shall have deliberated upon the subject and authorized such a measure.“
He meant: How many undeclared wars have we had after WWII?
“Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master.”
He meant: Limited government is the way to go!
“Over grown military establishments are under any form of government inauspicious to liberty, and are to be regarded as particularly hostile to republican liberty.”
He meant: Read: It’s The Out-Of-Control Spending on Military, Stupid!
“Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire, called conscience.”
He meant: Read: Built to Last: Structure and Conscience.
“The basis of our political system is the right of the people to make and to alter their constitutions of government.”
He meant: For all the problems America has today, have you seen anything better than this diagnosis and this solution?
“The time is near at hand which must determine whether Americans are to be free men or slaves.”
He meant: Pay off the debts, or it will lead us all to slavery – debt slavery!
“We should not look back unless it is to derive useful lessons from past errors, and for the purpose of profiting by dearly bought experience.”
He meant: Peace and prosperity, not war and debt!
“Truth will ultimately prevail where there is pain to bring it to light.”
He meant: Democracy, as we know it today, no longer works. It’s time to significantly amend the Constitution as follows:
- Limiting the American Presidency to one-term (e.g. six years).
- Raising the statutory requirements for the American Presidency, such as the minimum age to 55 (from 35) and only after having served as state governor for a full-term, at least.
- Introducing strict term-limits for Congress, preferably one-term (e.g. six years) as well.