What Would Jefferson Say? No Good Government Here (Issue #467)

As a modern Jeffersonian Republican, my political philosophy can pretty much be summed up by Thomas Jefferson’s First Inaugural Address.  In that speech, he outlined what he considered to be the sum of good government.  Jefferson, Author of the Declaration of Independence and our nation’s third president, said that good government consists of these attributes: (1) it is wise and frugal; (2) it keeps men from injuring one another; (3) government otherwise leaves men and women free to their own pursuits of industry and improvement; and (4) government does not take out of the mouth of labor the bread that it has earned.  The first two of the attributes have to do with the limited nature of civil government itself, whereas the second two posit an expansive view of the human individual.

Good civil government is first of all wise and frugal.  Wise is an adjective purporting wisdom, and wisdom is the right application of knowledge.  Scripture says the beginning of wisdom is the fear of God.  So how does that apply to civil government?  Directly, in that, wise political leaders are humble, recognizing that they are not omniscient; good civil magistrates recognize their limitations and govern from a felt sense of humility—they do not profess to know everything.  Wise political leaders are cautious, recognizing that though they wield much power, rarely do they achieve the ends which they set out to accomplish.  There are sad and unintended consequences to the careless use of power, as with mishandling a loaded gun.  Wise political leaders recognize that they too are subject to live under the same laws as they put upon others; and all men and women, including themselves, are subject to fundamental principles of right and wrong and correct behavior.

Frugal is also an adjective meaning thrifty, economical, careful, cautious, prudent, provident, not wasteful, sparing, scrimping; abstemious, abstinent, austere, self-denying, ascetic, monkish, Spartan; parsimonious, miserly, penny-pinching, close-fisted; tightfisted, tight, stingy.  Today our present civil government is hardly that and indeed closely resembles the opposite or antonym of the word frugal—our government is extravagant and is therefore not a good government on that basis alone!

Good civil government secondly, according to Jefferson, keeps men from injuring one another.  This too is hardly the case along our southern border with Mexico, and yet this is the fundamental and essential purpose of civil government—to protect life, liberty and property.  A Jeffersonian view of humanity recognizes that individual men and woman are sovereign; that they have inalienable rights that are not conferred; not granted by governments or compacts, but bound up in their very nature in who they are—free and responsible and special (according to Scripture made in the image of  God).  The purpose of government is limited and not extensive.  It is simply to protect individuals from harm.  Civil governments are necessary only because of irresponsible behavior, specifically aggression.  If we were angels we would not need civil government.  Sovereignty of the state is only an extension of the sovereignty of individuals.

Good civil government, thirdly, leaves men free to their own pursuits of employment and improvement.  Civil government is not to direct the actions of individuals, only to keep them from harming others.  Sovereignty again is essentially individual and not collective.  Today regulations and requirements and the threat of legal entanglements, are so pervasive and onerous in relation to just about anything one might try to do.  Government literally stands in the way of individual pursuits and dreams contrary to the vision of our Founders.  At the same time taxes kill anything you might actually accomplish!

This brings us to Jefferson’s Fourth attribute, namely, good civil government does not take out of the mouth of labor the bread that it has earned, i.e., does not steal from the fruits of our labor.  Government today steals from Peter to pay Paul and Paulette, and sustains a huge bureaucracy to enforce the terms.

A modern Jeffersonian view of civil government is humble; sees itself as a servant of sovereign individuals and not as their master; recognizes that the fundamental action and authority of civil society is left to free and responsible actions of individuals.  Today everything is turned on its head.  Instead of individuals having the most responsibility and freedom, civil government controls almost everything.  Civil government should be the least of all governments, because remember there are many governments (self, family, church, etc.).  Moreover, civil government of the State of Texas should be a far more prevalent factor than, say, the national federal government.  Again everything is turned on its head.  Mayors every day contend with extensive burdens placed on city government and local schools by a multitude of unconstitutional federal mandates.  And oh by the way, the Tenth Amendment of the Constitution is not merely a federal issue to be interpreted by the federal government; rather, it is an issue of great consequence for state lawmakers who, among other state officials, are responsible to defend Texas sovereignty and independence.  This is underscored by the requirement that every office bearer in Texas must swear: to the best of his or her ability to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution and laws of the U.S. and of this State.

The U.S. Government has grown so large, so powerful and so intrusive, that the States are in very real danger of losing their self-determination and sovereignty.  One of the reasons for this growth is the misconception that the federal government itself is the final interpreter or sole arbiter of whether it has exercised “the powers not delegated” to it by the Constitution.  It is commonly believed the U.S. Supreme Court has the final say concerning whether or not the U.S. has exceeded its constitutional bounds.  If this is the case, we find ourselves in a situation akin to Dr. Frankenstein and his monster, where the creature cannot be checked and may in fact overcome its own creator.