[107348] in Cypherpunks
Re: CLT&G Update: 29 Dec 98 (fwd)
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Jim Choate)
Mon Jan 11 21:50:22 1999
From: Jim Choate <ravage@einstein.ssz.com>
To: cypherpunks@einstein.ssz.com (Cypherpunks Distributed Remailer)
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1999 21:09:02 -0600 (CST)
Reply-To: Jim Choate <ravage@einstein.ssz.com>
Forwarded message:
> Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1999 09:02:44 -0700 (MST)
> From: Jim Burnes - Denver <jim.burnes@ssds.com>
> Subject: Re: CLT&G Update: 29 Dec 98 (fwd)
> "It is jealousy and not confidence which prescribes limited constitutions,
> to bind down those whom we are obliged to trust with power... Our
> Constitution has accordingly fixed the limits to which, and no further,
> our confidence may go... In questions of power, then, let no more be heard
> of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the
> Constitution." --Thomas Jefferson: Draft Kentucky Resolutions, 1798. ME
> 17:388
I've always like that quote.
> Its obvious that the constitution concerns the construction of central
> government, but in doing so it carefully limited the scope of that
> power. What we have left now is the remains of 200+ years of
> entropy and corruption (and little enlightenment).
I agree in general, with one major proviso. That in fact a central
government is NOT specified in the Constitution (and most definitely not in
the Bill of Rights) but rather a three teir government of which each segment
is made of three tiers.
We have:
Federal
State
Individual
Made of:
Executive
Legislative
Judicial
Obviously excepting the Individual level of government from such a
trichotomy. Further that the intent is to limit the range of authority at
each level.
This obviously stands in distinct opposition to almost every other form
of government which creates a central government with, in general, unlimited
authority. The whole point of the revolution after all was to remove
ourselves from just such a monster. There are even sections in the
Constitution which discuss the transfer of normal authority in one branch
to that of others, it's generaly forbidden. Examination of the 9th and 10th
further bolster the argument of de-centralization. One of the basic axioms
of democracy is that the best person to decide an individuals future is that
individual. The ultimate in decentralization.
Others would have us believe that by changing some aspect of a government
it is rendered fully centralized automaticaly. It begs a couple of assumptions.
First it assumes that any change is a bad change. Secondly it assumes that the
prior state was superior to anything that would come of it.
____________________________________________________________________
What raises the standard of living may well diminish the
quality of life.
The Club of Rome
The Armadillo Group ,::////;::-. James Choate
Austin, Tx /:'///// ``::>/|/ ravage@ssz.com
www.ssz.com .', |||| `/( e\ 512-451-7087
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