January 26, 2010 --

The Election of Scott Brown to the United States Senate: Renewal of Our Founding Principles?

And so – one day shy of the first anniversary of President Barack Obama’s Inauguration, the voters of Massachusetts underscored the president’s assertion, in his Inaugural Address: “…it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people which this nation relies.” Not, the determination of Congress, not the determination of the Administration, not the determination of the media: “the faith and determination of the American people.”

It is fitting, LPR believes, that we recall the president’s words, of January 20, 2009, in the aftermath of the results of the special U.S. Senate election in Massachusetts, One year ago, the president indicated that our economy thrives when it aims for “our common good,” when “our darkest hours” are lighted by “kindness” and “selflessness,” and “those [old] values of honesty and hard work, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiousity, loyalty and patriotism..”

Rush Limbaugh proclaimed on his radio program, January 20, that gloating was permissible over the victory of Scott Brown over Martha Coakley, in the special election to choose the successor to the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy. LPR prefers to celebrate, first – that violence did not mar this special election and, second, that this election reaffirmed a founding principle that in our republic, the people are sovereign.

LPR, however, is not convinced, that the election of Scott Brown as a United States senator is evidence that, borrowing from the president’s Inaugural, we are now determined to respond to ”greed and irresponsibility” with our Founding ideals.

The day after the Massachusetts special election, LPR went to a branch of Wachovia Bank, to question two overdraft charges, including a $35 charge on a $12 dollar overdraft.

Informing the bank’s customer service department by phone that these charges could leave LPR unable to purchase food in the days before arrival of the next social security check, the consumer rep offered to lower the charges – totaling $57 -- by $14.

LPR, same morning, called the Wachovia charges to the attention of the office of Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY), to be told by a staffer that yes, these charges are high, but nothing can be done: “it’s the law.”

This latter comment puzzled LPR, in that Mr. Engel has, for a considerable number of years been a lawmaker. Is he not, thereby, authorized to seek to change the law for the common good?(Or do our legislators think predatory economic measures promote the common good?)

The Wachovia action and response are, for LPR, not lights of kindness in a dark hour. Federalist 57, cited so many times (will someone now heed its sage counsel?) urges our leaders, in part, be have sympathy for the people.

Acceptance by our legislators of predatory action by bullying banks, bullying utilities, bullying officials in the private or public sector, is, for LPR, not kind, not wise, not conducive to the common good.

[This writer has been reluctant to send to Capital One Bank the penalty it demands for a $25.90 overdraft. Capital One has threatened this writer that if the $33.92 (there was $1.08 – taken by the bank – in the account at the time of overdraft) is not paid in full, “within 10 days of the date on this letter” his account will be reported “to a negative reporting agency,” and thereafter “it will remain on your record for 5 years and will not be removed.” I received three identical threats from Capital One – with different dates: January 8, 9 and 10. This could mean that the final threat became effective one year to the day President Obama extolled the role of “kindness” in bringing prosperity to the nation.]

LPR sees no kindness in penalties imposed on charges against people presently unable to meet financial obligations, whether the underlying charges apply to a phone bill, a tax bill, a rent or maintenance bill. (Full disclosure: this writer bears all these obligations – and more.)

If we are to punish people, in these times, for being insolvent, why not go whole hog – and bring back debtor’s prison? In fact, the harshness of the penalty-clamorers has suggested a number of reforms to LPR, reforms aiming, indeed, for the common good, LPR plans to set forth ideas for economic reforms in subsequent postings.

On January 20, 2009, President Obama acknowledged that “greed and irresponsibility” have weakened our economy. On January 20, 2010, LPR was given direct evidence that the causes of this weakening…continue.

There was, however, one light of kindness for LPR on January 20, 2010. A bookstore owner was given $5 and asked to hold a book this writer wished to purchase. The owner immediately said: “take the book now; you’ll pay me later.” In today’s economic climate, such gestures, arguably, are rare; perhaps this partly explains how our economic landscape has become so barren The election of Scott Brown may or may not be indication that we will revive our founding ideals. For LPR, proof positive will be reaffirmation by as President Obama stated in his Inaugural, “We, the People” -- of the populist principles found in the first half of Federalist 57.

For LPR, it is premature to determine if the results of U.S. senate rate senate race in Massachusetts, January 19, mark a return to our founding ideals. – other than effective endorsement of this observation in Federalist No. 41: “A bad cause seldom fails to betray itself.”


Proprietor’s Note. LPR plans to discuss Managerialism and the Neo-Aristocracy next posting. This special edition is a call for reform and self-determination by our people.

Clicksters who see merit in this discussion are invited to call this special edition to the attention of others. LPR asks clicksters to consider “Henry F. Potter” and “George Bailey” -- the protagonists of the Frank Capra movie: “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Potter saw people as “rabble.” Bailey believed things will work out if only the people stick together. Let’s try sticking together against those who dismiss us as “rabble.” If we don’t, as Ben Franklin said of the Redcoats – they will hang each of us, separately.

Just Be

January 26, 2010 --

Be encouraged

If you believe in freedom ...

January 26, 2010 --

LPR hears that the health care reform proposals considered by the representatives and senators we have sent to Congress don't quite apply to these officials as they would apply to the rest of us. See the following excerpt from The Federalist No. 57 which indicates that people have lost their freedom when legislators pass laws from which the lawmakers are exempt. If you believe in freedom, if you believe in the legacy of liberty bequeathed to us by The Founding Fathers, please forward this Federalist 57 excerpt to everyone you can think of.

-- DRZ for LPR

* * * * * *

From The Federalist No. 57 (James Madison)

I will add, as a fifth circumstance in the situation of the House of Representatives, restraining them from oppressive measures, that they can make no law which will not have its full operation on themselves and their friends, as well as on the great mass of the society. This has always been deemed one of the strongest bonds by which human policy can connect the rulers and the people together. It creates between them that communion of interests and sympathy of sentiments, of which few governments have furnished examples; but without which every government degenerates into tyranny.

If it be asked, what is to restrain the House of Representatives from making legal discriminations in favor of themselves and a particular class of the society? I answer: the genius of the whole system; the nature of just and constitutional laws; and above all, the vigilant and manly spirit which actuates the people of America, a spirit which nourishes freedom, and in return is nourished by it. If this spirit shall ever be so far debased as to tolerate a law not obligatory on the legislature, as well as on the people, the people will be prepared to tolerate any thing but liberty.

Google source: www.federalistpapers.org

January 26, 2010 --

Federalist No. 57 was first published on February 19, 1788, in The New York Packet. Let's make this February 19, the 222nd anniversary of No. 57, "Founding Legacy of Freedom Day."

Let's ask our elected officials to tell us, no later than February 19, if they agree that the advice and assurances in Federalist No. 57 remain relevant to our nation.