250 Years

This summer, the United States celebrates its 250th birthday. In 1776, few people believed this new version of self-government would last. After the Constitutional Convention, Benjamin Franklin was asked what kind of government the Founding Fathers had created. “A republic,” he replied, “if you can keep it.” If... It’s rare that a new form of government lasts dozens of years, let alone 250. How did America do it? In my new video, people give reasons: “In the U.S. Constitution, you see a lot of phrases like ‘Congress shall not ...’ or ‘No law shall be passed ...,’” Rob Henderson, the author of “Troubled” who coined the term “luxury beliefs,” points out. “It’s not about what government will do for you. It’s focused on (how) Congress and the government are not going to interfere in your lives.” That made America different, says economist Donald Boudreaux: “Compared to most other governments throughout history, ours has been the freest and the most liberal in the sense of tolerating differences in people and accepting economic change.” Daniel Di Martino, who escaped Venezuela to come here, says: “We’re all immigrants fleeing from something -- dictatorships, tyranny, socialism. The descendants of those people were willing to take more risks, and also willing to defend their liberties.” That made Americans different from Europeans. “By necessity, Americans were very independent,” says Linnea Lueken of the Heartland Institute. “We went out into untamed wilderness and established towns that didn’t have to lean on a central government to function properly.” Without nobility controlling property, ordinary people could own land, start a business and keep the profits. “America is more devoted to property rights than any other country, and that is why America is more free,” argues Ryan McMaken of the Mises Institute. Property rights and limits on government allowed Americans to try the new things that made America prosperous. The Founders didn’t want a government that took care of people. They wanted a government that mostly left us alone. They created “three branches of government designed specifically to check each other,” says author Wilfred Reilly. “Because so many mistakes are made by leaders.” “Leaders” do make mistakes, constantly. Yet today, we keep increasing their power. There is that instinct to say, “Problem? Government should fix that. There ought to be a law!” But the more laws governments pass, the more power politicians have and the less autonomy individuals have. The Washington swamp keeps growing, under both Democrats and Republicans, most of whom ignore the limits our smart Founders put into our Constitution. It’s good that there are free market think tanks that push back. I like the Cato Institute’s mission: “Keep the principles, ideas, and moral case for liberty alive.” Cato President Peter Goettler recently MAGNOLIA GAZETTE “ERROR OF OPINION MAY BE TOLERATED WHERE REASON IS LEFT FREE TO COMBAT IT” ...THOMAS JEFFERSON, 1801 LUCIUS LAMPTON, M.D., Editor-in-Chief MARK I. 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Burke Periodical postage paid for at Magnolia, MS Post Office Member, Mississippi Press Association Member, National Newspaper Association Subscriptions: $25 in Pike, Amite & Walthall Counties, & Tangipahoa Parish; $40 Elsewhere PUBLICATION POLICY All interested individuals are invited to submit letters, articles, opinions, cartoons, photos and other material of general interest to this publication. Submissions must be accompanied by a signature and bear the mailing address and phone number of the author. Letters to the editor will be edited for space and clarity, and the editor reserves the right to reject letters due to length, available space or libelous content. Deadline on all copy will be 12 noon Friday. The views expressed by the articles in this publication are not necessarily those of the editor or publishers. POSTMASTER: Please send changes of address to 280 Magnolia Street, Magnolia, Mississippi 39652 web site: www.magnoliagazette.com 250 YEARS by John Stossel