The Federalist: Founders' Daily Quote

Tuesday, January 11, 2005
"It is a just observation that the people commonly intend the Public Good. This often applies to their very errors. But their good sense would despise the adulator who should pretend they always reason right about the means of promoting it." --Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 71

IMO (in my opinion,) this is saying that while we desire to look for the good in people, every heart is deceitful and therefore man is not good. Given the opportunity or freedom to do what is wrong and/or evil, this would be the choice. It is for this reason we have laws. To declare what is good and bad, right and wrong, pure and evil.

It has been, since time began, harder to do that which is right and good and decent than to do that which is easy and wickedly fun and momentarily pleasurable. Have you ever tried standing up for your beliefs, even in a Church or Temple or Mosque, only to find that you stand alone? I have. It isn't fun or easy and definitely not pleasurable! It was right, though.

So, left to our own ways we find chaos. Living by some form of civil code brings us closer to order, justice, equality, fairness, and joy. Maybe this is why it is so important for the ACLU to rid us of these chains of civility? After all, why not treat people who break the rules of civility more comfortable and happy than the victim(s)? Why not let terrorists go free to murder again? After all, don't they have that right if the only important prevailing value is to act in whatever manner you choose? Hmmm.