James MadisonJames Madison, (1751-1836), Father of the Constitution for the USA, 4th US President

James Madison Quote

“The sober people of America are weary of the fluctuating policy which has directed the public councils. They have seen with regret and indignation that sudden changes and legislative interferences, in cases affecting personal rights, become jobs in the hands of enterprising and influential speculators, and snares to the more-industrious and less informed part of the community. They have seen, too, that one legislative interference is but the first link of a long chain of repetitions, every subsequent interference being naturally produced by the effects of the preceding.”

James MadisonJames Madison
~ James Madison

THE FEDERALIST No. 44

Ratings and Comments


jim k, Austin,Tx

"Legislative interference" is the key to this quote. King Obama is a great example of this.

J Carlton, Calgary

It's been every administration sinse Hamilton "interpreted" the Commerce Clause to mean he and his buddies could manipulate our banking system...from there, the sky's the limit. Or perhaps a couple of million organized Patriots is`the limit.

Waffler, Smith

The quote sucks and drips with prejudicial adjectives like, sober, industrious but ill informed people versus the apparently drunk, enterprising, influential people speculators. Brings up a point though and that is that all people should be involved, vote and act locally and think globally. Is that not what we are always preaching here attentiveness. Beware the non-participating members of society like Madison describes here.

J Carlton, Calgary

And Waffler once again displays his contempt for American thinking and his preference to Globalism. Disgusting.

RBESRQ
  • Reply
RBESRQ    11/24/10

Globalism is a curse to the sanity of the human race. It is the biggest cause of criminal acts. Now speculators play Wall Street in seconds - did you know that there are mores trades carried out in only 5 seconds than the rest put together. We must start thinking locally but do it all the way...

E Archer, NYC

Very true. Waffler and his ilk worship their ignorance and twist every word of the founding fathers. I think it is funny that statists/collectivists are all for the will of the majority unless it points to the unlawful usurpations of those who continually promote the idea that the people need to be led and regulated -- of course, they defend this by saying we can vote good and intelligent men into office -- however, when wise men do manage to get into office, they cringe and call them names and try to discredit them. Madison has a LOT more credibility than Waffler will ever have -- too bad he believes he is so much better than the rest of us and thumbs his nose regularly to the founding fathers. He does not value freedom, he merely wants a position of influence in the King's court.

Mike, Norwalk

Those not living in altered states (statist theocracy utopia's, inebriated, high, etc.), i.e. those working by the sweat of their brow (not the living off graft, larceny, etc. the IRS for example) are very weary of the fluctuating policy which has directed the public councils. Steve Wynn spoke for his company as well as Disney, Kraft Foods, etc., etc., etc., all have moved their business headquarters to communist China (not for taxes) but, for the reasons given in the quote.

Waffler, Smith

The history of the human experience is that of a shrinking planet. Wake up y'all, it will continue. Communication and transportation are no longer a problem. People travel to Hong Kong from New York as easily or easier than they travel from New York to Missoula, Montana etc. Again I say wake up!

Lee Poteet, Stroud, OK

Who is sleeping and just what have you been smoking, Waffler? Madison's words are truer today that when written. The major cause of our economy's current malaise is that those with the capital to create new jobs and new industries cannot trust Obama and Company who have already done too much to destroy and create the current crisis. And at the moment it looks as if it can do naught but get worse. For those of us who hope to survive until we have a chance to vote the Kenyan and friends out need to practice two things: buy local and bank local, because the leftist/liberals/progressives are going to steal everything they can lay hands upon. Real work, the sort that most of us do to make a living, is beneath them.

Waffler, Smith

Lee obviously has his head in the sand, has no knowledge of the rising stock market, the extensive cash position of American business etcetera. Some guys decided to be miserable when Obama got elected and probably will remain miserable for another 6 years, all while many of us will be making a killing in rising economy.

E Archer, NYC

Holy cow, Waffler, you have managed to top yourself again. You readily admit that the socialist policies that have bankrupted this country is a way for YOU to make a killing in the stock market. Spoken like a true bankster's apprentice. Once again you have demonstrated your absolute hypocrisy -- I guess you are not as ignorant as I have thought, you are but a willing benefactor of the current iniquitous economic system. You, sir, are the enemy of freedom and freemen everywhere.

Publius
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  • Reply
Publius    11/29/10

Madison was one of the greatest political minds in the history of mankind. He had an unrivalled understanding of the purpose and tendencies of governments and a sense of liberty that is seldom seen today. Someone like Waffler has no business ridiculing a single word written by his pen. In doing so, Waffler degrades his own argument and shows his ignorance. When I review the comments made by you Waffler, I have found only one or two quotes that you have agreed with (one being by Marx himself). All the others, you have found incompatible to your liking no matter what hero or patriot was the author. I can only conclude that Archer is indeed correct, "You, sir, are the enemy of freedom and freemen everywhere." I pray that your voice is overcrowded by the voices of those who are truly ardent lovers of liberty; that your oppressive principles are lost in the ash pile of history; that posterity forgets, nay, never even knows, that you were once considered our fellow countryman.

E Archer, NYC

"The sober people of America" are being ruled by politicians drunk with power.

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