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

James Madison Quote

“The people of the U.S. owe their Independence & their liberty, to the wisdom of descrying in the minute tax of 3 pence on tea, the magnitude of the evil comprised in the precedent. Let them exert the same wisdom, in watching against every evil lurking under plausible disguises, and growing up from small beginnings.”

James MadisonJames Madison
~ James Madison

James Madison's 'Detached Memoranda,' ca. 1817 W. & M. Q., 3d ser., 3:554--60 1946
http://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/documents/amendI_religions64.html

Ratings and Comments


J. B. Wulff, Bristol, CT

We have certainly ignored the wisdom of James Madison contained in this quote. Ever since withholding tax took a small amount to cover taxes or Social Security, the grasping hand of government has taken more and more and more. Of course it's "easier" to do it this way than to suddenly have to come up with thousands of dollars on April 15th. In fact too many of us look forward to a refund with delight. We miss the fact that we are only getting our very own money back. Not only that, the government didn't pay any interest for the use of it. If we are short or make an error in our filing, penalties and interest are there immediately. Enjoy the Kool-Aid. We brought it on ourselves.

harold lasky, sacramento,ca.

james madison must have had a crystal ball, for he saw what would happen to the U.S. in 2010 and beyound, with all the ass hole that are running the country into the ground(obama and the rest of the dems. and some republicans) we must rid our country of these assholes NOW !!before it's too late and we will have to have another revolution to get our country back.

jim k, Austin.Tx

J.B. said it well, the withholding tax was a "temporary" tax to finance World War 2. Once the politicians found out they could use it to bleed the taxpayer a little at a time instead of all at once they fell in love with it, and so much for that "temporary "part. As to Lasky, don't compare our current politicians to ass holes as assholes are vital and useful. Don't insult them by comparing them to folk like Reid, Pelosi, and Obama.

cal, lewisville, tx

Well said Jim K. I couldn't agree more.

E Archer, NYC

Every precedent becomes a justification later and the next generation accepts 'temporary' measures as permanent. All politicians need to do is get a bill passed, then change it again and again later. This was done with all the tax acts, the Federal Reserve Act, Social Security, etc.. -- and you can bet the latest health bill will become a Goliath. The Keynesian economic model has been the tool of communists/fascists since its introduction, substituting real money with interest-bearing debt that can be printed into circulation at a moment's notice. As long as we allow this fraud to continue, it will not matter what form of government we think we have, we remain the slaves of the banks that squeeze us for our life blood. When will the Americans finally say, "NO MORE!"

Gunny Cee, Durham

If all of the world's major governments were to be represented by a snake eating itself, there would only be the head left. I'm not sure what that means to liberal socialists, but it tells me that without a body, the brain is pretty much useless. “James Madison said that if men were angels, no government would be necessary and if angels governed men, no limits on government would be necessary. Because neither men nor the governments they create are angelic, government and limits on government are both necessary for ordered liberty. Politics may tell us what we want to do, but the Constitution tells us what we may do and we must keep those separate. The ends do not justify the means for one simple reason – liberty. Liberty requires limits on government power, it always has and it always will. Obama is showing us today how to govern by ignoring both the Constitution and Congress. In the case of this new Presidential Advisory Panel being used to create a brand new beauracracy that will set forth new and fairer rules of morttgage lending is yet another end run of our Constitution, and Congress. If we wanted to be governed by an advisory panel we would have dispensed with the election of representatives and presidents and hired an advisory firm to make our decisions. The Constitution forbids the government to do anything that is not given in the constitution. When are we going to get back to the Constitution and quit treating it like an irrelevant document. Obama's utilitarian philosophy that usefulness trumps beauty and all other considerations considers the Constitution a hinderence, therefore is not useful to his efforts to fundamentally change America. He is showing us that even if we take control of both the House and the Senate, he doesn't need cogress to impliment his plans. To him and his minions in the White House, there are no limits to goverment. Politics rules. We are doomed as a nation if we don't stop this tryannical egoist from running roughshod over the wishes of the people.

Mike, Norwalk

Totalitarian despots, especially since the war of Northern aggression, have trained helots, serfs, and slaves in accepting and liking their anti - liberty/natural law/wisdom existence. The sheeple are now all but totally put to sleep.

Ronw13, Oregon

With this type of Waking Up, one does not always like what they see. Looking forward to a tax return is like a Dumb chicken staring at the Fox, in control of you, as his dinner, just fattening up the poor and needy chicken, bowed down, willingly, supplying a continual feast for the Fox. Yet it is the Eagle who eats the fox. Let the Eagles rise for the feast upon the foxes flesh. One can ask themselves of what sort are they, the so-self-calling independent patriots who cower as slaves. Or True Patriots with the blood of Freedom running through their veins, willing to sacrifice all for the Sacred Liberty which is ours for the taking ! Unite In Revolt, United We Stand. We the People comprised of True Patriots Know and Understand this fight very well. Having been given the Spirit of Power, Be Brave, Be Strong, Be of Good Courage, "knowing" in whom we trust, Our Creator and grantor of said Liberty, Freedom and Justice for All. Some believing, have seen and Know, Others see not, and yet believe. Therein is the message of Hope, Freedom from slavery, oppression and tyranny. God is with us, shy not from the battle so long waited for. Cut the head from the snake. An Eagles feast awaits !! God Bless the Strong Man with the dagger, who is followed by the weak man with the sponge. Semper FI

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