This morning on my way to the office I caught a few minutes of Bill Bennett‘s radio show. I missed most of the segment but did hear a quote from Federalist 57, published in February 1788. It stuck with me all day. I am not a constitutional scholar, nor am I a historian. But I have read most of the Federalist Papers and my understanding is that the Founders wrote these papers to convince the people of the several states to ratify the Constitution. They wanted to assure the people that forming a republic would not infringe upon individual or states rights. Federalist 57, written by James Madison, addressed the role of the House of Representatives.
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.
What happened to the bond between the representatives and those they represent? They refuse to enroll in the health care plan they would like to impose on those they purport to represent. Does anybody wonder why? Even President Obama admitted he will make sure his family has the best health care available. So I guess we can count him out, too. If it’s good enough for the people paying their salaries, why isn’t it good enough for them?
So I ask you to ask your representative to read Federalist 57. Ask whether he or she is living up to the ideals expressed by James Madison. Ask if he believes, deep down, that by not signing on to what they are forcing on us, he is failing to restrain himself from oppressive measures.
As a side note, while reading Federalist 57 I was struck by how few people each member of congress represented as compared to the present day. What if we had a representative for every 5,000 to 6,000 Americans? The House of Representatives would be chaos, which wouldn’t be a bad thing. Think how hard it would be for Nancy Pelosi to strong arm a few thousand members in order to come up with a majority. Wouldn’t it be much more difficult for a simple majority to confiscate the earnings of the minority? Just a thought.
Two major things that bother me about our representatives:
1) Elitism (exactly what Federalist #57 is about)
2) The way our representatives have redrawn the districts to benefit themselves in elections (look at the images in Glenn Beck’s Common Sense).
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