The Mentality of Power

The founders recognized that there are people who will actively seek for power, usurp this constitution and feed their goals to you in the guise of caring for your needs. Once they are in power the goal is to increase that power and reduce the restraints on it. This is basic human nature in action and must be the subject of internal or external constraints. The framers choose to rely on external constraints built into the Constitution and an educated electorate.

The framers of the Constitution went back and forth over the idea that including a list of powers would be of more harm than good. Lets look at their thoughts to understand the problem.

In the Federalist paper 84, Alexander Hamilton said, “I go further, and affirm that bills of rights, in the sense and to the extent in which they are contended for, are not only unnecessary in the proposed Constitution, but would even be dangerous. They would contain various exceptions to powers not granted; and, on this very account, would afford a colorable pretext to claim more than were granted. For why declare that things shall not be done which there is no power to do? Why, for instance, should it be said that the liberty of the press shall not be restrained, when no power is given by which restrictions may be imposed? I will not contend that such a provision would confer a regulating power; but it is evident that it would furnish, to men disposed to usurp, a plausible pretense for claiming that power. …”. Hamilton was very much aware of the tendency of man to abuse power.

We have men in government office today who are usurping your individual rights and powers and moving to a socialist state. Advisors to the President state that it is not good to let a crisis pass because it can be used to gain more political advantage. They love a plausible pretense and the public is willing to swallow it because it sounds good and they are uneducated.

And in Federal 15 Alexander Hamilton stated, “In addition to all this, there is, in the nature of sovereign power, an impatience of control, that disposes those who are invested with the exercise of it, to look with an evil eye upon all external attempts to restrain or direct its operations. … It has its origin in the love of power. Power controlled or abridged is almost always the rival and enemy of that power by which it is controlled or abridged. This simple proposition will teach us how little reason there is to expect, that the persons intrusted with the administration of the affairs of the particular members of a confederacy will at all times be ready, with perfect good-humor, and an unbiased regard to the public weal, to execute the resolutions or decrees of the general authority. The reverse of this results from the constitution of human nature.”

Isn’t that beautiful? These guys were smart, I wish we had more like them. Hamilton is stating that any attempt to externally control a power will bring its resources to bear on that attempt. This is also stated in other sources: “We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion. D&C 121:39

The 9th and 10th amendments in the Constitution’s Bill of Rights address power of the Federal and State governments. Here they are:

9th: “The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

The framers of the Constitution were very concerned that if they began listing all the rights the people have, it would be a never ending list and the government would be looking for ways to circumvent it. Precisely as they are now doing anyway. The framers had a very good handle on the real meaning of Power in government. It always seeks to increase and is jealous of any attempt to put restrictions on it.

10th: “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

Combine this with the thoughts in the 9th Amendment and you have a clear, resounding, call for the government to stay out of people’s lives and not go seeking after more power.

Alexander Hamilton knew that Freedom is the enemy of Power and one of our direct responsibilities is to hold the federal government in check. The best way to do that now is to talk with your elected officials. The Constitution’s Bill of Rights specifically says you can have an opinion regarding how your government is being run. By sharing your opinion with them, as constituents who are known, consistent and vocal, you will prevent power hungry officials from removing our freedoms. Once these proposed programs are in place, they have the power to oppose change, then it’s almost too late.

Where do you stand and who knows it?