5000 Year Leap Discussion

6th Principle: All men are created equal.
Although no two human beings are exactly alike, they are treated as equals by God in the sight of the law and in the protection of their rights. Equal rights have not been completely established in all areas, but the Founders made it possible to come closer to "equal justice" for all than in any other place or time in history.
Alexander Hamilton said, "Inequality would exist as long as liberty existed...It would unavoidably result from that very liberty itself."

We may all have equal legal rights under the law, but we do not have the right to equal things.

7th Principle: The proper role of government is to protect equal rights, not provide equal things.
The Founders believed that the government does not have the power to do anything the people do not have the right to do themselves. If power is given to the government to take from the rich to give to the poor the principle of "guaranteed equal rights" is canceled out, giving them the "right" to mess with everybody's rights, especially property rights.

In the beginning, before the government was given the right to take from one to give to another, America became the most prosperous and best educated nation in the world. But, with the government's "compassion" comes laziness, dependency, weakness, and ignorance, and we are no longer the greatest nation.

8th Principle: Men are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.
Our basic rights (life & liberty) were given to us by God and not by any king or other earthly governmental authority. There are other rights which are created by the government, but these can be changed any time the lawmakers feel like it.

I thought the quote at the end of this principle was very insightful. I sum it up this way: God gave us the gift of life (physical, intellectual, and moral) in order that we can preserve, develop and perfect it. He provided us a variety of natural resources along with our gifts so that we can make products for our use. Therefore, we have life, liberty, and property, which are God given, and then manmade laws should come into the picture only for the protection of these rights.

It is principles 7 and 8 that lawmakers ignore when they introduce entitlements. Even if we were to buy the argument that healthcare is a right, it does not follow that the government should provide it. Self defense is also a right, thus we have the right to bear arms, but does the government provide each of us with a weapon and training? Of course not and most lawmakers would be appalled at the idea. Why is healthcare, food, retirement, etc. any different? This is the tact we have failed to employ in regard to the health care debate, in my opinion.

Was reading "Not Yours to Give" by David Crockett the other day for her economics/government class (too bad they don't read this in public school). It explained this so simply. The government does not have the right to give anything to anyone. Charity (that's healthcare, welfare, social security........), put in the government's hands opened the door for fraud, corruption and favoritism, not too mention stealing. And that's where we are today!

9th Principle: To protect man's rights, God has revealed certain principles of divine law.
God did not give us our rights without providing a way to protect and enforce them. The Ten Commandments were designed to promote, preserve, and protect man's unalienable rights. God's revealed law not only gave us guidance in how to behave, but also provided true justice by requiring the criminal to restore or pay for damages, unlike today's plea-bargaining and early parole. In some states victims of crimes may even apply to the State for damages. These methods are all unfortunate, counter-productive procedures, leading to more crime.

10th Principle: The God-given right to govern is vested in the sovereign authority of the whole people.
Rulers are servants of the people, and only the people have the authority to appoint or remove a ruler.

11th Principle: The majority of the people may alter or abolish a government which has become tyrannical.
The "government" was established by the majority of the people, and only a majority of the people can authorize an appeal to alter or abolish a particular government. There is no right of revolt in an individual, a group, or a minority, only a majority can make the change.

Principles 10 and 11 both remind us that we, as a group must band together, educate ourselves, and not allow the rulers to tell us what to do!

Comments:

Karen K (As.A.Mom.): Yes, it was true restitution, not either retribution or displaced mercy. If the Biblical system were effectively followed, I believe it would be both the most just and the most merciful system ever devised. Proper justice would be served to the victim and proper mercy would be paid the perpetrator. If the criminal had to restore what he stole, or make up for his mistakes, I don't imagine we would see very many repeat offenses. Instead, we throw them in jail to be around other bad characters, feed and clothe them and don't even require them to pay their own way generally. Imagine what kind of character building that might occur if each person had to pay restitution for their crimes instead, no matter how long it took. A criminal would be forced to see the people that were vicitimized as people. The victims would be able to see a person change over time. The crimes that are impossible to repay are the ones that came with the death penalty in the Bible. In fact, this is the real meaning of a tooth for a tooth and eye for an eye--true restitution, not punishment. I honestly think that people would be truly amazed how well this would work if the Biblical version of justice were well applied. Unfortunately, we have never been able to apply it well in all our thousands of year of history.

Theda C. (As.A.Mom): True, the Israelites couldn't even get it right when it was new, thus the reason for Christ's sacrifice. Even if we would simply try to follow the Biblical version, things might not be perfect, but at least they would be better. Of course, there are too many people that are not willing to admit there is a God, let alone one that might have a better idea.

If you haven’t read The 5000 Year Leap, you need too!!

Thx Karen and Theda, As.A.Mom Group!!