Founding Principles
The Founders on What Really Makes a “Land of the Free”
“All might be free if they valued freedom, and defended it as they ought.” Samuel Adams penned these words with the kind of clarity that makes modern political discourse look like finger painting. Here’s the rub: Do we actually value freedom enough...
National Debt and the Destruction of Liberty
“I go on the principle that a Public Debt is a Public curse” James Madison didn’t see public debt as a mere policy debate or a nuisance to be dealt with later. He saw it as one of the most dangerous threats to a representative system – one that leads straight to...
Fear: The Engine of Power
“Fear is the foundation of most governments.” John Adams was right – except for one word. Not “most.” From ancient empires to modern regimes, the story never changes. Government power always expands fastest through fear. Fear is the tool, the trigger, the...
The Influence of Machiavelli on the Founding Fathers of the United States
When discussing the intellectual influences on the Founding Fathers of the United States, one typically hears names such as Locke, Montesquieu, and Blackstone. However, one influential thinker often overlooked is Niccolò Machiavelli. Far from being merely the author...