what Hamilton said

 This idea will add the inducements of philanthropy to those of patriotism, to heighten the solicitude which all considerate and good men must feel for the event. Happy will it be if our choice should be directed by a judicious estimate of our true interests, unperplexed and unbiased by considerations not connected with the public good. But this is a thing more ardently to be wished than seriously to be expected. The plan offered to our deliberations affects too many particular interests, innovates upon too many local institutions, not to involve in its discussion a variety of objects foreign to its merits, and of views, passions and prejudices little favorable to the discovery of truth.

This is a paragraph from the Federalist papers. Federalist number one to be exact. It was written by Hamilton to explain the importance of ratifying the new constitution of the United States. What idea was he talking about? He was talking about the establishment of a government from reflection and choice. Or are governments forever to depend upon accident and force. In this paragraph Hamilton is concerned with the paying of political favors. That is the inducement of philanthropy that is referenced. It is also what we are witnessing today in government. Hamilton has been proven to be correct when he wrote, "but this is a thing more ardently to be wished than seriously expected."

Hamilton goes on to talk about the obstacles to be overcome to gain acceptance of the constitution. Among those obstacles are the individual states, and their political power, being unwilling to relinquish any of that power. States rights is what we call that today and what we fought a civil war over. Reflection and choice would certainly have chosen to free all peoples from bondage but there was the inducement of patriotism. A patriotism still felt by certain classes of men, as Hamilton described the various demographics involved in forming a new nation. There was a fear of big government. That fear remains today among various groups. The true fear is the loss of individual power not that the government becomes too powerful. Our Constitution was written and designed to prevent that from happening. That's why we established a Republic! A government of the people. A government based on choice and reflection.

"Happy will it be if our choice should be directed by a judicious estimate of our true interests, unperplexed and unbiased by considerations not connected with the public good." What is Hamilton saying there? Simply stated, making the best choice for America. Think securing the border as a contemporary example of that. What is best for America if we dismiss philanthropy intermingled with patriotism? Obviously, the uncontrolled influx of unvetted, undocumented and unknown peoples is not a good thing for the public. Consider the philanthropy of providing billions of dollars in goods, services and cash to all these foreign nations. Is all of that in the best interest of the public? Looking at the state of our economy, our infrastructure, our homeless population, and the inner cities of America I feel those items would better serve Americans. By a "judicious estimate" of our resources.

It's my thinking that we need to start teaching civics once again. It is apparent to me that many have not read or discussed any of the topics discussed in the Federalist papers. Hamilton, Madison and John Jay are the authors of those papers under the name Publius. The purpose was to explain the document being proposed and gain support for its' ratification. It is a lesson in civics to be sure. I haven't watched the musical Hamilton and so cannot comment on that. Whether Hamilton was presented in a positive light or in a more negative fashion I can't say. Reviews I have read say that he was shown to be heroic in his actions. Anything that brings Hamiltons intellect to the public interest is certainly a good thing. There were all some pretty smart guys! Educated men that attempted to present a document, a constitution, that benefitted the people not the ruling class. The ruling class is the people! But apparently as Hamilton thought, something more ardently to be more wished than seriously expected.

There are some that insist that document is just old and outdated. The Constitution is a living document and therefore should grow and change as the years pass. I agree that the Constitution is a living document. I don't believe it should change, however. It was composed by some of the greatest thinkers in history. A document carefully crafted to protect, to guarantee the rights of the people. A document designed to preserve the union of the various states into a new nation. The very reason there are three branches in government today. A system of checks and balances designed to ensure the best choices for America are made.

Indeed, the first ten amendments, the bill of rights, were added to protect the people from government! Those amendments codified human rights, those items that apply to all, unbiased and unperplexed by personal considerations. Other amendments gave more power to the government, something I'm certain Hamilton, Madison and John Jay would have been opposed to. Congressional pay is among those amendments. The twenty-seventh amendment was first proposed in 1789 but not ratified until 1992. Hamilton was the Secretary of the Treasury when that amendment was first introduced.

Those architects, framers, or authors of the constitution, however you wish to refer to them included an article to cover the very situation we are facing today. It is an article five convention of the states. That is the means to change the amendments to the constitution. I do not believe it was envisioned as a means to change the constitution. It is a vehicle to control the government! That is the sole purpose of that convention, to reign in government should it become necessary to do so. That speaks to the heart of the very first federalist paper. The philanthropy of patriotism! Congress needs to be reined in!

I view the "amendments" to the constitution more as an addendum. I'm certainly no constitutional scholar but I don't see where any "amendments" actually changed the original document. They just added to it, an addendum. But that is something for legal minds to argue and they have done so since 1791. Madison himself said they were additions to the constitution. He didn't say alterations. Their purpose was to protect individual rights and limit the power of government. It took congress two hundred and three years to get it done, but they got an amendment passed to ensure their pay and allowances as a matter of government control, not public interest. Time to "amend" that, revert back to the original premise. We the people control the checkbook! Philanthropy is not a function of good governance.  "This idea will add the inducements of philanthropy to those of patriotism, to heighten the solicitude which all considerate and good men must feel for the event." Yeah, what Hamilton said.