James Madison quote, from Constitutional Convention

[gristy]

https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/James_Madison

In time of actual war, great discretionary powers are constantly given to the Executive Magistrate. Constant apprehension of War, has the same tendency to render the head too large for the body. A standing military force, with an overgrown Executive will not long be safe companions to liberty. The means of defence against foreign danger have been always the instruments of tyranny at home. Among the Romans it was a standing maxim to excite a war, whenever a revolt was apprehended. Throughout all Europe, the armies kept up under the pretext of defending, have enslaved the people.

Speech, Constitutional Convention (29 June 1787), from Max Farrand's Records of the Federal Convention of 1787, Vol. I [1] (1911), p. 465

[Laelth]

1. k&r for James Madison.

Nine times out of ten, he was right.

-Laelth

[Newest Reality]

2. In addition...

From the Declaration of Independence:

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The grievances expressed are very interesting and I could see our Forefathers recognizing Trump as an an object of some of them and a serious threat. It is almost like we have gone full circle now and are almost back where we started:

Concerning King George the III:

"He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good".

"He has endeavored to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands."

"He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance."

"He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power."

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:"

"For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:"

"He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us."

"He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and unworthy the Head of a civilized nation."

Sounds very familiar. King Trump is putting us in the same position.

There are more detailed explanations of the above quotes here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grievances_of_the_United_States_Declaration_of_Independence

[jmg257]

3. Rep Elbridge Gerry - debates in Congress...

"What, Sir, is the use of a militia? It is to prevent the establishment of a standing army, the bane of liberty.... Whenever Governments mean to invade the rights and liberties of the people, they always attempt to destroy the militia, in order to raise an army upon their ruins."
Rep. Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts, spoken during floor debate over the Second Amendment [I Annals of Congress at 750, August 17, 1789]

[Doremus]

4. Which reminds me. Where are the 'don't tread on me' militia-types now? nt

[jmg257]

5. Yes - clearly not concerned with examples of tyranny they happen to agree with.

Which of course is a fine example of why their notion of "militia" is horse shit.