Principle Seven: The Principle Role of Government is to Protect Equal Rights and Not Equal Things

By John Dummett Jr.

http://www.johndummett4senate.us/

There are a lot of Americans out there who think it is the duty of the federal government to take from the haves and give it to the have nots. In this nation the government has no right to do such a thing.

The Founding Fathers believed the government did not have the power to do anything that the people themselves could not do. For instance, since everyone is entitled to protection of life and property it was alright for the government to set up a police force to protect the lives and property of the people. However, if it is determined that someone has too much property nobody, especially the government, has the right to take that excess property and give it to someone who has less or none. A person is entitled to his property. Nobody can help themselves to the property of others and give it to anyone else and neither can the federal government. To own property is a natural right and therefore property is to be protected.

Our Founding Fathers realized that the second the government attempts to level the playing field by taking away from the haves to give to the have nots the government will then have the power to deprive people from any or all of their other rights to justify their government action. This is not equal justice because you deprive the haves of their equal rights.

The Founding Fathers determined that everyone has the right to prosper and that being rich is not such a bad thing. In fact it was to be encouraged and the more the merrier. Being rich was not to be penalized. By allowing people to become as rich as they can, depending upon the effort they expend, would lead to a nation dominated by a prosperous Middle Class. As long as there is liberty, the ability to prosper is permitted for everyone. By using government to provide equal rights for all and not equal things, the people would work harder to prosper to get the things they need and want.

The framers of the Constitution had a deep concern for the less fortunate though. What they feared the most was by taking from the haves and giving it to the have nots would only encourage idleness, as many of the liberal welfare programs have proved time and time again. When something is given, instead of earned, the will to work for something is diminished. What this creates is a society that becomes dependent upon the public

dole. The have nots who have the right to vote will constantly vote for the candidate that will give them the most with the least effort. This is human nature. For a society to be healthy it must be comprised of individuals who strive to prosper rather than have things given to them.

There are times however when the have nots really and truly need help, so the Founding Fathers came up with a concept to deal with this called "Calculated Compassion."

1. Do not help the needy completely, help them to help themselves.
2. Give to the poor the satisfaction of "earned achievement." You don't reward without achievement.
3. Allow the poor to climb the success ladder.
4. Where emergency help is provided, don't prolong it to where it becomes habitual.
5. Strictly enforce the scale of "fixed responsibility" from individual, to the church, to the community, then to the State when helping individuals in need.

The framers of the Constitution wanted a level playing field, but this field was to be equal for every citizen to play on. However, to protect the equal rights of all citizens it would never be the duty of the federal government to become involved in charity or public welfare.