Constrained or Unconstrained?

Are human beings intrinsically flawed, or are we intrinsically virtuous?  What do you think?  Bill Whittle explains how these two views resulted in very different political ideologies.



In Federalist Paper #51, James Madison explains why government should be constrained by a system of checks and balances whereby separate branches of government with competing interests prevent each other from gaining excessive power they could use to oppress the people.

It may be a reflection on human nature, that such devices should be necessary to control the abuses of government. But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself. A dependence on the people is, no doubt, the primary control on the government; but experience has taught mankind the necessity of auxiliary precautions.

Madison believed government is necessary because men are not angels.  In other words, because people are flawed - imperfect.  He also saw constraints on government (limited government) as necessary because the people who work in government are just as flawed as the rest of us!

Where, exactly, did James Madison get the idea that human beings are intrinsically flawed?  It's no coincidence that Madison studied for two years under Reverend Thomas Martin, and thank God (I mean that literally) he did.  He helped write the Constitution and pushed for - and drafted - the bill of rights, the most government-limiting document in history.

The idea that people are intrinsically flawed and therefore can never be trusted with too much power originates exclusively from the Judeo-Christian doctrine of Original Sin.  The ultimate source of our liberty is Judeo-Christian doctrine.

An honest observation of history and the world around us makes the truth of Biblical doctrine obvious - people are inherently sinful and selfish, which is why any philosophy that assumes otherwise ends in unspeakable misery.  Anyone, anyone, who promises Heaven on Earth - regardless what he/she calls him/herself - is either lying or deluded.

Christians, if you actually believe Biblical doctrine, you will stand, fight - and most importantly, vote - against excessive government, and for limited government.