Passage Chosen (Straight from the lecture): "You are sensible, Sir, that the Seeds of Aristocracy began to spring even before the Conclusion of our Struggle for the Natural Rights of Men, Seeds which like a Canker Worm lie at the Root of free Governments. So great is the Wickedness of some Men & the stupid Servility of others, that one would be almost inclined to conclude that Communities cannot be free. The few haughty Families, think They must govern. The Body of the People tamely consent & submit to be their Slaves. This unravels the Mystery of Millions being enslaved by the few!"
I honestly chose this passage because I didn't have the means to get the original packet, and being that I read the lecture over and over again, I feel, although I might not have exact insight, the professor did a fine job expressing the views of Federalist vs Anti Federalist. This quote stood out to me the most because of how sarcastic it sounds. It almost sounds like a compliment, but in reality its saying, you're a fool for believing this is freedom or that people are happy with your (federalist) methods. I love and wish I had gotten a chance to read the actual writings in entirety because the themes described here are the root of who we are today. Makes me want to go back in time and live in that time period where it seems, although unsuccessful, your voice was heard a little bit more, as an "anti federalist", and I feel I would also be an anti federalist, given my personality today.
What's being said in this passage is, in my own words, who do you think you are to think that we can't govern ourselves, and need you guys to govern us?. It is almost sickening to think that there are people out there who think so highly of themselves, and are so convinced that our freedom, which is what we live by, isn't being used right, or in a good matter, so they should govern and lay down the rules because the higher ups know what's best. You expect the people to be happy about the fact that you're trying to create consequences to their actions of free will? Makes you think twice about what freedom is really all about.
Horizontal and Vertical Federalism are opposites. Horizontal Federalism is cooperation between the 50 states to make decisions, while Vertical Federalism traditionally deems anything the national government of complete importance.
I would agree with the author that it is tragic that some people, who are out of touch with the common people, feel they are better qualified to run the lives of the masses than are the masses themselves, and that some believe that true freedom is not possible. However, as sad as it is, it does seem like a lot of people would rather submit and be comfortable than make a sacrifice and truly take responsibility for governing themselves. We see it everyday. People complain about what the federal government is doing but most only complain because they can still do the things they like to do. A lot of people are capable of being truly free and governing themselves on a more local level and being more self sufficient, but people also seem too lazy to reach that potential.
ReplyDeleteI'm so late but yes! I agree
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