To those who hate America...

Happy Independence Day!

Sources for references to the “founding fathers”

Madison on perpetual war and its threats to liberty:

“Of all the enemies to public liberty war is, perhaps, the most to be dreaded, because it comprises and develops the germ of every other. War is the parent of armies; from these proceed debts and taxes; and armies, and debts, and taxes are the known instruments for bringing the many under the domination13 of the few. In war, too, the discretionary power of the Executive is extended; its influence in dealing out offices, honors, and emoluments is multiplied; and all the means of seducing the minds, are added to those of subduing the force, of the people. The same malignant aspect in republicanism may be traced in the inequality of fortunes, and the opportunities of fraud, growing out of a state of war, and in the degeneracy of manners and of morals, engendered by both. No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare.”

Washington on standing armies:

After discussing embroilments that plague less unified countries…“Hence likewise they will avoid the necessity of those overgrown military establishments which, under any form of government, are inauspicious to liberty, and which are to be regarded as particularly hostile to republican liberty.”

Washington on factionalism and despotism:

“The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries which result gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation on the ruins of public liberty.”

Jefferson on power and the nature of government:

“The natural progress of things is for liberty to y[i]eld, and government to gain ground.”

Madison on power and the nature of government:

“The essence of Government is power; and power lodged as it must be, in human hands, will ever be liable to abuse.”

Bonus! A Madison quote on the tyranny of the majority:

“In Republics, the great danger is that the majority may not sufficiently respect the rights of the Minority.”