This is an interesting and thoughtful article that's well worth reading. It has Common Sense thinking about the issues we face today and into the future.
Conservatives have made much of adhering to the founding principles of the United States. While these principles have served the US well they are not entirely fixed. Indeed, national constitutions are by their nature living documents that must evolve to meet changing conditions in the governed society and the world as a whole. That this is true is abundantly clear when one considers the history of nations.
Consider that when the US was created society and the world were much different places. Gigantic organized capital didn't exist in the way it does today. Neither did multinational corporations, or enormous financial institutions. There were far fewer people to govern. International trade was far different. Communications and travel far more difficult. Warfare not nearly as massively destructive. These and other changes in society and the world have, of necessity, lead to changes in the role Government should play in a just society.
Common Sense believes that the only justification for government is to provide for the welfare of the governed society. It's worth remembering the preamble to the US Constitution
This perspective has real implications in current debates about the role of government. It provides a guiding principle that cuts through ideological purity to focus government action clearly on the needs of the governed. It rejects the notions of a "nanny government" while recognizing that safe food, safe drugs, clean water, healthy air, and many other government programs in fact clearly address the general welfare. Likewise, it rejects the notions of "minimalist government" and recognizes that it is a proper role of government to protect the govern from the abuses of powerful forces and events well beyond the capacity of an individual to confront.
Common Sense believes that the only justification for government is to provide for the welfare of the governed society. It's worth remembering the preamble to the US Constitution
We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.Those that call for adhering to founding principles should keep the preamble foremost in mind. They should note that the basic motivation for the US government is clearly rooted in the welfare of the governed as a society.
This perspective has real implications in current debates about the role of government. It provides a guiding principle that cuts through ideological purity to focus government action clearly on the needs of the governed. It rejects the notions of a "nanny government" while recognizing that safe food, safe drugs, clean water, healthy air, and many other government programs in fact clearly address the general welfare. Likewise, it rejects the notions of "minimalist government" and recognizes that it is a proper role of government to protect the govern from the abuses of powerful forces and events well beyond the capacity of an individual to confront.
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