James Madison – still relevant

James Madison was the fourth President of the United States, a co-author of the Federalist Papers and the principle author of the U.S. Constitution as well as the subsequent Bill of Rights. He was strongly committed to republicanism (lower case, mind you) in the United States and felt the new nation should fight aristocracy and the corruption of power.

Here are a few quotes from James Madison via Andrew Sullivan:

“If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy.”

“It is a universal truth that the loss of liberty at home is to be charged to the provisions against danger, real or pretended, from abroad.”

“No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare.”

“The executive has no right, in any case, to decide the question, whether there is or is not cause for declaring war.”

“War should only be declared by the authority of the people, whose toils and treasures are to support its burdens, instead of the government which is to reap its fruits.”

“Each generation should be made to bear the burden of its own wars, instead of carrying them on, at the expense of other generations.”

Is anyone listening?