Government, Like Fire, Is a Dangerous Servant and a Fearful Master…

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George Washington said, “Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master…” This quote underscores the danger of a government extending beyond its constitutional boundaries.

In this short video, we not only explore the principles relating to the protections afforded by the Constitution and our responsibility to keep the federal government within the confines of its limitations, but we answer a very important question to our understanding of constitutional authority: “Is it possible for one citizen to violate the constitutional rights of another?” The answer may surprise you…

To expand on Washington’s metaphor, if you view the government as fire, then the Constitution can be viewed as the fireplace, the structure that keeps the fire in it’s proper place.

Note of Appreciation: This is the last video in our Foundations of American Government series. Thanks for bearing with me on this lengthy study. Next week, I will resume some of our more traditional police and character-related posts…

1 thought on “Government, Like Fire, Is a Dangerous Servant and a Fearful Master…”

  1. Outstanding! This message must get out and be the focus of our most intimate attention. Tomorrow there is a national webcast at http://www.rediscovergodinamerica.com you may want to check out. Newt Gingrich, David Barton, Mike Huckabee, Pastor Larry Stockstill and others will be live per the schedule. There are signs of a third great awakening coming to our land…this is our only hope to restore our true civil, political and individual liberties the Founders envisioned. The old saying goes something like this…We, by nature, don’t really appreciate things until they are taken away. I think the TEA Party movement and the 9-12 Project and others speak of this. There seems to be a growing appreciation of the Founders and a desire to rediscover their amazing insights into the nature of man and the need for a relationship with God. Three short quotes come to mind: (1)Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other. -John Adams; (2)Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters.-Benjamin Franklin; (3)In questions of power, then, let no more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution.-Thomas Jefferson. All that having been said by “Founding Fathers”, whose personal safety was at risk, Our Founder best frames the issue. General George Washington actually faced the enemy musket fire, the harsh conditions of war, and heard the many agonies of his men. On May 2, 1778, having just endured the harsh winter at Valley Forge he issued this general order: The Commander in Chief directs that divine Service be performed every Sunday at 11 oClock in those Brigades to which there are Chaplains; those which have none to attend places of worship nearest them. It is expected that Officers of all Ranks will by their attendance set an Example to their men. While we are zealously performing the duties of good Citizens and soldiers we certainly ought not to to be inattentive to the higher duties of Religion. To the distinguished Character of Patriot, it should be our highest Glory to add the more distinguished Character of Christian.

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