Hamilton

"Hamilton wanted his measures to establish confidence in the new U.S. government at home and abroad. His proposal stipulated that Congress would have to fund the entire debt at par, which meant that the federal government would pay back all borrowed money with interest. Hamilton believed that funding the debt at par would send a signal that the United States was a responsible new member of the international community and a safe environment for speculators to invest their money. He also believed that a sizeable national debt would prevent states from drifting from the central government and thus bind them together.
However, Hamilton’s ideas seemed ludicrous to many. Secretary of State Jefferson, for instance, believed that a large national debt would be a “national curse” that would depress poor farmers and ruin the economy. "

Hamilton believed that the future of the United States depended on industry/ manufacturing. How ironic, now that industry/ manufacturing is being outsourced. He believed in using tariffs to create incentive to buy local, yet now most Americans buy foreign manufactured products way more than we buy local. Also it seems that Hamilton was willing to sacrifice the lower classes in order to build up the upper classes - by taxing the poor more and letting investors run financial schemes..> This is happening in the extreme today where the majority is suffering and the minority is filthy rich... resulting in high rates of unemployment and poverty. As I type now there is a massive protest 29 days old taking place in down town N.Y.? It seems we've come full circle. Hamilton wanted to pay off the nations debts and proposed many ways of doing so including levying new taxes on whiskey and tobacco. Presently our National debt is more that 14 trillion and increasing daily. What are we doing to reduce out debt? far less paying our debts. It’s astounding how much of our debt is owned by foreign governments.

Reflection paper / Early Radicals

Sam Adams
      “Among the natural rights of the colonists are these: first, a right to life; second, to liberty; third, to property; together with the right to support and defend them in the best manner they can.” He went on to say that all men had a right to remain in a state of nature as long as they pleased. But, in the event of intolerable oppression, from either civil or religious authorities or a mix of the two, they had the right to leave that society and seek out and join another.
       Sam Adams was an American statesman, political philosopher, and one of the Founding fathers of the United States.  He was proud of his Puritan heritage, and emphasized Puritan values, especially virtue in his political career.   Adams highlighted what he perceived to be the dangers of taxation without representation.    

Reflection Paper / Roger Williams

     "But from this grant I infer (as before hath been touched) that the sovereign, original, and foundation of civil power lies in the people (whom they must needs mean by the civil power distinct from the government set up). And, if so, that a people may erect and establish what form of government seems to them most meet for their civil condition; it is evident that such governments as are by them erected and established have no more power, nor for no longer time, than the civil power or people consenting and agreeing shall betrust them with. This is clear not only in reason but in the experience of all commonweals, where the people are not deprived of their natural freedom by the power of tyrants."

     Roger Williams, founder of the colony of Rhode Island in America and pioneer of religious liberty, was known for his peacemaking between the neighboring colonists and the Indians. In religion Williams ws saying that everyman had the right to his own conscience guided by his inner faith. However, in secular matters he must submit to the will of the majority, determined through institutions shorn of any religious content.   He obtained a charter from the king that made the principle of religious freedom explict.   It read, "No person within the said colony at anytime hereafter shall be in any wise molested, punished, disquieted or called in question for any difference in opinion in matters of religion and who do not actually disturb the civil peace of our said colony; but that all...may from time to time and at all times thereafter freely and fully have and enjoy his and their own judgements and consciences in matters of religious concernments."

     Williams believed that in order for civil society to exist there had to be absolute separation between church and state.   This refers to the distance in the relationship between organized religion and the nation state.  Today there is still much debate in regards to this discussion.  I believe Williams makes a great case in showing why church and state should be separated. 

Reflection paper/The Puritans- John Winthrop

     "For the other point concerning liberty, I observe a great mistake in the country about that. There is a twofold liberty, natural (I mean as our nature is now corrupt) and civil or federal. The first is common to man with beasts and other creatures. By this, man, as he stands in relation to man simply, hath liberty to do what he lists; it is a liberty to evil as well as to good. This liberty is incompatible and inconsistent with authority and cannot endure the least restraint of the most just authority. The exercise and maintaining of this liberty makes men grow more evil and in time to be worse than brute beasts: omnes sumus licentia deteriores. This is that great enemy of truth and peace, that wild beast, which all of the ordinances of God are bent against, to restrain and subdue it. The other kind of liberty I call civil or federal; it may also be termed moral, in reference to the covenant between God and man, in the moral law, and the politic covenants and constitutions amongst men themselves. This liberty is the proper end and object of authority and cannot subsist without it; and it is a liberty to that only which is good, just, and honest. This liberty you are to stand for, with the hazard (not only of your goods, but) of your lives, if need be..."

     Within Winthrop's famous "little speech", he outlines and defends much of his thought and views on naural liberty and civil liberty.  Natural lioberty he says is common to man with beasts as each has the liberty to do as he chooses, weather for good or for evil; just do whatever without considering the consequences.  Moral or civic liberty, however, exists between man and god. Winthrop states that, "This liberty is the proper end and object of authority and cannot subsist without it; and it is a liberty to that only which is good, just and honest." He compares this kind of liberty as wherewith Christ hath made us free. His view is that people should regard this type of liberty as the freedom to obey the authorities that have been instutited by god to govern according to his moral law. For him liberty meant submission to the governing authority.
     I can certainly see Winthrop's view on liberty being twofold. His insistance that moral liberty is necessary to keep order was very insightful.  Even today, left to his own devices man is capable of committing untinkable atrocities.  Without civil, moral, federal authority i believe man would be self destructive and society would run amock.