Dear Editor,

Federal government has incrementally and systematically betrayed thinking of the Founders.  It’s interesting to consider what Founders would think of Federal government today.  Fortunately, we can read their writings/quotations to see their wisdom.  Following are only a few examples as letters to the editor are limited to 400 words.

Multi-term Congress – Samuel Adams, father of the American Revolution: “If ever a time should come, when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in Government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin.”

America’s perpetual wars – Founders intended foreign policy to be: “Observe good faith and justice towards all Nations. Cultivate peace and harmony with all.” George Washington. “It is a principle incorporated into settled policy of America, that as peace is better than war, war is better than tribute.” James Madison, letter to the Dey of Algiers.  “Peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none.” Thomas Jefferson first Inaugural Address.

The Constitution – Democrats always find originalist judicial philosophy troubling. “ James Wilson, a signatory to the Declaration of Independence and one of the original Supreme Court Justices appointed by George Washington, said about interpretation of the Constitution: “The first and governing maxim in the interpretation of a statute is to discover the meaning of those who made it.”

Misinformation – (Fake news): Jefferson wrote: “Nothing can now be believed which is seen in a newspaper. Truth itself becomes suspicious by being put into that polluted vehicle. The real extent of this state of misinformation is known only to those who are in situations to confront facts within their knowledge with the lies of the day.”

Paper money – Inflation is rampant due to the deluge of new dollars into the economy by all recent presidential administrations.  George Washington’s letter to Jabez Bowen of Rhode Island January 9, 1787: “In the pursuit of the means we should unfortunately stumble again on unfunded paper money or any similar species of fraud, we shall assuredly give a fatal stab to our national credit in its infancy. Paper money will invariably operate in the body of politics as spirit liquors on the human body. They prey on the vitals and ultimately destroy them.  Paper money has had the effect in your state that it will ever have, to ruin commerce, oppress the honest, and open the door to every species of fraud and injustice.”

Paul E. Puebla,

Torrington