"As the cool and deliberate sense of the community ought, in all governments, and actually will, in all free governments, ultimately prevail over the views of its rulers; so there are particular moments in public affairs when the people, stimulated by some irregular passion, or some illicit advantage, or misled by the artful misrepresentations of interested men, may call for measures which they themselves will afterwards be the most ready to lament and condemn. In these critical moments, how salutary will be the interference of some temperate and respectable body of citizens, in order to check the misguided career, and to suspend the blow meditated by the people against themselves, until reason, justice, and truth can regain their authority over the public mind"
James Madison - The Federalist Papers No. 63
http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/federal/fed63.htm
2007-09-22 11:37:04 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
It is a nice quote and I like it but we are not quite there yet. By and large the majority of those who were originally for Bush's decimating of our Constitution are still for it under the guise of keeping themselves safe from terrorism. Many of them don't understand the danger they are bringing upon this country. Many people do fortunately realize that but they are decried as being insane or un-patriotic. It will take time before by and large people realize what mistakes have been made.
2007-09-22 12:00:28 · answer #1 · answered by Stephanie is awesome!! 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Well... no, I see no respectable body of citizens anywhere, but plenty of irregular passion and advantage taking last 6 years. And a ubiquitous (look it up if you can read it, republicans) moron pointing out it was a reference to Brits. Right for the essence! It's all different then, lunatcs in politics are OK, as long as they're not Brits.
2016-05-21 01:37:16 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nice one.
But, where (or better yet, who) are these people?
'how salutary will be the interference of some temperate and respectable body of citizens, in order to check the misguided career,'
2007-09-22 11:48:29 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Hit the nail on the head! Madison and the other Framers were very wise men. I am always thankful for the Constitution they gave us--the greatest of their gifts to succeeding generations.
2007-09-22 11:55:35 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
well, i think most reasonable people want truth to govern the public mind
2007-09-23 03:46:59 · answer #5 · answered by Spartacus 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It describes what happened to the US after 911. Our subsequent invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq, and our regret afterward.
-And how nobody opposed it until it was too late.!
2007-09-22 15:35:32 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
yes,there was a time in our history decades ago,long before most of us were living that a man in office always thought with principal and worried how he would be remembered in history and then,he would start his day.that was a time when 'your word was as good as gold' and your 'word' meant everything.i am 60 now and i feel that i remember only two men of that stature.they were dwight d. eisenhower and harry s truman
2007-09-22 11:46:40 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 1⤋
I didn't realize that James Madison knew about Moveon.org!
2007-09-22 21:10:02 · answer #8 · answered by Joey's Back 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It looks like a lot of highfalutin hot air to me.
2007-09-22 11:59:49 · answer #9 · answered by regerugged 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Regarding the Columbia University invitation extended to the leader of a known terrorist sponsoring state?...yes.
2007-09-22 11:46:58 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 8⤊ 3⤋