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While there are hundreds of political parties and even more political initiatives seeking support, when all of the hoopla is striped away, there are only two political philosophies. One philosophy embraces the notion that government is omnipotent, and grants rights to individual citizens.
This philosophy is demonstrated by the United Nations’ Declaration of Human Rights and more pointedly in the U.N.
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Article 19, for example, guarantees everyone has the right of free expression, but then goes on to say that “The exercise of these rights … carries with it special duties and responsibilities. It may therefore be subject to certain restrictions”
The other philosophy is demonstrated by the founding documents of the United States: the Declaration of Independence; the Constitution; and the Bill of Rights. This philosophy recognizes that individuals are the omnipotent power, that government is the creation of individuals, and is empowered by, and subject to the wishes of the individuals who created it. America’s founders realized that not all individuals could possibly know about, nor exercise a vote on every issue that needed a decision. These founders also believed that individuals choosing a representative from their midst, would choose wisely and send a person to legislate in their behalf who would truly represent their interest.
This new nation, however, was not a single nation, it was a confederation of thirteen states, each inhabited by a different number of individuals. The most contentious issue confronting the founders was how to achieve fair and equitable representation among the various states, and among the individuals within those states. Connecticut delegate, Roger Sherman, came up with the “Grand Compromise”: the lower chamber, the House of Representatives, would consist of representatives based on population, while the upper chamber, the Senate, would represent the states, and would consist of two representatives chosen by the state legislatures.
This arrangement provided the balance needed to protect the interest of the states, while providing equal representation for the individuals. The tension created by the competition among the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the Executive offered the best system of checks and balances the founders could create.
Had this system been in place when Obamacare was presented, the bill would likely have failed. The bill passed the House with only a
