Liberty Institute

The Virginia Declaration of Rights by George Mason

(Audio) Mandeville, LA - I have often told the story that while writing the Declaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson was inspired by founder George Mason. There is no clearer example of this than Jefferson's heavy use of Mason's phrase from the VA Declaration concerning the pursuit of happiness. this should clear it up and hopefully help the reader fully understand that had Jefferson been as verbose as Mason, the "all men are created equal" phrase from the Declaration would have […]

December 21, 2010 13

Founders Corner

Jefferson to Madison: Just say no on post roads

Mandeville, LA - It often comes to my attention that most folks think it entirely proper that the Federal Government should design, confiscate the property, then build and maintain millions of miles of Interstate roads and bridges. Many time people use the argument that "well the Constitution does give Congress authority to build post roads." Actually the Constitution gives Congress the authority to"establish" post roads NOT build them. No one explains this better than Thomas Jefferson and here is one […]

December 15, 2010 14

Liberty

Brave Horatius at the bridge

I am often asked the question: Mike, if you're so sure there is no hope for the Constitution and the Union why don't YOU just give up!?" And the answer is "just because the fight seems unwinnable that doesn't mean that it is worth fighting. That's where the "Brave Horatius at the bridge" poem comes in because Horatius faces the same situation and the same question, yet he soldiers on. Share this poem with your children, friends and family, it […]

November 19, 2010 17

The Constitution

The Virginia Resolutions of 1798

Virginia Resolution of 1798 RESOLVED, That the General Assembly of Virginia, doth unequivocably express a firm resolution to maintain and defend the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of this State, against every aggression either foreign or domestic, and that they will support the government of the United States in all measures warranted by the former. That this assembly most solemnly declares a warm attachment to the Union of the States, to maintain which it pledges all its […]

November 9, 2010 13

The Constitution

Framers Debate Rules For Naturalization

From Mike Church - This is the debate held in committee of the whole on the qualifications for holding office in the new federal government. The Framers took great care to discuss the influence that foreigners could weild if they were not careful. I originally came to this debate because it helps flesh out the reasons why the Framers included the enumerated power “To establish a uniform rule for naturalization” which upon review of this material clearly shows their purpose was […]

July 9, 2010 10

Founders Corner

Thomson Mason – The Revolutionary Founder You Never heard Of

On today's show I introduced you to Thomson Mason, George Mason's brother. Thomson was heavily involved in the writing of Revolutionary War tracts asserting the rights of the Colonists living in their sovereign "states". Mason is the author of the letter I read on today's show which read in part. "It is objected that this measure strikes at the Navigation Acts, which we have long submitted to. The very objection evinces the folly of trusting the decision of this dispute to […]

June 11, 2010 14

The Constitution

John Adams-Thoughts on Government

Adams wrote this letter to Declaration of Independence signer William Hooper of North Carolina. He also transcribed this out by hand to William Penn and R.H. Lee of Virginia. Lee would circulate the contents and ideas among his peers in Virginia. These ideas helped form the foundation for Virginia’s first Constitution which was written and signed into law in June of 1776- weeks before the rest of the colonies would join the Virginians in declaring Independence. - Mike Church "Thoughts […]

May 6, 2010 19

Liberty

Learn Austrian Economics at iTunes

I discovered Austrian Economics through my reading of Freidrich von Hayek. At the time I read Hayek (twice!) there wasn't an "Austrian" I could recite by name, now thanks to the Von Mises institute and mises.org I can recite a lot of names and also a lot of Austrian theory. Free markets are the greatest methods of exchange in civil societies and have brought more prosperity to the world in just a few centuries than all the divine rights of […]

April 21, 2010 13

Liberty

Jefferson’s Declaration for Taking Arms

Listen to this excerpt of Jefferson's Declaration being read and discussed on the Mike Church Show, 16 March, 2010 Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking up Arms In Congress, 6 July 1775 This declaration was read in part and discussed on the Mike Church Show, 16 March, 2010 in response from Congress' threat to "deem" the Health Care Choices Act of 2009 as "The law of the land". A declaration by the representatives of the united colonies of […]

March 16, 2010 9