Bully for prohibitionists

Written by Kurt St. Angelo


Continued from page 1

Likewise, inrepparttar privacy of voting booths, some people ask government to do things that they would never – on moral or criminal grounds – do themselves. As well, most politicians call for government to do things that it has no authority to do. For example, if we as individuals have no right to use force to make others quit smoking, then we cannot delegate this lack of authority to our agents in government. The sum total of zero authority is zero.

If government derives its just powers fromrepparttar 113460 governed, then there is no place in a just society forrepparttar 113461 prohibition of individual vice, except in public areas that our governments constitutionally may regulate. (There is some dispute whether a city such as Bloomington, Indiana may regulate smoking in commercial areas.)

Outside these prescribed areas, there is no moral, practical or constitutional authority for citizens to use government force against others’ honest nonviolent behavior, such as smoking. Bullying is notrepparttar 113462 solution to vice. We cannot coerce virtue into others when coercion is not virtuous. The best approach is to treat all vice as we do alcohol and tobacco cigarettes.

Unlikerepparttar 113463 Republican Party that he inspired, Abraham Lincoln understood thatrepparttar 113464 prohibition of vice is rule byrepparttar 113465 brute force of bullies with no moral authority. He said: “Prohibition will work great injury torepparttar 113466 cause of temperance. It is a species of intemperance within itself, for it goes beyondrepparttar 113467 bounds of reason in that it attempts to control a man's appetite by legislation, and makes a crime out of things that are not crimes. A Prohibition law strikes a blow atrepparttar 113468 very principles upon which our government was founded."

Dr. Phil saidrepparttar 113469 best way to enfeeble bullies is to not stand with them.

Kurt is a hopeful screenwriter. He is a graduate of Pomona College in Claremont, Californina and of Indiana University School of Law - Indianapolis.


Reflecting Independence

Written by Terry Dashner


Continued from page 1

On June 7, Richard Henry Lee of Virginia resolved before Congress that “These United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States.” A committee consisting of Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Robert Livingston and Roger Sherman was formed to draft a formal declaration of independence. The draft, almost wholly Jefferson’s work, passed on July 2, with 12 colonies voting in favor and New York temporarily abstaining. The ensuing debate maderepparttar most significant changes in omittingrepparttar 113459 clauses condemningrepparttar 113460 British people as well as their government, and, in deference torepparttar 113461 Southern delegates, an article denouncingrepparttar 113462 slave trade.

In Europe, including Britain,repparttar 113463 Declaration was greeted as inaugurating a new age of freedom and self-government. As a manifesto for revolution it yielded torepparttar 113464 French Declaration ofrepparttar 113465 Rights of Man andrepparttar 113466 Citizen, although its importance increased inrepparttar 113467 United States. Afterrepparttar 113468 federal union was organized in 1789, it came to be considered as a statement of basic political principles, not just of independence. Andrepparttar 113469 rest is American history.

The Declaration of Independence is on display forrepparttar 113470 public inrepparttar 113471 National Archives Building in Washington, D.C. Stop by sometime and view it. It is a remarkable document. Pastor T.



Writes articles for a devotional list. Fields of interest include American history and the faith of its founding fathers. Blessed!


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