I sure know lots of people who fit the mold on this one. The democrats of 1840 were vastly better than their latter day counterparts and their republicrat buddies across the aisle. Maybe both wings of the Boot On Your Neck Party could adopt this as their platform. Ah, who am I kidding. None of them believe anything close to this.
via Nolan Chart
via Nolan Chart
More goodness at the source.During a recent bout of what I like to call hard-cord web-research (Ms. Bridget calls it by another, less printable term) I stumbled upon the Platform of the Democratic Party for the election of 1840, consisting of nine planks. Wondering if the Democratic Party had evolved much in the last 170 years, I began to read.
After almost every plank, three thoughts kept racing into my mind. First, Hey, I totally agree with that; and second, I wonder what President Obama and the democratic leadership would think about this, third, this stuff is too conservative for main-steam Republicans, much less Democrats! Apparently, a Constitutional-libertarian is the same as an 1840 Democrat. I have numbered and bolded each plank of their platform, and made what I think are some quite clever comments on each. Peruse the planks below and see where you stand.
1. Resolved, that the federal government is one of limited powers, derived solely from the constitution, and the grants of power shown therein, ought to be strictly construed by all the departments and agents of the government, and that it is inexpedient and dangerous to exercise doubtful constitutional powers.
First off, what does "Resolved." mean? Evidently, way back in 1840, they actually voted on the planks to be included in the party's platform, giving the people an actual say in what their party stood for. Secondly, no, I didn't make any of this up! Can you believe that last part? {it is inexpedient and dangerous to exercise doubtful constitutional powers} Wow! Haven't Democrats been saying that very thing lately? Third, I feel myself wanting to automatically agree with anyone speaking of the "limited powers" of the federal government. Fourth, the language is so superior and correct that my word processor's spell checker is feeling a bit deprived.
2. Resolved, that the constitution does not confer upon the general government the power to commence and carry on, a general system of improvements.
Bingo! Two for two. So these democrats are saying that we shouldn't try to stimulate the economy by funding road improvements not really needed, and putting up an expensive little sign proclaiming who and what had happened to the road? A Democrat would never spend taxed money on improvements to stimulate the economy or on a mandated health-care system; they would wisely recognize the economic folly of any such project, not to mention its unconstitutionality.