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Lysander Spooner

Quote:  “But whether the Constitution really be one thing, or another, this much is certain – that it has either authorized such a government as we have had, or has been powerless to prevent it.” – Lysander Spooner

Submitted by bsfootprint on Fri, 08/19/2011 - 09:23
bsfootprint's picture

Lysander Spooner, in No Treason No. VI - The Constitution of No Authority in 1870, points out the obvious problem posed by our Constitution as a limit on government power.

The federal national government has grown much larger and stronger since 1870. If the Constitution limits government power, then how did it get to be so big and powerful? If purely by usurpation, then how and why did that happen? If due to flaws in the design, what were they, and how did they occur? If by lack of virtue on the part of the citizenry, how and why did that happen? If you were starting from scratch, how would you prevent these problems?

More on this subject: THE CONSTITUTION OR LIBERTY

Quote: 

But whether the Constitution really be one thing, or another, this much is certain – that it has either authorized such a government as we have had, or has been powerless to prevent it.

Who Said It?: 
Lysander Spooner
Quote Source Links: 
http://praxeology.net/LS-NT-6.htm#no.6
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