The Wisdom of George Washington and James Madison
5 October 2007
The Editor, New York Times
229 West 43rd St.
New York, NY 10036
To the Editor:
David Brooks writes that "Neoconservatives...built a creed around the words of Lincoln and the founders" ("The Republican Collapse," October 5). Lincoln, perhaps. But Mr. Brooks too hastily accuses America's founders of being proto-neocons. In his Farewell Address, George Washington advised that "The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nations is, in extending our commercial relations to have with them as little political connection as possible." Washington then asked rhetorically "Why quit our own to stand upon foreign ground? Why, by interweaving our destiny with that of any part of Europe, entangle our peace and prosperity in the toils of European ambition, rivalship, interest, humor, or caprice?" Thus did this founder counsel against foreign entanglements. And his advisor and father of the Constitution, James Madison, warned that "Of all the enemies to public liberty war is, perhaps, the most to be dreaded."
We can only despair that neocons embrace policies quite at odds with the founders' creed of neutrality and non-intervention.
Sincerely,
Donald J. Boudreaux
Chairman, Department of Economics
George Mason University
The Editor, New York Times
229 West 43rd St.
New York, NY 10036
To the Editor:
David Brooks writes that "Neoconservatives...built a creed around the words of Lincoln and the founders" ("The Republican Collapse," October 5). Lincoln, perhaps. But Mr. Brooks too hastily accuses America's founders of being proto-neocons. In his Farewell Address, George Washington advised that "The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nations is, in extending our commercial relations to have with them as little political connection as possible." Washington then asked rhetorically "Why quit our own to stand upon foreign ground? Why, by interweaving our destiny with that of any part of Europe, entangle our peace and prosperity in the toils of European ambition, rivalship, interest, humor, or caprice?" Thus did this founder counsel against foreign entanglements. And his advisor and father of the Constitution, James Madison, warned that "Of all the enemies to public liberty war is, perhaps, the most to be dreaded."
We can only despair that neocons embrace policies quite at odds with the founders' creed of neutrality and non-intervention.
Sincerely,
Donald J. Boudreaux
Chairman, Department of Economics
George Mason University
Posted by Don Boudreaux on
Monday March 31, 2008 at 1:33pm