Myth or Fact? The Great Depression

The Great Depression began in 1929. The stock market crashed. People freaked out and rushing to banks to get their money out. The money wasn’t there because it had disappeared along with the stock market crash. The government’s intervention didn’t help at all. The banks loaned too much money. The free market before hand was doing good it would be beneficial and then a downfall and switch between the two naturally. Government’s involvement helped lead to a great downfall. Hoover was president in March 1929 and “during [Roosevelt’s] campaign Hoover for spending and taxing too much, boosting the national debt, choking off trade, and putting millions on the dole.  He accused the president of ‘reckless and extravagant’ spending, of thinking ‘that we ought to center control of everything in Washington as rapidly as possible,’ and of presiding over ‘the greatest spending administration in peacetime in all of history’” (Lawrence Reed, The Great Myths of the Great Depression). After Roosevelt’s election he didn’t do any better. In the first months he had sixteen acts made and passed by congress, in order to get out of the great depression; such as the National Industrial Recovery Act, the Emergency Banking Relief Act, and National Employment Act.  President Roosevelt broke his promise. He created the New Deal that controlled a huge part of the economy. Unemployment increased along with inflation. The government’s interference and creation of many regulations caused a greater downfall. The economy ended up in a lot worse shape then it could have been.

Charter City

            If I were to have my own city, I would create a united government that would make sure our rights are protected. We would have things that would allow us to work together and be united. We would have a free market economy that is guided through the work of the invisible hand.

            The rule of law would play a huge part, by making sure that the people individually along with the government are not greater than anyone else or the constitution. The rule of law includes prosperity, generality, publicity, consent, and due process. According to Mullene, the rule of law only works like the Tinkerbelle effect, which is the idea that the moment we stop believing in it, then it no longer exists. We must not only believe it, but also follow it.

             

            We would have a free market economy. In our society, like in every other one, we would face scarcity. This scarcity would allow us to make trade-offs, which would lead us or help us to make choices that benefit us. Our self-interest would lead to the benefit of our entire society as a whole. We can look at opportunity cost that comes from scarcity. Our self-interest would allow our society to grow and move forward.  Through free trade our economy can prosper and trade and produce what we need and is our best self-interest. Trade is key in helping us grow as a society. Paul Romer says that China used to be a dominating country, but never traded their technology and suffered because of it. So if we trade and expand our resources, then we will grow and become stronger.  We must not be greedy, because if prices are too high; then no one will buy. If prices are too low; then buyers can’t afford to produce and sell which causes scarcity. The supply and demand curves would help us get equilibrium and suppliers and consumers would both benefit, along with our society as a whole. In the greed video we learned that most people do the things necessary for themselves, but in the end they also help others in an overall view.

Happiness will be essential in our city.   Today a lot of people do not have true happiness. They are too serious. In my city, I want to have a blue road and more exciting speed limit signs. Some examples would be having signs that say thirty-five point four instead of thirty-five. There would be more natural scenery, such as trees and flowers. Yes, this would be nice, but in a more serious sense, we would have more people of a Christian calling. Not everyone has to be a Christian to fulfill the Christian calling. People would be more loving toward their neighbors, serve each other, and be the best they can be, for not only for themselves, but also for others. These things can better help any society.  Thomas Jefferson said that the sum of good government shall leave citizens “free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of the labor the bread it has earned.” This is important because if we all as individuals try to better ourselves, than we will also in effect create a better society.

This society will be strong and great. We can grow through these different aspects of free market and trade, rule of law, property rights, life, liberty, and happiness. Our society can grow and become great if we work hard to protect our rights and better ourselves. Government will have an important role by making sure our needs are met and we are protected. We can through this be a strong city and be an influence to others.

Federalists 51

             Madison had a difficulty in mean ruling over men because "If men were angels, no government would be necessary"(Federalists 51). The problem is men aren't angels and we are only human; which means there will be mistakes. The difficulty in  men ruling over men is first, that the government needs control of the governed and second the government needs control over itself. 

           The government has progressed over time and "A dependence on the people is, no doubt, the primary control on government; but experience has taught banking the necessity of auxiliary precautions"(Federalists 51). As the people we make sure that the government is in control because we are the ones voting for our representatives and giving them the power. We the people are therefore insured of our rights and give the power to the government. The government can only have as much power as we give them. There are many auxiliary precautions; such as: division of power, the Constitution, Bill of Rights, federal structure,  and the separation of power. The separation of power creates a check and balance because there is distinct authority in each branch. They all check each other and can stay controlled because when in conflict of interest there can be a revote, a overruling/overriding, and approving of such laws being created and set forth. For example; if the legislative branch passes a law and the President vetos it then they can revote and override the veto if there is a two-thirds majority vote. The power is equalized throughout the three branches. Not only is government separated into three branches nationally, but also in states and this division in power adds security. The legislative branch in the National government it was separated into two houses to add an extra check because of the amount of power held in this branch. With all theses different branches and many people within it, it is harder for corruption to come about in a multitude than it would be in one man. The written constitution is an auxiliary precaution because it sets forth laws to make sure our rights are protected and prohibits government from infringing upon certain rights; thus limiting the governmental power. This written document along with the Bill of rights directly and clearly state what the only things government can do and the things the are prohibited from doing. The debate between a "living" Constitution and an established constitution is its own precaution. The federalist papers help to understand and determine the word choice and interpretation of the Constitution. We are just human and for that reason alone we need auxiliary precautions to protect our rights. These auxiliary precautions make sure that the government controls itself and the governed. They are also a way to make sure there is equality in power and that is through the people.       

Inspiration of the Constitution

     The main principles in the constitution were all inspired. The fact that the power is not in man's hand was a thought that came to them. The Bill of Rights was a document that needed to be written. The founding fathers were opened up by the spirit to be able to come to an agreement in order to agree upon the Bill of Rights. They also better organized the government through different branches of government. They divided  the powers of states and national government in order to allow a stronger government. The fact of government and religion are separate was huge in laying down the foundations of our religion. The organization was needed for the restoration of the gospel according to Dallin H. Oak's talk. In D&C 101 verses 76-80. "I suffered to be established...Just and holy principles...the wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose." He made sure there would be knowledgable men who could help build up these ideas through the Spirit of God. In D&C 9 it talks about studying it out in your mind then ask me in your mind. These men studied and diligently thought about it. They were then able to retrieve  inspiration.

       The Founding Fathers were great men who were put on the earth at this time and in that place to set forth a government that could withstand rule from other governments. They studied a lot before and had to do their homework before hand. Many of them studied not only for hours, but days and even weeks. They studied other countries political views a long with  many previous philosophers. They were striving to discover the best possible government they could create. They studied and pondered the governments of old and modern and each of the benefits and downfalls. They were struggling to find a way to get out of British's power. They were being  unfairly treated and wanted it too end. There was no way that their current government was strong enough to defend against the British. They all brought their ideas with them to the meetings. They had to counsel together to  come up and build off each others ideas. They had to open themselves up for inspiration and revelation to God. Through his help they were able to come up with the Bill of Rights and laws that would make the nation stronger. 

Justification

    Samuel Adams and our other founding fathers were justified with their actions towards Great Britain because the colonists were taxed with out representation, the king was not following the Rule of Law, their natural rights and Englishmen rights were violated, and Britain was not following the English constitution. The colonies were being taxed without representation. 

      The British government was putting themselves far above the law and not going by the Rule of Law.  The colonies were being forced and therefore their liberty was also being violated. They had no say in what they were giving up their money to. Through the Sugar Act, Townshend Act, and Stamp Act the colonies believed that their rights as Englishmen were being violated.  They had no say what so ever in the decisions parliament made. There were new taxes being created specifically for the colonies alone. As a defense to their natural rights and rights as Englishmen they acted justifiably in their actions because their lives were being threatened.  Britain had put into place a Quartering Act and colonies were forced to house British soldiers. Not only did they have to give up housing, but they also were forced to give up food in order to feed the soldiers. They were giving up food that would be feeding them; therefore, their lives were at risk for those who didn’t have a lot of food.  The Boston Massacre was a huge violation of their rights. They were being punished and many lives were taken. In Boston there was also a port bill that refused to let ships leave the port. This effected trade that they needed in order to survive and create good living standards. The Coercive Act, the Justice Act, and Administrations were all more ways that Britain was violating their natural, God given rights. The Justice act was a major one that was literally causing and threating the colonies lives. All these Acts were a way in which the colonies had no will.

     The colonies tried to voice their independence and rights in a rational way. They started petitions and boycotts. They were continuously ignored and they had to take action in order to secure their rights. Their voices were not being heard and they had to follow the British rule even though they weren’t given the rights of all Englishmen. An improper government was governing them. They were given no authority, voice and were not given the same rights that Englishmen had.  When the colonies tried to be rational through petitions it didn’t work because they were simply ignored. Another natural right that was not considered was the right of property. In the Quartering Act they were forced to house soldiers and in doing so they were giving up their property not out of free will. The Rule of Law played a part in the justifications of the colonies actions against Britain. Britain was violating precedent. They didn’t adhere to the precedent of the colonies making the government above the law. The Sugar Act was a great example of this. The British would appoint people to higher positions in all places of government. The royal appointments would then have to follow the British ways because that’s who was paying them. This made so that the colonies had no say what so ever in the government. King George the III wanted more power unlike his father and grandfather had. He felt it was his right to make these decisions. He wanted to be strong and have a lot of power. He made sure he would get people to make sure it was his word that they followed. The colonies power and rights were being taken right from under their hands. All the colonies rights, which they had according to the English Constitution, were not being given or secured by the British government. If they had not acted the Britain would be in complete control and with that we would have nothing. Our rights would not exist. Without those rights we lose our agencies, our lives, and our property. We would never have the “pursuit to happiness”.  We needed to make that step in declaring our independence from Britain in order to protect those rights.

     The colonists tried to do what they could in all reasonable matters, but it wasn’t going to work. This farther proved that as time went on they were losing more independence to govern themselves. Through the loss of independence not only were they losing that they would lose all say in what would happen? Our founding fathers are the reason we live in a country like this today. We are able to have our free will; our lives are protected along with our property. They had to start taking more action because with out it we wouldn’t have a country like this. They had to start a war in order to fight for that which was naturally ours. They were completely justified because they fought in defense.