This month I would like to talk about the role of government in our lives, but first a word about my new book Wilson Hill. The official release date is November 21, 2009 but copies are already available through this website or kateandbill@optonline.net or williamcwebster@gmail.com.  Send your name and address and indicate the amount of books desired and I will ship them as soon as possible, usually by the next day. Each copy costs $17.  You can send me a check when you have received your book/books. I trust you. Please make out the check to William C. Webster and mail it to this address:

William C Webster

!4 Cedar Lane

Matamoras, PA 18336

                                             November Newsletter

 What is the proper role of government in our lives?  The debate over this question has been perennial in the American dialog since the revolution against Parliament and George III.  Fully addressing that debate would require volumes rather than a single newsletter, but I will highlight a few examples.

 The Articles of Confederation, our first government, was created out of fear of tyranny.  Designed to be weak, it was essentially a legislative body dependent on the individual states to carry out executive and judicial responsibilities.  Recognizing this system to be ineffective, the founding fathers met in Philadelphia in the hot summer of 1787 to amend and strengthen the Articles.  Instead they disregarded their instructions and created an entirely new system; The United States Constitution.  Known as federalism, our form of government divides power among three branches, giving each branch a system of checks and balances to prevent any one from becoming tyrannical.  Additionally, the powers over many issues that impact the daily lives of average citizens were denied the national government by the tenth amendment, which I quote here in full:

 The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states, or to the people.

 With the new Constitution in place in 1789, our nation began its long march through history.  This march has seen the debate over the size and role of government surface continually.  It was the essence of Hamilton and Jefferson’s ongoing confrontations during George Washington’s administration.  It was an issue when the Louisiana Territory was purchased from France and when Andrew Jackson took on the National Bank.  Lincoln’s near dictatorial policies during the American Civil War, especially the suspension of habeas corpus, fueled the fires of debate over the growing power of government.

 Events of the twentieth century did nothing to decrease the relevance of this debate.  Read about the Sedition and Espionage Acts passed during WWI or the enormous growth of presidential power during FDR’s New Deal program and WWII.  The nation was literally torn apart during the 1960’s and 70’s over the fighting of an undeclared war in Vietnam.  Then, of course, came the Watergate episode in which Nixon and his advisors seemed to adopt the philosophy that any action taken by the president could not be considered illegal, even if it was.

 My list of events that have fueled the discourse on governmental power is brief and woefully incomplete, but as I stated earlier, a complete discussion would require books rather than a newsletter.  Still I hope that the point has been made as to the historic concern of the American people over the power of government and the role it should play in our lives.  That said, we are now nearly a decade into the twenty first century and, in my view, the discussion has never been more relevant.  George Bush’s eight years in office saw a dramatic expansion of governmental power and control.  The concept of “preemptive” wars was instituted whereby the policy of our nation was to attack first those countries that might pose future threats.  This policy, birthed by the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, also included passage of the Patriot Act, a law that is literally jaw dropping to thinking people who fear tyranny.  I urge you to google the Patriot Act and read its contents.  And now we have the administration of Barak Obama, who in less than a year has overseen passage of a 825 billion dollar stimulus package, bailed out banks and insurance companies, taken control of General Motors and is currently revamping the nation’s health care system.

 It is my view that the issue of government’s proper role in our lives has sparked ongoing debate throughout the nation’s history.  I further believe that it is an essential debate that needs to be vigorous, open and civil.  I find it discouraging that our inept media outlets are constantly duped into endlessly covering stories that distract from the discussion.  I am very tired of stories about the “birthers.” David Letterman’s private life should be in the tabloids not the evening news.  The Roman Polanski story is important to him, the victim and the California justice system, but endless national coverage is unnecessary.  Sometimes even legitimate national spokespeople are a distraction from the real debate.  Former President Jimmy Carter’s recent remarks, that to question health care reform is somehow racist, borders on the bizarre.

 I urge you to join the real debate on the proper role of government in our lives.  It is important to our future as a free society.