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I'm sure that you will agree that the class conscious English are hardly a
manifestation of Locke's principles. You may be unaware that one thing
fomenting the American Revolution was an attempt by the British crown to
introduce titles into the colonies. Our fore fathers took Locke to heart and
were concerned that America would end up reflecting the class values present
at that time in England. To forestall that, they revolted. The genius of the
colonists was in the belief and application of the principles of freedom and
equality.
The English have a glorious history and culture of which you may be justly
proud. However, when, as Winston Churchill did in his "History of the
English Speaking People," you take credit for America's culture and
accomplishments, you perhaps go too far.
JFB
Shaven Heads Trading
NYC
> -----Original Message-----
> From: iain [mailto:iain@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
> Sent: Wednesday, November 22, 2000 1:49 PM
> To: Bill Wynne
> Cc: omega-list@xxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: Re: [off topic] I'm a millionaire!!!!
>
>
> Actually, the Glorious Revolution, which dispatched the
> absolutist James II,
> occurred in 1688 and from that date onwards power passed to the direct
> representatives of the common people in Parliament (The House of Commons)
> and was enshrined in the Bill of Rights 1689.
>
> From that date onwards the Monarch has effectively been an employee of the
> people, having no authority whatsoever to go against the rule of the
> majority in Parliament.
>
> On closer examination of the facts you may also note the
> similarity between
> the writings of the English philosopher John Locke (1632-1704)
> and your own
> Constitution.
>
> I quote from "Of the beginning of Political Societies" which I think was
> written around 1690 :
>
> "Men being as has been said by nature all free, equal and independent, no
> man can be put out of this estate and subjected to the political power of
> another without his own consent" [which can only be given by] "agreeing to
> join and unite into a community for their safe and peaceable living one
> amongst another in a secure enjoyment of their properties and a greater
> security against those that are not of it"
>
> Something like government of the people for the people by the people
>
> So we beat you to it mate !
>
> Iain
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