225 years ago today, September 19, 1796
PRESIDENT GEORGE WASHINGTON GAVE HIS FAMOUS FAREWELL ADDRESS, LEAVING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE A PARTING GIFT OF 20 PROPHETIC WARNINGS.
• Be vigilant, people will seek to use the government for selfish ends.
• Avoid overgrown military establishments; they are hostile to liberty.
• Prevent all obstructions to the execution of the laws.
• Control bureaucracies; make sure they all work together.
• Avoid political parties; they will cause divisive factions and unscrupulous men will use them to undermine the government.
• Give allegiance to the Constitution; improve it as necessary.
• Do not alter the Constitution lightly, or based on hypothesis; apply the experience applied when it was created.
• Be suspicious of administrators; they may serve themselves rather than the people.
• Watch for consolidation of power in any department of government.
• Preserve existing checks and balances and add more where power needs to be checked.
• Religion and morality are essential to create the virtue necessary to preserve the union.
• Promote widespread education; democracy requires literate citizens that understand the system of governance and take responsibility for themselves.
• Avoid debt; and immediately discharge any debt created by war.
• Taxes are unpleasant; government spending should be candidly conducted.
• Cultivate peace and justice toward all nations.
• Avoid alliances and maintain neutrality among nations.
• Avoid dependency; a weak state that allies with a stronger state will become its servant.
• Real patriots will resist intrigues, while dupes will surrender to interests.
• In trade, give no nation a favored nation status.
• Be guided by principles, not interests.
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