#checksandbalances — Public Fediverse posts

A quotation from Hannah Arendt

The [American] Founding Fathers never believed that tyranny could arise out of the executive office, because they did not see this office in any different light but as the execution of what the legislation has decreed in various forms. I leave it at that. We know today that the greatest danger of tyranny is, of course, the executive.

Hannah Arendt (1906–1975) German-American philosopher, political theorist
Interview (1973-10) with Roger Errera, Office de Radiodiffusion-Télévision Française (ORTF)

More about (and translations of) this quote: wist.info/arendt-hannah/76120/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #hannaharendt #America #Constitution #executive #founders #legislature #president #tyranny #separationofpowers #checksandbalances

Just wanted to say, former #FedChairman #JeromePowell is a hero, and I don't think people appreciate his heroism enough.

The job of the #FederalReserve is to prevent bank-runs, #debt crises, and #inflation, by manipulating the money supply, and it's set up the way it is to ensure it's run by calm hands and not panicky #investors and #politicians with ulterior motives. People genuinely do not realize how much it protects us.

Jerome #Powell protected us from #Trump, under threat of violence and the reality legal attacks that are still attempting to put him in prison. #Trump demanded for years that he lower interest rates so he could have a quarter with more spending, which would've sent the #US #economy into long term #HyperInflation, making food and housing way more unaffordable than they are now, and had global ramifications that would last decades.

He protected us from that.

No matter what other disagreements we have with him, we can say for a fact that Jerome Powell did his duty, for the #American people, under threat. And for that, he will always be a hero.

#USpol #heroism #ChecksAndBalances

A quotation from John Adams

Our Passions, Ambition, Avarice, Love, Resentment &c possess so much metaphysical Subtilty and so much overpowering Eloquence, that they insinuate themselves into the Understanding and the Conscience and convert both to their Party. And I may be deceived as much as any of them, when I Say, that Power must never be trusted without a Check.

John Adams (1735–1826) American lawyer, Founding Father, statesman, US President (1797–1801)
Letter (1816-02-02) to Thomas Jefferson

More about this quote: wist.info/adams-john/34664/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #johnadams #checksandbalances #conscience #emotion #intellect #power #regulation #restraint #selfdeception #selfdelusion #trust #abuseofpower #powercorrupts #bestintentions #selftrust #selfawareness

If you’ve read Machiavelli, especially “Discourses on Livy”, which is actually his major work (“The Prince” is not) you know his emphasis on Virtu of the people and elites as what holds Republics together. Machiavelli thought that Republics were the best form of government and that the greatest feat was to create or maintain a Republic: he was not a fan of autocratic government.

To summarize […]

A quotation from Washington

It is important, likewise, that the habits of thinking in a free country should inspire caution in those intrusted with its administration to confine themselves within their respective constitutional spheres, avoiding in the exercise of the powers of one department to encroach upon another. The spirit of encroachment tends to consolidate the powers of all the departments in one, and thus to create, whatever the form of government, a real despotism. A just estimate of that love of power and proneness to abuse it which predominates in the human heart is sufficient to satisfy us of the truth of this position.

George Washington (1732-1799) American military leader, Founding Father, US President (1789-1797)
Essay (1796-09-18), “Farewell Address,” Claypoole’s American Daily Advertiser, Philadelphia

Sourcing, notes: wist.info/washington-george/54…

#quote #quotes #quotation #ChecksAndBalances #Constitution #despotism #dictatorship #government #power #powercorrupts #separationofpowers #tyranny