Carnival of Principled Government

Welcome to the 16th Carnival of Principled Government!

The following posts are written by various bloggers who share their perspective on the essential ideas of liberty. Please pour yourself a cup of tea and take a break from holiday preparations to read some of these thoughtful submissions.

Government

We use the word government a lot, but what does it mean? Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines government as direction, regulation, control, and restraint.

Government should restrain criminals from committing heinous acts. But can morality be legislated?

• Read April’s answer in the post That’s What I’ve Been Saying at Question the Culture.

Laws can be enforced as consistently as possible, but they will never remove the problem of evil. Freedom is not found in punishment and fear. So where does liberty originate?

• ThirstyJon says it begins with the individual. Find out more in his post Internal to External found at The Thirst for Freedom.
• The Philosophy of Liberty is discussed by Shaun Connell at his blog The Rebirth of Freedom Foundation.

Liberty

Liberty is foremost birthed in the heart. Individuals who risked their lives for this idea fill the pages of history: the Maccabees, the Scottish chiefs, the nobles who forced the King of England to sign the Magna Charta, and a few who sailed the expanse of ocean in order to worship freely.

• The Pilgrim’s Success, or The Thanksgiving Story Part 2 is examined at Liberty’s Law, The U.S. Constitution.
• Louise Manning tells of Two visionary men posted at The Human Imprint.

Self-government culminated in a nation founded on a principle of individual rights. These rights are self-evident, given by Creator, not a king.

• Jason Hughey expounds on this in Part 1: What is a Conservative: An Understanding of Natural Law posted at Logical Consistency.

The civil government exists to protect our rights, not to give them. If the government gives us our rights they can also take them away.

We have the right to life.

• Dana, the carnival’s founder, examines how the desire for a sense of security can affect our freedom in Thoughts on the Westroads Mall shooting at Principled Discovery.
• Phil for Humanity shares An Analysis of Reasons for Allowing and Denying Gun Ownership.

We have the right to liberty.

• Consent of the Governed addresses the issue of privacy in Cell Phones As Tracking Devices And How 4th Amendment Rights Are Being Abused.
• Tiffany Washko warns us in Action Alert: Vaccinate Your Kids or Else! posted at Natural Family Living Blog.
• Susan of Corn and Oil discusses Compulsory Attendance.

We have the right to pursue happiness.

• Charles H. Green gives some satirical business advice in How To Get Your Industry Regulated, in 6 Easy Lesson posted at Trust Matters.

Responsibility

We are responsible for our protecting our liberty. One way to do this is by voting.

• Charity shares What I Look for in a Man (Who is Running for President) at her blog She’s Right.
• Casey’s Critical Thinking discusses bilingual ballots in the post Americanize America’s Immigrants.
• Will Conway informs us that Venezuela almost voted more of their rights away in the post Narrow Miss at Regarding Liberty.

I am thankful for the freedom we have today. The Declaration of Independence is not just for America. The principles it contains lead to liberty. May freedom ring not only from sea to shining sea, but from nation to noble nation.

I hope you enjoyed this edition of the Carnival of Principled Government. If you would like to submit an article for next month’s carnival, please use this form.