Proper Role of Government – Introduced

This entry is part 1 of 23 in the series Proper Role of Government (by Ezra Taft Benson)

by The Honorable Ezra Taft Benson
Former Secretary of Agriculture
[The Eisenhower Administration – ed.]
Published in 1968
Men in the public spotlight constantly are asked to express an opinion on a myriad of government proposals and projects. “What do you think of TVA?” “What is your opinion of Medicare?” How do you feel about Urban Renewal?” The list [...]

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Government Should Be Based Upon Sound Principles

This entry is part 2 of 23 in the series Proper Role of Government (by Ezra Taft Benson)

Such an approach to vital political questions of the day can only lead to public confusion and legislative chaos. Decisions of this nature should be based upon and measured against certain basic principles regarding the proper role of government. If principles are correct, then they can be applied to any specific proposal with confidence.
“Are there [...]

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The Correct Role Of Government

This entry is part 3 of 23 in the series Proper Role of Government (by Ezra Taft Benson)

I should like to outline in clear, concise, and straight-forward terms the political principles to which I subscribe. These are the guidelines which determine, now and in the future, my attitudes and actions toward all domestic proposals and projects of government. These are the principles which, in my opinion, proclaim the proper role of government [...]

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The Most Important Function Of Government

This entry is part 4 of 23 in the series Proper Role of Government (by Ezra Taft Benson)

It is generally agreed that the most important single function of government is to secure the rights and freedoms of individual citizens. But, what are those right? And what is their source? Until these questions are answered there is little likelihood that we can correctly determine how government can best secure them. Thomas Paine, back [...]

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The Real Meaning Of The Separation Of Church And State

This entry is part 5 of 23 in the series Proper Role of Government (by Ezra Taft Benson)

I support the doctrine of separation of church and state as traditionally interpreted to prohibit the establishment of an official national religion. But I am opposed to the doctrine of separation of church and state as currently interpreted to divorce government from any formal recognition of God. The current trend strikes a potentially fatal blow [...]

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The Source Of Governmental Power

This entry is part 6 of 23 in the series Proper Role of Government (by Ezra Taft Benson)

Leaving aside, for a moment, the question of the divine origin of rights, it is obvious that a government is nothing more or less than a relatively small group of citizens who have been hired, in a sense, by the rest of us to perform certain functions and discharge certain responsibilities which have been authorized. [...]

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Natural Rights

This entry is part 7 of 23 in the series Proper Role of Government (by Ezra Taft Benson)

In a primitive state, there is no doubt that each man would be justified in using force, if necessary, to defend himself against physical harm, against theft of the fruits of his labor, and against enslavement of another. This principle was clearly explained by Bastiat:
“Each of us has a natural right – from God [...]

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The Proper Function Of Government

This entry is part 8 of 23 in the series Proper Role of Government (by Ezra Taft Benson)

This means, then, that the proper function of government is limited only to those spheres of activity within which the individual citizen has the right to act. By deriving its just powers from the governed, government becomes primarily a mechanism for defense against bodily harm, theft and involuntary servitude. It cannot claim the power to [...]

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The Powers Of A Proper Government

This entry is part 9 of 23 in the series Proper Role of Government (by Ezra Taft Benson)

It also includes those powers necessarily incidental to the protective functions such as:
(1) The maintenance of courts where those charged with crimes may be tried and where disputes between citizens may be impartially settled.
(2) The establishment of a monetary system and a standard of weights and measures so that courts may render money [...]

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The Constitution Of The United States

This entry is part 10 of 23 in the series Proper Role of Government (by Ezra Taft Benson)

Another standard I use in deterring what law is good and what is bad is the Constitution of the United States. I regard this inspired document as a solemn agreement between the citizens of this nation which every officer of government is under a sacred duty to obey. As Washington stated so clearly in his [...]

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