Tag Archives: Thomas Jefferson

“The Declaration of Independence—the “father of all moral principle” in our politics, as Lincoln called it—defines the purpose of government in distinctly limited terms: “To secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”  The rights in question are the natural ones to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  That the Declaration speaks of the pursuit of happiness rather than happiness itself as a right is an important indication of the Founders’ commitment to limited government.  A government that is responsible for sustaining the conditions in which we can pursue happiness is a limited one.  But is is difficult to say what the limits are on a government that is responsible for our happiness iteslf.”

                                                 —Matthew J. Franck, professor and chairman of political science at Radford University, writing in National Review, May 17, 2010