Congress should:
- not sacrifice our posterity for short-term gain
The Preamble of the Constitution states,
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquillity, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
This is a future-oriented compact. It was signed by people who had risked "our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor" in defense of "Liberty Under God."
Would you be willing to sacrifice your Social Security benefits in order to guarantee that future generations do not live under tyranny?
- Article 1, Section 9, Clause 8: Benjamin Franklin to Sarah Bache
But the descending Honour, to Posterity who could have no Share in obtaining it, is not only groundless and absurd, but often hurtful to that Posterity, ...
- Constitutional Government: Pittsfield Petitions
That knowing the strong Byass of human Nature to Tyranny and Despotism we have Nothing else in View but to provide for Posterity against the wanton Exercise ...
- Article 3, Section 3, Clauses 1 and 2: Joseph Story, Commentaries ...
And this destruction of all inheritable qualities is so complete, that it obstructs all descents to his posterity, whenever they are obliged to derive a ...
- Amendment V: State v. ------
In case of an adverse event, they were determined by this solemn declaration that the rights of the people should be proclaimed and handed down to posterity ...
- Rights: William Penn, The Excellent Priviledge of Liberty and ...
And therefore all depends upon our prudent care and actings to preserve and lay sure foundations for ourselves and the posterity of our loins. Philopolites. ...
- Rights: Continental Congress to the Inhabitants of the Province of ...
... latest posterity the inestimable advantages of a free English constitution of government, which it is the privilege of all English subjects to enjoy. ...
- Republican Government: The Essex Result
Fraud, circumvention, and an union of interest of some classes of people, combined with an inattention to the rights of posterity, will prevail over the ...
- Fundamental Documents: Virginia Declaration of Rights
... assembled in full and free Convention; which rights do pertain to them and their posterity, as the basis and foundation of Government. ...
- Article 1, Section 8, Clause 2: St. George Tucker, Blackstone's ...
By this means also, the pressure and burthen of a war, undertaken for the benefit of posterity, as well as the present generation, may be in some degree ...
- Preamble: Records of the Federal Convention
... the following Constitution for the Government of Ourselves and our Posterity . ... and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, ...
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