Patriot: John Locke 1632-1704
John Locke must be known as one of the greatest influences of our American founders. Thomas Jefferson was most known for the writing of the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson paraphrases Locke in one of the most important groups of words in American history and can be argued as the glue that has kept the country together. The idea of “life, liberty, and property” being a God given right is a John Locke ideal. Jefferson simple changed property to “pursuit of happiness” but the words still has the same meaning. It is this that is most important in the understanding of American Liberty and that is was given by God and not man.
Locke also believed in checks and balances within a civil government which is to be employed by the people. The idea that a person would not be productive if he was always guarding his property is an imperative seed to the civil government. Citizens could hire police and fireman to do this for them for a wage as the person pursues his happiness or property. This is the idea behind today’s civil servants.
Politicians would also be servants to the people. These politicians would have separated powers to keep tyranny at bay. Locke favored Legislative, Executive, and Federative branches which would disperse governing power in order to provide no on person or group of people with all governing power. This philosophy is what John Locked to be neccesary to eliminating tyranny.
One of the most controversial beliefs of Locke is his arguments on Toleration. Locke believed that on a rational basis, a single religion could not possibly obtain the vehicle of truth above all others. He believed that human brains are limited and faith was speculative as well as mysterious. He also believed that Atheism should not be tolerated nor the religions in allegiance with foreign powers.
Locke wrote this in “A Letter Concerning Toleration” 1689:
Lastly, those are not at all to be tolerated who deny the being of a God. Promises, covenants, and oaths, which are the bonds of human society, can have no hold upon an atheist. The taking away of God, though but even in thought, dissolves all; besides also, those that by their atheism undermine and destroy all religion, can have no pretence of religion whereupon to challenge the privilege of a toleration. As for other practical opinions, though not absolutely free from all error, if they do not tend to establish domination over others, or civil impunity to the Church in which they are taught, there can be no reason why they should not be tolerated.
Locke states here that without the bonds and trust of man or what I like to call “business with a handshake”, the moral fabric will crumble.
What is so important here is that much of what we see wrong in this society is due to the lack of accountability and moral fabric. Lawyers are so prevalent due to the lack of moral fabric and often instigate the lack of moral fabric for simple financial gain. What Locke was alluding to is without a moral people, there is no liberty. As I unfold the schematics detailing the gears of “The Machine” you will see that the destruction of morals, that Locke held so dear to the preservation of personal individual liberty, will be the target of attack by Marxists and Communists operating under the American flag.
Locke also believed in the use of gold and silver as currency rather than paper currency. Locke explained that gold and silver are a perfect standard and would stay very close to its true value from nation to nation. Paper currency would only be as good as the government that issues it. The “Gold Standard” was a John Locke principle.
One of Locke’s most influential theories was that of “Supply and Demand”. Locke believed that the true value of something is set by how much people want it. The idea of capitalization was made popular by that of Locke who influenced David Hume and Adam Smith. By giving people ownership of their property they would value it and uphold its value.
What is amazing about all of this is that most of us Americans understand and believe these ideas because they coincide with the foundation of the country and its continued success. It is no coincidence that our country is failing due to the abandonment of these principles in the face of liberalism or neo-liberalism.
For these incredible philosophies that have influenced the great men that founded our country, John Locke is a great patriot to freedom.
