As we look at the world, we can see many dominate philosophies defining nations. James Madison's basic thoughts were governments are the foremost representation of man. What does it take to make a philosophy? This is a good question because most people create spiral philosophies that can't be true. Their philosophies run on and on but don't go anywhere, very similar to the economic inflation spiral. Governments are outlined in a philosophy of control. The Bill of Rights written by James Madison wasn't apart of the main Constitution until the 14th and 15th Amendments limiting the States authorities.
When a society is not in balance, controls are needed to align the culture. It doesn't matter if it is a tribal culture or a governmental culture. In the study of philosophy, people try to determine whether a philosophy is true, and workable. They are not indefinite spirals that get out of control. People made nations, as a suitable substitute for their tribal beginnings or their tribal yearnings. When dealing with human beings, as a typical social animal, “yearnings” seems to be more accurate. Through experience, people find that bigger tribes have better security.
Security from what, you may ask. It is the security from other tribes or other countries living out their version of governmental philosophies. Democracy is one of those philosophies, and our best wording is “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic tranquility, 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.” Using history as our guide, we can draw logical conclusions about democracy's attack from within. Place it under scrutiny as you equate today's happenings, and today's wars. What democracy doesn't protect against is the compromise of its philosophy from within its own structure. Greece's democracy, with its brilliant minds like Aristotle, Plato, and the many philosophers fell because of internal strife. It is an open philosophy giving its people rights to live in its culture.
Their democracy came under attack from within its ranks. A total loss of control as capitalism separated the lackadaisical ruling class from the people. Many intellectuals, with valid idea systems, pettily attack one another because people's ideas are their base of self-worth. When self is the higher meter, the masses suffer, and democracy fails. American Democracy was outlined in great detail with great minds such as Ben Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, Patrick Henry, William Samuel Jackson, Rufus King, and Governor Morris. Neither Ben Franklin nor Patrick Henry was a writer of the Constitution, but their inputs and negotiations are represented in its writings.
Ben Franklin wasn't a politician but he was a great mind. Patrick Henry's political negotiations lead to James Madison's drafting the Bill of Rights. The States had greater power at the onset of the United States, but their powers became secondary after the 14th and 15th Amendments. The Bill of Rights gave every man the ability to guard his land, and to protect his state should it be necessary. At the end of the 10 amendments of the Bill of Rights there are alternating statutory statements stating these rights are not to be messed with, in the legal terminology of the day. These were the states' requirements before accepting the 14th and 15th Amendments giving higher authority to the Federal Government, and limiting the individualism of each state.
