It offers the best explanation ive ever read on why redistribution of income or wealth is an unauthorized and immoral act by governments. The proper role of government laissezfaire republic. Eisenhower delivered one of the best treatises on the proper role of government. In his essay the proper role of government, ezra taft benson wrote, seldom are men willing to oppose a popular program if they, themselves, wish to be popular especially. The goal is to send the attached letter, and a printed copy of the proper role of government by ezra taft benson, accompanied by a list of 1,000 signatures of american citizens urging our representatives to read and return to the principles of limited government outlined in. According to cicero, the preeminent lawyer of ancient rome, and the great thinkers of the enlightenment era such as john locke and thomas hobbs, the primary role of government is to. Godgiven as part of the divine plan, or they are granted by government as part of the political plan. The proper role of government video ezra taft benson blog. The government has the duty to protect individuals rights, liberty and property but no right to redistribute wealth or establish welfare programs. Properroleofgovernment 1 president benson describes two.
A new edition of ezra taft bensons classic, the proper role of government has been released to help bring its timeless message to a new generation under the title, the proper role of government. This blog was created to explore the correct principles laid out by ezra taft benson in the proper role of government. The goal is to send the attached letter, and a printed copy of the proper role of government by ezra taft benson, accompanied by a list of 1,000 signatures of american citizens urging our representatives to read and return to the principles of limited government outlined in the essay. After that very generous introduction, that i appreciate very much, i had a rather humorous thought. The proper role of government the troublesome conservative. First and foremost, the role of a government is to protect individual rights. View homework help properroleofgovernment from b 212 at brigham young university, idaho. Bensons love for america and belief in its divine destiny were echoed by many and thus became the basis for the initial platform. Unlike the political opportunist, the true statesman values principle above popularity, and works to create. The proper role of governmenta commentary connors conundrums. The proper role of government by ezra taft benson article the proper role of government 39. Rights are either godgiven as part of the divine plan, or they are granted by government as part of the political planif americans should ever come to believe that their rights and freedoms are instituted among men by politicians and bureaucrats, then they will no longer carry the proud inheritance of their forefathers, but will grovel before their masters seeking favors and dispensations. These principles expressed by ezra taft benson, frederic bastiat, and others, are just as essential and valid today as they were when the words were writtenspoken.
The proper role of government ezra taft benson byu. The first half of this new edition is the unedited original that so many are aware of and can be read and viewed in full here. Each post will examine a different concept benson expounds in his work. The ezra taft benson society in honor of ezra taft. An understanding of these fundamental principles are essential in restoring our nation to the vision and structure first intended by our founders, as. The proper role of government by ezra taft benson secretary of agriculture eisenhower administration, 19531961 men in the public spotlight constantly are asked to express an opinion on a myriad of government proposals and projects. Ezra taft benson gave this classic speech on the proper role of government on several occasions. Ezra taft benson gave this speech on several occasions. In 1968 ezra taft benson, the secretary of agriculture under dwight d. Proper role of government taken from the speech by ezra taft benson titled the proper role of government. Men in the public spotlight constantly are asked to express an opinion on a myriad of government proposals and projects.
The following is my thoughts on select portions of his talk. Jul 21, 2019 the proper role of government by ezra taft benson. History of the iap iapofficial independent american party. See all 5 formats and editions hide other formats and. The proper role of government by ezra taft benson the proper role of government is a treatise by ezra taft benson, the secretary of agriculture under eisenhower. I agree with much of bensons philosophy hovernment smaller government, but disagree with many of his specifics that basically anything beyond police and army is legalized plunder by the government. According to cicero, the preeminent lawyer of ancient rome, and the great thinkers of the enlightenment era such as john locke and thomas hobbs, the primary role of government is to protect individual life, liberty, and property. Government should only have the right to do what an individual would have the right to do. I believe that governments were instituted by god for the benefit of man. With this book one can gain an understanding of the principles of freedom and the proper role. The proper role of governmentezra taft benson self. It serves as a primer to a more serious study of moral law and the proper role of government. I highly recommend the talk the proper role of government by ezra taft benson.
It is a short and easy read and one every american should have to read. President benson describes two possibilities about the origins of mans rights. The proper role of government is rooted in the concept that life, liberty, and property exist eternally in a state of nature, and that the individual is the strict source of all political power. The speech is fantastic and opened my eyes on just how far off our government has become from what it was designed to do from our founding fathers. It also includes those powers necessarily incidental to the. I am humbly grateful to god for the blessings we all enjoy as citizens of these great united. Government is a creation of the people and ought to be subservient to them. Some of these things are the economic system, the way they treat their citizens and the basic quality of life in the country. Benson, former secretary of agriculture, has long been active in. A lesson on the principles of the proper role of government. In general terms, therefore, the proper role of government includes such defensive activities as maintaining national military and local police forces for protection against loss of life, loss of property, and loss of liberty at the.
These are the principles that, in my opinion, proclaim the proper role of. Jan 15, 2010 the proper role of government by ezra taft benson former secretary of agriculture the eisenhower administration ed. Former secretary of agriculture the eisenhower administration ed. The proper role of government ezra taft benson byu speeches government is a creation of the people and ought to be subservient to them. Dec 01, 2019 for government minded latterday saints, ezra taft bensons the proper role of government is likely one of the most influential talks on government.
The ever growing need to restore our republican form of government in the united states could never be better than now. The proper role of government foundation for economic education. Ezra taft benson the proper role of government youtube. Nov 14, 2011 ezra taft benson gave this speech on several occasions. Mar 14, 2010 this blog was created to explore the correct principles laid out by ezra taft benson in the proper role of government.
Published in 1968 men in the public spotlight constantly are asked to express an opinion on a myriad of government proposals and projects. Stand up for freedom is a compilation of essential teachings on liberty by ezra taft benson, prophet, leader, statesman. The objective of the ezra taft benson society is to promote an understanding of our civic responsibilities, the principles of liberty, and good government in light of the restored gospel of jesus christ. With this book one can gain an understanding of the principles of freedom and the proper role of government, based on the gospel of jesus christ. For government minded latterday saints, ezra taft benson s the proper role of government is likely one of the most influential talks on government. The proper role of government by ezra taft benson zions best. I agree with much of bensons philosophy hovernment smaller government, but disagree with many of his specifics that basically anything beyond police and army is. The madison liberty institute is an independent research and educational organization whose mission is to promote the founding principles of the american republic, freemarket solutions, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity. The proper role of government by ezra taft benson youtube. The proper role of government essay 1229 words bartleby. The proper role and improper role of government by ezra taft.
As washington stated so clearly in his immortal farewell address he teaches principles, not facts. The proper role of government paperback january 1, 1975 by ezra taft benson author 5. We need to be wary of giving centralized government too much power. The proper function of government is limited only to those spheres of activity within which the individual citizen has the right to act. The 15 principles for the proper role of government, taken from his speech still influence core decisions today. By president ezra taft benson ezra taft benson, the constitutiona glorious standard, ensign, sep 1987, 6 from an address delivered at a byu devotional held. In general terms, therefore, the proper role of government includes such defensive activities, as maintaining national military and local police forces for protection against loss of life, loss of property, and loss of liberty at the hands of either foreign despots or domestic criminals. In general terms, therefore, the proper role of government includes such defensive activities, as maintaining national military and local police forces for protection against loss of life, loss of property, and loss of liberty at the hands of either foreign despots. In general terms, therefore, the proper role of government includes such defensive activities as maintaining national military and local police forces for protection against loss of life, loss of property, and loss of liberty at the hands of either foreign despots or domestic criminals. While holding a very lockean concept of government, benson actually quotes more from fredric bastiats the law than he does from lockes treatise. He says the role of government was intended to protect life police, liberty and property courts. The proper role of government is one that does not take total control and instead gives control to the people. The proper role of government by ezra taft benson former secretary of agriculture the eisenhower administration ed.
The proper role of government is to prevent other people from harming an individual. The proper role of government latterday conservative. There are certain basic principles regarding the proper role of government. The ezra taft benson society in honor of ezra taft benson. The proper role and improper role of government by ezra. Arthur mason national ezra taft benson served as united states secretary of agriculture from january 21, 1953 to january 20, 1961. The proper role of government by the honorable ezra taft benson former secretary of agriculture to president eisenhower published in 1968 edited by john andrews from a video recording. Audio was poor quality, so underscore marks are used where the audio cut out.
Dec 19, 2011 first and foremost, the role of a government is to protect individual rights. The proper role of government, by ezra taft benson, is essential reading material. The proper role of government joshua frazier for nibley. Jan 26, 2020 the proper role of government we must return to basic concepts and principles to eternal verities. Government, he said, never has any right to interfere with an individual for that individuals own good. The proper function of government is limited only to those spheres of. With the basic principles laid out so clearly, even our politically novice 20yearold the age we first encountered this masterpiece brain could grasp the simple yet profound principles. We must return to basic concepts and principles to eternal verities. Benson takes a serious look at socialismcommunism and what the real role of government should be. The proper role of government ezra taft benson byu speeches. Excerpts from ezra taft bensons proper role of government. Read the proper role of government online listen to the proper role of government online watch the proper role of government online.
It was published in 1968, and covers the subjects the title suggests. Government, he said, never has any right to interfere. I thought, if i could just pass away now, a lot of fuss and bother could be avoided because my eulogy has already been said. The proper role of government by the honorable ezra taft benson. Called unto liberty, 20th century sermons, ezra taft benson 1976 during this historic celebration of our nations bicentennial, it seems appropriate to say something about the principles, functions, and role of government which these founding fathers established. The nook book ebook of the the proper role of government. Unlike the political opportunist, the true statesman values principle above popularity, and works to. These are the principles which, in my opinion, proclaim the proper role of government in the domestic affairs of the nation. I thought, if i could just pass away now, a lot of fuss and bother could be avoided because my eulogy has already. During a difficult illness, she had a neardeath experience. Defending utah think right and wrong not right and left principles 58 of ezra taft bensons the proper role of government including key fundamentals explaining the. Com includes the original proper role of government text by ezra taft benson and also additional commentary by defending utah. The proper role of government is exactly what john stuart mill said in the middle of the 19th century in on liberty.
There are several things that would make a governments role a proper one. Benson expresses a classical american conservative viewpoint of government. Milton friedman the proper role of government duration. The second basic principle concerns the function and proper role of government. The proper role of government by the honorable ezra taft benson former secretary of agriculture the eisenhower administration ed. In general terms, therefore, the proper role of government includes such defensive activities as. Federal government programs ought to be eliminated, the bureaucracy should remain small and limited, and the powers of every branch and political position sho. The proper function of government is limited only to those. These are the principles that, in my opinion, proclaim the proper role of government in the domestic affairs of the nation. It was never intended for the redistribution of wealth. For government minded latterday saints, ezra taft bensons the proper role of government is likely one of the most influential talks on government.