The Benson Principle - A Fundamental Principle of Liberty

[LoveIsTruthcaptain of 1,000]

The Benson Principle - A Fundamental Principle of Liberty

Ezra Taft Benson - Man, Freedom, Government



This is a classic. It contains what I call the Benson Principle (which was first annunciated by Frederic Bastiat, but restated eloquently here). It is a Fundamental Principle of Liberty without which Liberty is impossible.

It goes like this:

Since the government derives all its legitimate authority by delegation from the governed, the government has no authority to do anything to an individual and his property, except what you yourself as an individual have a right to do. And if you, as an individual, have no moral right to force your neighbor to do (or not to do) something, neither does the government, because the only legitimate authority the government has, is what you delegated to it, and you cannot delegate an authority you do not have.

So that's the basic test to see what a government, properly, can and cannot do.

If you have no moral right to force your neighbor, neither does the government!

That's all. Brilliant! This is one of the fundamental principles of Liberty, absent which Liberty cannot survive nor prevail!

Another thing we all need to remember is that ANY law is force. Therefore we must not lend our support to any law that does not square with this principle.

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Note: The Benson Principle happens to be the Second one in the Fundamental Principles of Liberty.

[moonwhimcaptain of 1,000]

Ezra Taft Benson - Man, Freedom, Government

This is a classic. It contains what I call the Benson Principle (which was first annunciated by Frederic Bastiat, but restated eloquently here).

Since government derives all its legitimate authority from you, the government has no authority to do anything to an individual and his property, but what you yourself as an individual can do. And if you, as an individual, have no moral right to force your neighbor to do (or not to do) something, you cannot ask your government to force him for you, because the only legitimate authority the government has, is what you delegated to it, and you cannot delegate an authority you do not have.

So that's the basic test to see what a government, properly, can and cannot do.

If you have no moral right to force your neighbor, you cannot ask your government to force him for you!

That's all. Brilliant! This is one of the fundamental principles of Liberty!

Yes, that great principle is in his "The Proper Role of Government" article." It had a profound effect upon me.

[LoveIsTruthcaptain of 1,000]

Thank you!

[singyourwayhomecaptain of 1,000]

Thanks, I've forwarded the video to several friends.

[MahonriMaster]

Here is another classic from Benson

not sure how to embed, so here is the link

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... 706081875#

[LoveIsTruthcaptain of 1,000]

Here is another classic from Benson

not sure how to embed, so here is the link

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... 706081875#

Stand Up For Freedom by Ezra Taft Benson

[MahonriMaster]

LoveIsTruth, thanks!

[give_me_libertycaptain of 50]

Great video, thanks for posting it

[EclecticLibertariancaptain of 50]

Why call it the "Benson Principle"? A principle is usually attributed to the individual who first recognized and expounded it. Should we not then at the very least call it the "Bastiat Principle"? Else why not rename all sorts of other principles, theories, and laws previously expounded by others to some later proponent?

Let us now call Einstien's Theory of Relativity Hawking's Theory of Relativity.
Let us now call Darwin's Theory of Evolution Dawkin's Theory of Evolution.
Let us now call Newton's Laws of Motion Mr. Nelson's Laws of Motion (after my 6th Grade teacher who is the first person I can recall who introduced me to Newton's Laws).
From now on, let us call the Peter Principle the Dilbert Principle.
And let us now call Occam's Razor, Lt Commander Data's Razor.

[LoveIsTruthcaptain of 1,000]

Why call it the "Benson Principle"? A principle is usually attributed to the individual who first recognized and expounded it. Should we not then at the very least call it the "Bastiat Principle"? Else why not rename all sorts of other principles, theories, and laws previously expounded by others to some later proponent?

Let us now call Einstien's Theory of Relativity Hawking's Theory of Relativity.
Let us now call Darwin's Theory of Evolution Dawkin's Theory of Evolution.
Let us now call Newton's Laws of Motion Mr. Nelson's Laws of Motion (after my 6th Grade teacher who is the first person I can recall who introduced me to Newton's Laws).
From now on, let us call the Peter Principle the Dilbert Principle.
And let us now call Occam's Razor, Lt Commander Data's Razor.

All excellent ideas. Go ahead and do that.

[Fairmindedcaptain of 1,000]

Why call it the "Benson Principle"? A principle is usually attributed to the individual who first recognized and expounded it. Should we not then at the very least call it the "Bastiat Principle"? Else why not rename all sorts of other principles, theories, and laws previously expounded by others to some later proponent?

Let us now call Einstien's Theory of Relativity Hawking's Theory of Relativity.
Let us now call Darwin's Theory of Evolution Dawkin's Theory of Evolution.
Let us now call Newton's Laws of Motion Mr. Nelson's Laws of Motion (after my 6th Grade teacher who is the first person I can recall who introduced me to Newton's Laws).
From now on, let us call the Peter Principle the Dilbert Principle.
And let us now call Occam's Razor, Lt Commander Data's Razor.

Don't be silly. You can't name a principle after Lt. Commander Data because he isn't a real person...

He's an android.

[LoveIsTruthcaptain of 1,000]

Why call it the "Benson Principle"? A principle is usually attributed to the individual who first recognized and expounded it. Should we not then at the very least call it the "Bastiat Principle"? Else why not rename all sorts of other principles, theories, and laws previously expounded by others to some later proponent?

Let us now call Einstien's Theory of Relativity Hawking's Theory of Relativity.
Let us now call Darwin's Theory of Evolution Dawkin's Theory of Evolution.
Let us now call Newton's Laws of Motion Mr. Nelson's Laws of Motion (after my 6th Grade teacher who is the first person I can recall who introduced me to Newton's Laws).
From now on, let us call the Peter Principle the Dilbert Principle.
And let us now call Occam's Razor, Lt Commander Data's Razor.

Don't be silly. You can't name a principle after Lt. Commander Data because he isn't a real person...

He's an android.

So?