{"id":731059,"date":"2021-09-08T16:21:22","date_gmt":"2021-09-08T20:21:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=731059"},"modified":"2021-09-08T16:21:25","modified_gmt":"2021-09-08T20:21:25","slug":"how-america-is-ignoring-the-advice-of-george-washingtons-farewell-address","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/how-america-is-ignoring-the-advice-of-george-washingtons-farewell-address\/","title":{"rendered":"How America Is Ignoring The Advice Of George Washington\u2019s Farewell Address"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fhow-america-is-ignoring-the-advice-of-george-washingtons-farewell-address%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=731059&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/GettyImages-637242916-scaled-e1621967407581.jpg?w=1200&amp;h=800&amp;ixlib=react-9.0.3\" class=\"ff-og-image-inserted\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span>President George Washington\u2019s Farewell Address is one of the most important political speeches in American history.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Rather than seeking reelection, Washington <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mountvernon.org\/library\/digitalhistory\/digital-encyclopedia\/article\/george-washington-s-farewell-address\/\"><span>chose<\/span><\/a><span> to step down as Chief Executive after his second term \u2014 a move that set a powerful precedent for later Presidents and was eventually enshrined by the Twenty-Second Amendment. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>On September 19, 1796, Washington <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ourdocuments.gov\/doc.php?flash=false&amp;doc=15&amp;page=transcript\"><span>exhorted<\/span><\/a><span> the fledgling nation \u2014 which he had led in defeating the world\u2019s most powerful empire \u2014 with several pieces of advice.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Roughly 225 years later, however, the United States is ignoring most of its first Commander-in-Chief\u2019s counsel \u2014 which it would be wise to once again consider.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Individual Liberty<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span>Throughout the speech, Washington affirmed the United States\u2019 commitment to individual liberty \u2014 a reward that its citizens had earned with blood.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>In particular, Washington told his countrymen to preserve the Constitution and hold it as a standard of republicanism to other nations across the globe:<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote readability=\"17\">\n<p><i><span>I shall carry it with me to my grave, as a strong incitement to unceasing vows that heaven may continue to you the choicest tokens of its beneficence; that your union and brotherly affection may be perpetual; that the free Constitution, which is the work of your hands, may be sacredly maintained; that its administration in every department may be stamped with wisdom and virtue; that, in fine, the happiness of the people of these States, under the auspices of liberty, may be made complete by so careful a preservation and so prudent a use of this blessing as will acquire to them the glory of recommending it to the applause, the affection, and adoption of every nation which is yet a stranger to it.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span>Indeed, Washington expressed confidence that America hardly needed a reminder to preserve their own freedom:<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote readability=\"7\">\n<p><i><span>Interwoven as is the love of liberty with every ligament of your hearts, no recommendation of mine is necessary to fortify or confirm the attachment.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span>Washington, however, was incorrect \u2014 at least with respect to modern-day America.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>According to a disturbing <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtontimes.com\/news\/2019\/oct\/31\/first-amendment-outdated-should-be-rewritten-major\/\"><span>poll<\/span><\/a><span> from the Campaign for Free Speech, 51% of Americans believe that the First Amendment \u2014 which enumerates freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, and other inalienable, God-given rights \u2014 is outdated. 48% believe that \u201chate speech\u201d ought to be illegal.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Largely due to the overwhelming <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.campusreform.org\/article?id=15801\"><span>influence<\/span><\/a><span> of leftism in American education, young people in particular despise the nation\u2019s founding documents. 57% of millennials say that the First Amendment should be written to \u201creflect the cultural norms of today.\u201d Meanwhile, 54% say that an appropriate penalty for \u201chate speech\u201d could be jail time.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Political Parties<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span>Washington stressed the importance of avoiding factions, which he saw as deeply disruptive to national unity and the proper functioning of the federal government.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>He also rightly predicted that political parties would divide the nation along geographical lines:<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote readability=\"23\">\n<p><i><span>I have already intimated to you the danger of parties in the State, with particular reference to the founding of them on geographical discriminations. Let me now take a more comprehensive view, and warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party generally.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>This spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable from our nature, having its root in the strongest passions of the human mind. It exists under different shapes in all governments, more or less stifled, controlled, or repressed; but, in those of the popular form, it is seen in its greatest rankness, and is truly their worst enemy.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span>Nevertheless, the United States almost immediately devolved into a two-party system. Today, most politically conscious Americans find themselves allied with either Democrats or Republicans.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>A <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pewresearch.org\/fact-tank\/2020\/11\/13\/america-is-exceptional-in-the-nature-of-its-political-divide\/\"><span>poll<\/span><\/a><span> from Pew Research Center reveals public opinion is almost completely polarized along partisan lines. Before the 2020 election, 89% of Trump voters said that they would be \u201cvery concerned\u201d about the country\u2019s direction if Biden were to be elected; 90% of Biden voters said the same about Trump.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>National Debt<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span>Washington also pressed Americans to ensure that the government would not spend beyond its means. He saw the accumulation of national debt as a grave threat to independence:<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote readability=\"15\">\n<p><i><span>As a very important source of strength and security, cherish public credit. One method of preserving it is to use it as sparingly as possible, avoiding occasions of expense by cultivating peace, but remembering also that timely disbursements to prepare for danger frequently prevent much greater disbursements to repel it, avoiding likewise the accumulation of debt, not only by shunning occasions of expense, but by vigorous exertion in time of peace to discharge the debts which unavoidable wars may have occasioned, not ungenerously throwing upon posterity the burden which we ourselves ought to bear.&nbsp;<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span>Specifically, he told the citizens to hold their elected officials accountable in forwarding responsible budgeting:<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote readability=\"14\">\n<p><i><span>The execution of these maxims belongs to your representatives, but it is necessary that public opinion should co-operate. To facilitate to them the performance of their duty, it is essential that you should practically bear in mind that towards the payment of debts there must be revenue; that to have revenue there must be taxes; that no taxes can be devised which are not more or less inconvenient and unpleasant; that the intrinsic embarrassment, inseparable from the selection of the proper objects (which is always a choice of difficulties), ought to be a decisive motive for a candid construction of the conduct of the government in making it, and for a spirit of acquiescence in the measures for obtaining revenue, which the public exigencies may at any time dictate.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span>Over the past two centuries, however, Americans have dramatically <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usdebtclock.org\/\"><span>expanded<\/span><\/a><span> the spending and taxation capacities of the federal government.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The national debt is now $28.7 trillion \u2014 the equivalent of $86,000 per citizen and $228,000 per taxpayer. For every $1 in new economic output, there <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/fred.stlouisfed.org\/series\/GFDEGDQ188S\"><span>exists<\/span><\/a><span> $1.25 in federal obligations. Among the largest budget items for the federal government are Medicare and Medicaid, as well as Social Security \u2014 respectively accounting for $1.3 trillion and $1.1 trillion of spending.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Despite the high degree of expenditure \u2014 which accelerated rapidly during COVID-19 and the lockdown-induced recession \u2014 Americans have largely failed to express sufficient concern to their representatives. Another <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2021\/02\/03\/us\/stimulus-check-polls.html\"><span>poll<\/span><\/a><span> discovered that 78% of citizens \u2014 90% of Democrats and 64% of Republicans \u2014 favored additional $1,400 stimulus checks at the beginning of 2021, even though the recession had largely concluded.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Foreign Entanglements<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span>Washington also warned the United States about the dangers of involvement in foreign wars.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>At the time of America\u2019s birth as a nation, colonial European powers \u2014 such as Britain, France, and Spain \u2014 were spending blood and treasure on centuries-long skirmishes and battles across the globe. Though still surrounded by French and Spanish territories, the United States had the prospect of becoming isolated from European political alliances and conflicts.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Accordingly, Washington encouraged his countrymen to avoid foreign entanglements to the greatest possible extent:<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote readability=\"22\">\n<p><i><span>Against the insidious wiles of foreign influence (I conjure you to believe me, fellow-citizens) the jealousy of a free people ought to be constantly awake, since history and experience prove that foreign influence is one of the most baneful foes of republican government. But that jealousy to be useful must be impartial; else it becomes the instrument of the very influence to be avoided, instead of a defense against it.&nbsp;<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nations is in extending our commercial relations, to have with them as little political connection as possible. So far as we have already formed engagements, let them be fulfilled with perfect good faith. Here let us stop. Europe has a set of primary interests which to us have none; or a very remote relation. Hence she must be engaged in frequent controversies, the causes of which are essentially foreign to our concerns. Hence, therefore, it must be unwise in us to implicate ourselves by artificial ties in the ordinary vicissitudes of her politics, or the ordinary combinations and collisions of her friendships or enmities.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span>Though the United States largely followed Washington\u2019s advice for a century \u2014 especially through the Monroe Doctrine, which <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ourdocuments.gov\/doc.php?flash=false&amp;doc=23\"><span>demanded<\/span><\/a><span> that European powers cease further colonization of the Americas \u2014 it eventually found itself increasingly involved in conflicts around the globe. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Without a doubt, Washington is rolling over in his grave \u2014 especially following the Afghanistan conflict and its disastrous <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/5-times-biden-was-dead-wrong-on-afghanistan?fbclid=IwAR0bou7zvyINVV14pQXywK6FvXQuo3Qy_6zFQH2ZzQJsy94vvdxwUoM0Whs&amp;utm_talent=dailywire\"><span>conclusion<\/span><\/a><span>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span>The views expressed in this opinion piece are the author\u2019s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>The Daily Wire is one of America\u2019s fastest-growing conservative media companies and counter-cultural outlets for news, opinion, and entertainment. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/subscribe\"><i><span>member<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>President George Washington\u2019s Farewell Address is one of the most important political speeches in American history.Rather than seeking reelection, Washington chose to step down as Chief Executive after his second &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2315279,"comment_status":"close","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-731059","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/731059","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=731059"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/731059\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2315279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=731059"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=731059"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=731059"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}