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Entry: Who Are We? Link: http://www.takimag.com/blogs/article/who_are_we#26433 Post contents: Bramwell wrote: The United States Constitution furnished a new basis for a federal government that made the United States the most stable and prosperous nation on earth. pb replied: Does the Constitution really deserve that much credit? I would think credit should be given to the fortunate circumstances of the country, and the fact that the population is relatively diffuse. If conservatism is what Bramwell says it is, I think there is a real danger for conservatives to overestimate the actual effect of government. The Wild West had no effective, legitimate government and it wasn't so wild or violent. Gold rushes to Alaska or Klondyke were relatively peaceful events, despite the absence of government and the presence of many greedy goldminers with arms. My view of American political history is that despite the U.S. government spending vast treasures abroad in search of monsters to destroy, the Americans have been able to lead a prosperous life. But during periods of inflation, trade barriers or recently, excess environmentalism, the government actually destroys more wealth than the people create. A basic rule of logic is that correlation is not the same as causation. Applied to politics, one should question, whether the appropriate word is "because" or "despite". Sent at: 2008 10 13