Government belongs to people

I have read numerous letters to the editor regarding interpretations on what the framers of our Constitution believed when developing our great nation. The bottom-line issue at hand (as they intended it to remain) is what OUR government should be.

I argue the only way to better understand the framers’ beliefs is to try to understand their influences at the time. Even more influential than John Locke, the political philosophy of Algernon Sidney contributes immensely to the debate. In his masterpiece “Discourses Concerning Government,” he wrote in 1681-’83, “whereas common sense teaches, and all good men acknowledge, that governments are not set up for advantage, profit, pleasure, or glory of one or few men, but for the good of society.”

Can we, the society, look upon OUR current government, including the “few men”/elected officials and their motivations, and honestly believe it is what the framers had hoped for? The answer rests with the type of government We The People “set up”/choose.

As for me, I remain true to my reason (and the framers’) and doubt everything until we get it right.

Luke McMillan

Spokane Valley