Much earlier than his Farewell Address, George Washington served the Virginia Colony, then in the field during the French and Indian wars, endured the harsh winter of Valley Forge, witnessed the world turned upside down at York Town, and fought through two grizzly politically filled terms as our First United States President. He was exhausted, physically ill, but he had ONE MORE contribution to make for his beloved country.
His pointed ideas were re-worked by Alexander Hamilton, who was one of the authors of the Federalist Papers. President Washington’s final address was published on Sept. 19, 1779, and was ten pages in length. In his words, George Washington shows his great concern about America moving forward.
His warnings fit our present United States with an every enlarging, intrusive federal government:
• He did not like political parties and warned about divisiveness
and misuses of lobbying and filibusters;
• He underscores the need for “checks and balances” within the
national branches of government;
• He states the necessity for universal education;
• He warns about abusing public credit and amassing a national
debt;
• He admonishes one of his pet issues of neutrality: fairness with
all foreign nations & not meddle in other nations’ politics.
Concluding, our First President remarked, “… I anticipate with pleasing expectation that retreat in which I promise myself to realize, with alloy, the sweet enjoyment of partaking, in the midst of my fellow-citizens, the benign influence of good laws under a free government, the ever-favorite object of my heart, and the happy reward, as I trust, our mutual cares, labors, and dangers.” (Taken from: Let Freedom Ring, Sterling Publishing Company, New York; page 82.)
Note to America's voteres: as of 02/2011 the United States' national debt exceed 14.4 BILLION dollars.
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