True North: Setting the nation’s moral compass

“It is substantially true that virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government. The rule indeed extends with more or less force to every species of free government. Who that is a sincere friend to it can look with indifference upon attempts to shake the foundation of the fabric?”
~ President George Washington (from his Farewell Address)

We begin today’s post with one of the many sage observations of that great philosopher, Yogi Berra. “If you don’t know where you are going, you might wind up someplace else.”

As we reflect upon the truth of such wisdom, let’s apply it to the course that our nation will take based on the knowledge and virtue of those citizens who choose to exercise their privilege and responsibility to vote in the upcoming elections. How do we know where we are going? What will guide our decision as to which direction to take? Who can we trust to bring us to the right place? What obstacles may stand in the way and misdirect us to that someplace else?

Now, think about the role that a magnetic compass plays in getting us from here to there. The Earth is like a big magnet, and one end of the compass is also like a tiny magnet. The Earth’s magnetic field exerts a force on the compass needle, causing it to rotate until it comes to rest in the same horizontal direction as the magnetic field. Over much of the Earth, this direction is roughly ‘true north.’ But there are also all kinds of localized clutter (other magnetic structures) to throw the compass off course. And then there is the problem of owning a cheap compass that will only work properly in one hemisphere or the other.

Having a world class, reliable compass that can cut through all the clutter to point us to true north is essential as a nation determining where we are going with this grand experiment called democracy. And the unfortunate truth is that the volume and types of clutter (propaganda, misinformation, disinformation, ‘alternate facts’ and a constant stream of outright lies) deliberately thrown at us makes finding true north a mental and moral challenge. Getting from here to that right place rather than someplace else is no walk in the park. So, let’s first take a step back in order to move forward with a proper and functioning compass in hand. Let’s see how we might be aided in finding true north by peering into President Washington’s 1796 Farewell Address.

In our prior post we wrote of President Washington’s decision to retire following his second term, and introduced his Farewell Address. The quote that begins this post (George’s, not Yogi’s) is lifted from the heart of the address. After spending much print on the mechanics of the government based on the democratic principle and the grand Constitution that drives it, he then asserts that the very substance of popular government (aka democracy) is morality.

Here are the assertions that lead up to the quote:
“Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths, which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice? And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.”

Understand that in asserting that religion and morality go hand in hand, he is not proposing the marriage of nationalism and Christianity (or any other form of religion). He is not arguing against the separation of Church and State. He is not proposing theocracy over democracy. It is also important to state that he is not proposing that ‘blind faith’ replace reason and intellect. Even as religion and morality go hand in hand, so must faith and intellect. It is not enough to act and vote one’s heart (emotions/loyalties) apart from intellectual enlightenment. Therefore, Washington’s statement, “In proportion as the structure of a government gives force to public opinion, it is essential that public opinion should be enlightened.”

Then as the retiring President continues to serve as a worthy compass guiding a potentially great nation to it’s true north, he links faith with justice and justice with benevolence for all:
“Observe good faith and justice towards all nations; cultivate peace and harmony with all—religion and morality enjoin this conduct; and can it be that good policy does not equally enjoin it? It will be worthy of a free, enlightened, and, at no distant period, a great nation, to give to mankind the magnanimous and too novel example of a people always guided by an exalted justice and benevolence. Who can doubt that in the course of time and things the fruits of such a plan would richly repay any temporary advantages which might be lost by a steady adherence to it?

Before he puts down his moral compass and moves on to other matters, President Washington leaves his fellow citizens with these two questions on virtues (morality) and vices (immorality):
“Can it be, that Providence has not connected the permanent felicity of a nation with its virtue? The experiment, at least, is recommended by every sentiment which ennobles human nature. Alas! is it rendered impossible by its vices?”

And so we go back full circle to the question contained in our opening quote, “Who that is a sincere friend to it (democratic government) can look with indifference upon attempts to shake the foundation of the fabric?

Using sections of Washington’s Farewell Address as our uncluttered, world class compass to point us toward our true north as a great nation, I pray that every citizen may gain a head-out-of-the-sand, good faith, enlightened, morality based understanding of the authoritarian manifesto known as Project 2025, the MAGA/Heritage Foundation’s blueprint to shake the foundation of the fabric of the Federal Government, and in so doing may find it totally lacking any sentiment which ennobles human nature, as such virtue is rendered impossible by its vices.

Project 2025 review link: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/project-2025-plan-for-trump-presidency-has-far-reaching-threats-to-science/