Madison the Liberal Republican

The following is an Excerpt from page 74 of The Federalist Papers No. 10. (Madison)

"A landed interest, a manufacturing interest, a mercantile interest, a moneyed interest, with many lesser interests, grow up of necessity in civilized nations, and divide them into different classes, actuated by different sentiments and views. The regulation of these various and interfering interests forms the principal task of modern legislation and involves the spirit of party and faction in the necessary and ordinary operations. of government."

He is essentially saying is that the principal task of legislation is the regulation of monetary interests, and that it should not just be necessary, but commonplace.

I find it intriguing that a founding father, that has traditionally been seen as conservative, would say something like this, for it contrasts so vividly with the conservative principals of our time. It is good to know that Madison was aware that unregulated interests could pose significant problems to the welfare of our country.

I believe, that what he is describing is directly correlated with the problems of our current Government. For "we the people" don't have lobbyists. We can't collectively "speak" as the more privileged can. I think if Madison heard the Supreme Court's ruling on the Citizens United case he would turn over in his grave.

Why have our leaders not listened to Madison? Why have we as a society gone away from our founding ideals? These are the questions that need to be asked. These are the questions that I believe Madison would ask.