POWER: Wisdom of separation

When George Washington said, “Government is a dangerous servant and a fearful master,” he wasn’t kidding! The principles our government is based on — limited government, popular sovereignty, separation of powers, checks and balances, federalism, judicial review — are all intended to prevent government power from becoming too centralized, too powerful. The “wall of separation” between religious belief and government was also intended to control the power of government. It is very important to understand that government, at any level, will acquire as much power as we let it have any way it can.

Religious zeal is an incredible source of political power if it is allowed to become too much a part of government. Government is a secular institution; religion belongs to the spiritual realm. Excessive entanglement of these two institutions inevitably results in the corruption of one or both and disaster for those they are meant to serve.

Be vigilant, citizens! This can happen at any level of government.

R. CLUTE

Hayden