(Guest Commentary) Mike Farris – Citizens for Self-Governance – Senior Fellow for Constitutional Studies, co-founder of the Convention of States Project
One of the reasons we have accepted the premise of the “lesser of two evils” in our voting decisions, is that we don’t have clear ideas of what “good” looks like. This is the sixth in a series of ten short articles giving a coherent philosophy on what we should be looking for in a President.
We are so inundated with talk of the lesser of two evils, some fundamental analysis of a constitutionally and morally sound president seems appropriate.
6. We need a president who believes that we should not be sending money to other nations when we are having to borrow money to do so.
The United States gives foreign aid to China. Yes. Really. We borrow money from China. And then we give them foreign aid because we are the rich country helping out a less fortunate nation. Really.
We do this for many other nations. Borrow from them. Give aid to them.
This is not smart. Actually it is bone-headed stupid.
America is a generous nation. When there is a disaster some place in the world, we are the first to line up to help. Our private philanthropy is essential in such programs.
We need to do everything we can to encourage such private American philanthropy. But, when we are borrowing over a trillion dollars every year, we don’t have the government resources to be giving foreign aid to anyone.
There are creative ways we can help nations that are truly in need. But, we have to end the practice of giving away money to others that we must borrow.
Michael Farris is the Chancellor of Patrick Henry College and Chairman of the Home School Legal Defense Association. During his career as a constitutional appellate litigator, he has served as lead counsel in the United States Supreme Court, eight federal circuit courts, and the appellate courts of thirteen states.
Farris has been a leader on Capitol Hill for over thirty years and is widely respected for his leadership in the defense of homeschooling, religious freedom, and the preservation of American sovereignty. A prolific author, Farris has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Salvatori Prize for American Citizenship by the Heritage Foundation and as one of the “Top 100 Faces in Education for the 20th Century” by Education Week magazine.
Farris received his B.A. in Political Science from Western Washington University. He later went on to earn his J.D. from Gonzaga University School of Law, and his LL.M. in Public International Law, from the University of London.
Mike and his wife Vickie have ten children and 19 grandchildren.
