10: Laws That Want to Do Good, But Their Means Trample Rights

In today’s episode we’ll be hearing the words of an American founding father who was killed in a duel, and of a Democratic president who served near the end of the 19th century.

We at times make choices and support policies that as a past United States president wrote, “indulge our charitable sentiments” but do not bring about true public welfare or individual good. In other words, in a desire to help others, we may trample the rights of some or many, including those we wish to help. Efforts made in good will may not only weaken freedom but can also injure character.