Seeking a Government that Works – Returning to Some Fundamental Principles

There is a story that by the age of sixteen, George Washington had copied out, by hand (nope, no cut and paste options in those days), the 110 Rules of Civility & Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation. Foundations magazine offers the assumption that the teenager copied the lengthy set of rules as a penmanship exercise.

While the language may be a bit challenging, it is interesting to see a very different focus and approach towards others. Composed by the French Jesuits in 1595 the rules speak to the need for a focus on others above oneself and of giving to others so as to create a more common good.

It was an approach best described by “small sacrifices that we should all be willing to make for the good of all and the sake of living together.”

As for why these rules demand a review, we turn back to Foundations magazine, and to the mention of a rather unknown name to most Americans, Parson Weems. While the name might not be on every one’s tongue, Weems is the man who gave us perhaps the most famous George Washington story, the one involving a felled cherry tree and an honest young man with a hatchet.

While the veracity of that story is now questioned, it is another quote that Weems offers that is one to note. It is a thought that we wish every politician today would begin to consider more carefully:

“No wonder every body honoured him who honoured every body.’”

The civility list is lengthy but here are ten we wish our current elected officials had been asked to copy in longhand when they were teenagers – if they had, perhaps we would find ourselves being led by a government that works.

The Rules:

1. Every Action done in Company, ought to be with Some Sign of Respect, to those that are Present (Rule 1 Translation: Be respectful of others, please, especially in public).

2. Do not laugh too loud or too much at any Public Spectacle (Rule 24 Translation: These decisions are not about you, it is about the people you represent).

3. Let your Discourse with Men of Business be Short and Comprehensive (Rule 35 Translation: Cut to the chase!).

4. In visiting the Sick, do not Presently play the Physician if you be not Knowing therein (Rule 38 Translation: Defer to knowledgeable experts on major issues and drop the personal or party ideology).

5. Being to advise or reprehend any one, consider whether it ought to be in public or in Private; presently, or at Some other time in what terms to do it & in reproving Show no Sign of Cholar but do it with all Sweetness and Mildness (Rule 45 Translation: Whenever giving advice or criticism, carefully consider where to deliver those words, in public or behind closed doors – when delivering, do so delicately).

6. Mock not nor Jest at any thing of Importance break [n]o Jest that are Sharp Biting and if you Deliver any thing witty and Pleasant abstain from Laughing thereat yourself (Rule 47 Translation: Cut the sarcastic comments about the other party).

7. Wherein you reprove Another be unblameable yourself; for example is more prevalent than Precepts. (Rule 48 Translation: Let he is without sin cast the first stone).

8. Let your Conversation be without Malice or Envy, for ‘is a Sign of a Tractable and Commendable Nature: And in all Causes of Passion admit Reason to Govern (Rule 58 Translation: It is about what is best for the country, not what is best for your party or positioning oneself for the next election).

9. Be not apt to relate News if you know not the truth thereof. In Discoursing of things you Have heard Name not your Author always A Secret Discover not (Rule 70 Translation: Do not suggest the Cambridge police acted stupidly until you first have all the facts).

And perhaps the one above all others.

10. Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire called conscience (Rule 110 Translation: There is a bigger picture, a higher calling and a reason why one is serving in their current capacity).