The more I study political history and the philosophies of such men as John Locke and Thomas Paine; I realize that we the people of America owe a debt of gratitude to the wisdom and foresight of our founding fathers. James Madison, one of the more important framers of the constitution wrote, "We have staked the whole future of American civilization, not upon the power of the government, far from it. We have staked the future of all our political institutions upon the capacity of mankind for self-government; upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves, to control ourselves, to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God." Self-government is the bedrock upon which our nation was established, and the reason is that its logic is unquestionably sound. Thomas Paine, author of the influential essay Common Sense explained, "For were the impulses of conscience clear, uniform and irresistibly obeyed, man would need no other law-giver." In other words, self-government perfectly balances the equilibrium of society. Think about it, for as I predetermine in my heart not to murder, covet, steal, or lie against my neighbor, I stand clear from any trespass upon his natural rights. However, on the other side, when I practice such selfish, immoral deeds I assault my neighbor’s natural rights. So then, the simple conclusion is this; if we want a peaceful nation for ourselves and for our children we need to examine our own hearts, and sincerely ask ourselves, "How well am I practicing self-government