Laura Loomer (@lauraloomer)

225 years ago today, September 19, 1796 PRESIDENT GEORGE WASHINGTON GAVE HIS FAMOUS FAREWELL ADDRESS, LEAVING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE A PARTING GIFT OF 20 PROPHETIC WARNINGS. • Be vigilant, people will seek to use the government for selfish ends. • Avoid overgrown military establishments; they are hostile to liberty. • Prevent all obstructions to the execution of the laws. • Control bureaucracies; make sure they all work together. • Avoid political parties; they will cause divisive factions and unscrupulous men will use them to undermine the government. • Give allegiance to the Constitution; improve it as necessary. • Do not alter the Constitution lightly, or based on hypothesis; apply the experience applied when it was created. • Be suspicious of administrators; they may serve themselves rather than the people. • Watch for consolidation of power in any department of government. • Preserve existing checks and balances and add more where power needs to be checked. • Religion and morality are essential to create the virtue necessary to preserve the union. • Promote widespread education; democracy requires literate citizens that understand the system of governance and take responsibility for themselves. • Avoid debt; and immediately discharge any debt created by war. • Taxes are unpleasant; government spending should be candidly conducted. • Cultivate peace and justice toward all nations. • Avoid alliances and maintain neutrality among nations. • Avoid dependency; a weak state that allies with a stronger state will become its servant. • Real patriots will resist intrigues, while dupes will surrender to interests. • In trade, give no nation a favored nation status. • Be guided by principles, not interests.