Word of the Day
May 13, 2019
Possessions
Things owned or held as personal property; the state of having, owning, or controlling something. In the Madisonian sense, possessions extend beyond tangible goods to include one’s opinions, beliefs, and rights.
From Latin 'possessionem,' meaning 'a seizing, possession,' from the past participle of 'possidere,' to possess, from 'potis' (able, powerful) and 'sedere' (to sit). The root conveys the image of sitting firmly upon what is one's own.
Usage Examples
- Madison argued that no man is safe in his opinions, his person, his faculties, or his possessions when government power goes unchecked.
- The Kelo decision threatened private possessions by expanding eminent domain from public use to public purpose.
- When government controls thought through compelled speech laws, it violates the most fundamental of human possessions.
From the Show
Roger Bianco’s reading of James Madison’s 1792 essay on the May 13th broadcast redefined possessions beyond material goods, arguing that opinions, religious convictions, and individual rights are equally sacred property that government must not seize.