From reader Bruce:
As I was fond of pointing out to citizens (and officials), the taxpayers have a constitutional right to "require" frugality, among the social virtues enumerated in Article 38 (NH Constitution):
[Art.] 38. [Social Virtues Inculcated.] A frequent recurrence to the fundamental principles of the constitution, and a constant adherence to justice, moderation, temperance, industry, frugality, and all the social virtues, are indispensably necessary to preserve the blessings of liberty and good government; the people ought, therefore, to have a particular regard to all those principles in the choice of their officers and representatives, and they have a right to require of their lawgivers and magistrates, an exact and constant observance of them, in the formation and execution of the laws necessary for the good administration of government.
June 2, 1784
