Thanks for including the delusion that the country's founders were small d democrats. The hottest musical of the past few years, "Hamilton," celebrates the man who argued that, instead of "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness," as proposed language by Jefferson, for inclusion in the Declaration of Independence, it should read "Life, Liberty and Property." What a perfect subject for a hip-hop musical! And if anyone thinks FaceBook is a place for political discussion, please think again. A post of a Grayzone video was just taken down, without explanation, by that cornerstone of free speech. This fascinating view of Gaza, today, was what proved to be a sin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqRzfb2oMaM
There's a little trumpist- left in me. I hate it but sometimes what Trump says resonates with me....even thought I know he's full of BS. The words, the idea, kinda rings true. But like you I hate him (to the bone) too.
Thank's Dr. Street. It is worth recalling that many of the American colonists feared and objected to a strong federal government. Each of the 13 colonies had a House of Burgess or sort of local parliament highly responsive to the state's population. It was rightly questioned by many how responsive a central government authority would be to local interests. It was mainly the southern plantation owners and the Massachusetts wealthy merchants - Thomas Jefferson and John Adams being their respective representatives -- who wanted a strong central government.
The colonists in the hinterlands, many of whom felt a distant central government authority would usurp their representation, as had King George, were against the federal Constitution. Some of them eventually participated in Shay's Rebellion.
In any event, the veneration the "founders" are rather reflexively and unquestioningly lauded with today might be worth reconsidering in light of the direction the U.S. has taken over the past 240 or so years.
My understanding, and you may wish to correct me here, Dr. Street, is that Andrew Jackson unleashed democracy on America when a large segment of the U.S. population was allowed to settle west of the Allegheny mountains. These settlers were essentially beyond the control of the central authorities. And then 40 or so years after that Lincoln would envision a nation "of the people, by the people and for the people." A radical idea that paved the way for democratic republics around the world. Essentially Lincoln altered the geopolitical landscape of the world. No longer would the world be ruled by kings, tyrants and a nobility that used their populace to satisfy their own whims. Instead people would govern themselves, more or less.
Thanks for including the delusion that the country's founders were small d democrats. The hottest musical of the past few years, "Hamilton," celebrates the man who argued that, instead of "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness," as proposed language by Jefferson, for inclusion in the Declaration of Independence, it should read "Life, Liberty and Property." What a perfect subject for a hip-hop musical! And if anyone thinks FaceBook is a place for political discussion, please think again. A post of a Grayzone video was just taken down, without explanation, by that cornerstone of free speech. This fascinating view of Gaza, today, was what proved to be a sin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqRzfb2oMaM
Love the rant. Rant on. 🙏👍
Yes Paul
There's a little trumpist- left in me. I hate it but sometimes what Trump says resonates with me....even thought I know he's full of BS. The words, the idea, kinda rings true. But like you I hate him (to the bone) too.
People Planet Peace
Thank's Dr. Street. It is worth recalling that many of the American colonists feared and objected to a strong federal government. Each of the 13 colonies had a House of Burgess or sort of local parliament highly responsive to the state's population. It was rightly questioned by many how responsive a central government authority would be to local interests. It was mainly the southern plantation owners and the Massachusetts wealthy merchants - Thomas Jefferson and John Adams being their respective representatives -- who wanted a strong central government.
The colonists in the hinterlands, many of whom felt a distant central government authority would usurp their representation, as had King George, were against the federal Constitution. Some of them eventually participated in Shay's Rebellion.
In any event, the veneration the "founders" are rather reflexively and unquestioningly lauded with today might be worth reconsidering in light of the direction the U.S. has taken over the past 240 or so years.
My understanding, and you may wish to correct me here, Dr. Street, is that Andrew Jackson unleashed democracy on America when a large segment of the U.S. population was allowed to settle west of the Allegheny mountains. These settlers were essentially beyond the control of the central authorities. And then 40 or so years after that Lincoln would envision a nation "of the people, by the people and for the people." A radical idea that paved the way for democratic republics around the world. Essentially Lincoln altered the geopolitical landscape of the world. No longer would the world be ruled by kings, tyrants and a nobility that used their populace to satisfy their own whims. Instead people would govern themselves, more or less.
Color me Left.