Thread: What would the founding fathers of the USA think if they could see us now?

Originally Posted by Slartibartfast

They would be ****ed off about democracy?

That sounds like shenanigans to me.

Apparently you've never read their thoughts on that particular subject.

They would probably be more amazed that we can fly across the globe. Instantly communicate.
Perform complicated research in minutes with the click of a mouse.
Crap indoors
Instant access to information.
Satellites
Porn
and the list goes on. At some point they might even be interested in gov't.

Are you talking about the more "direct democracy"? Because yeah, they were not big fans of that.

They believed in the current system of Representative democracy

Originally Posted by JokiJo

Apparently you've never read their thoughts on that particular subject.

I was thinking of the end of slavery and integration, the preservation of the union through the civil war. Women's suffrage and later the voting rights act of 1964. Things like that. On to the two world wars and our country starting out as isolationist and eventually entering into the conflicts ... the cold war. The social safety net that FDR began and how future administrations either furthered those efforts or discouraged them. All in all I think they would have been proud of where the country went. As far as technology and science they would be amazed. Our progress in culture and the arts would no doubt shock them. Being from their time and place they probably wouldn't approve.

I'm not sure how happy they would be about that.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I was thinking of the end of slavery and integration, Women's suffrage and later the voting rights act of 1964. Things like that.

Originally Posted by Slartibartfast

I'm not sure how happy they would be about that.

I guess it would depend on whether the believed in liberty and justice for all.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I was thinking of the end of slavery and integration, the preservation of the union through the civil war. Women's suffrage and later the voting rights act of 1964. Things like that. On to the two world wars and our country starting out as isolationist and eventually entering into the conflicts ... the cold war. The social safety net that FDR began and how future administrations either furthered those efforts or discouraged them. All in all I think they would have been proud of where the country went. As far as technology and science they would be amazed. Our progress in culture and the arts would no doubt shock them. Being from their time and place they probably wouldn't approve.

I think they would be utterly amazed that the experiment in self government has made it 200+ years with everything its gone thru to get here, I think they would be so proud they would break into tears. There may be much debate about this and that amongst themselves, but for the most part I think they would be proud as parents at seeing their little one all growed up! With these two exceptions, the ever expanding role of government in peoples individual lives and of the taxation that goes with it. Great thread Jimmy, thanks.

From the reading I've done, this is my humble contribution to the discussion:

General Washington who refused to treat British prisoners with the same inhumane measures they meted out to captured Continentals, would be apalled by Guantanamo Bay and waterboarding.

Franklin would cringe at Federal spending and at the sight of inner city slums. He would marvel at the technology. He would have disapproved of the policies of George II after fighting so hard to rid ourselves of George III. He would be amused by Kennedy and Clinton's extra-marital daliances.

Adams would appreciate the racial eqality more than many of the others. He would be disappointed at history's accurate depiction of his lackluster presidency (though he would agree with it). He would be pleased that his Navy has survived.

Jefferson would be ecstatic over government support of education. He would be awed by the dominance of our architecture while finding it lacking in character and aesthetics. The library of Congress would make him positivley giddy. He would be disappointed that the Confederacy failed.

Hamilton would find our banking system intriguing. I'm not sure what I think his opinion would be.

I know too little of Madison to comment.

Sad to say, I disagree with Billyjeff2 on most points. I think they would find the concepts of racial and gender equality absurd, being brought up in the 19th century. I think their concepts of freedom of speech was worlds apart from ours. He's right on however, in his estimation of their reaction to political discourse.

Oh yes, of one thing I'm fairly sure. None of them would touch an electric razor, except Franklin. He would love it.

I'm afraid they would recognize little of what they had set up and wonder where the freedom they sacrificed so much for had gone. They would be appalled at how much government intervention we tolerate in our every movement and floored by the taxes we put up with. The fact that we have a standing army would simply make them consider suicide and the fact that this is still the freest nation on earth would leave them completely aghast.

About the only thing they would approve would be the current protest movement against the current administrations invasive policies. this they would consider a good prelude to violent resistance.

Only two things immediately come to mind:

1. Jefferson would marvel at how prescient he was with regards to how the Constitution would be corrupted if Hamilton got his way regarding the Bank of the United States.

2. Hamilton, having seen where getting his way lead, would agree with him.

Both would rue the day they did not follow Jefferson’s course of action in the matter.

Best Regards,
EL