What would please/displease the founding fathers about the way the US government has evolved? Examples please!

Answer 1

It is no longer a government of the people for the people. It is an elite group of power hungry politicians that govern OVER the people. The founding fathers would help start a new revolution.

Answer 2

According to the Federalist Papers, the Constitution was supposed to list ALL of the powers given to the Federal Government, and all other powers (as noted in Amendment X of the Bill of Rights) were to be reserved for the states, or the people. Over the decades, the Federal government has usurped state's rights and personal freedoms, slowly consolidating power in the Federal government and making laws to control what the states can do. In some cases, this is a good thing (ending slavery, regulating interstate commerce, testing and approving drugs) while in others it is bad. But the government ALSO has taken on authority over hundreds of things that they DID NOT receive the power to do in the Constitution. Where in the Constitution does it say that the Government will prop up failing industries? Where does it say that the government will pay for businesses to do research? Where does it say that they can regulate whether researchers can use stem cells? Or where and when you can smoke?

The point is, the way the Constitution was set up, if the Federal Government thought it needed some power that it did not currently have, it was supposed to request an amendment to the Constitution and, if the states supported it, they could get that power. This process has been sidestepped time after time as the Feds grabbed power they had no rights to without gaining the consent of the people. THIS would be the primary displeasure that the Founding Fathers would have in our current system.

I think they would also be appalled by the general election of Senators, the War Powers Act of 1973, Social Security and all of its sister programs, and in general the millions of handouts that individuals and groups get from the national Treasury.

I think they would be pleased by the end of slavery, a two-term limit on the Presidency, national parks, and the general strength of our nation, its people, its economy, and its leadership position in the world (or at least, the leadership position it had up until 2003.)

I thought the recent Newsweek column linked below was interesting in light of this question.

Answer 3

The founding fathers never planned on the US having political parties. The elections and the US government was not set up like this. Also just the large amount of power that the federal government/president have would displease almost all of them.

Answer 4

I think it would please them. This country was allegedly founded on freedom from religious persecution or so the story goes. Except when the colonists arrived, if you didn't practice their religion you were cast out. Hence, Rhode Island and Pennsylvania being formed, by Thomas Hooker and William Penn. Both men who were not Protestants. The country was founded because the colonists didn't want to pay taxes to England for the war England fought to prevent us from being taken over by the French.

If you look at our system of government, from its very conception it is set up to be corrupt. I mean take the words, Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness, right? Only if you are a white male. Women were not allowed to vote and we actually enslaved another race of people simply because they were black.
Women had more rights 1400 years ago under the religion of Islam then they did 100 years ago in the USA.

I think they would be very happy with the way things are in America right now, I think this is exactly what they envisioned for the future. A capitalism driven society where the rich get richer, the poor get poorer and the middle class eventually disappears but who cares as long as they get theirs.

Answer 5

I think at this point they would be appalled in general. Many of them would see the US Government as having usurped powers they intended for the individual states. They would find the multiple levels of bureaucracy as cumbersome as the British system they rebelled against. Having studied Alexander Hamilton to a certain degree, I think he would be horrified by the idea of an NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) like the Federal Reserve having power over our money rather than a central government bank. But all wouldn't be bleak. I think they would be proud of the progress we made by freeing slaves and largely integrating blacks and other minorities into our society, giving women the vote, and otherwise extending human freedom within the nation.

Answer 6

So much has changed they hardly even recognize the government they created, because it has expanded so much. Back in Washington's day he only had 3 cabinet members, now there are tons of federal to local bureaucracies.

The framers of the constitution didn't want to give the poor the right to vote. They feared the poor majority would vote redistribute wealth and trample on minority rights, so they created checks and balances, separation of powers, etc. Yet, since every citizen has the right to vote regardless of gender, race, or social status, I'm sure they would be happy to hear people are too lazy to vote.

Answer 7

Gun bans, Restricted political speech, Taxation of everything, Women voting (not my view, just answering the question), Socialized education, Socialized health care plans, Subsidized corporations, Foreign policing efforts, Social Security, The creation of independent departments and agencies with more power than the Federal government itself was supposed to have, The complete abolishment of State Rights....

Answer 8

I think the thing that would bother the founding fathers the most other then the fact that the government is all about power hungry deceitful people is that religious beliefs are being mixed into our government as well as politics.

Answer 9

I don't think the founders would have though there would be so much greed and corruption and we don't take care of people.

They would be mortified to see treaties broken, unconstitutional laws passed which changes the constitution without a 3/4 majority vote and ratification of the states, in particular, the Military Commission Act of 2006 which can eliminate habeas corpus, a right to be indicted before you can be charged, a right to a civilian jury trial, and a right to an appeal to a civilian court and the Supreme Court if the government decides to execute you!

They would wonder how 1 man was allowed so much power and to go unchecked the majority of his administration.

I know they were against:

He paused for a moment; I could see him trying to calm his breathing. He began to slowly read from the Wall, his eyes moving randomly over the panel. "David T. Hilton. William C. Langham. John A. Gibson. Richard Galan. Danny Lee Frye. Cecil D. Lamm. All these boys blown off the face of the Earth, because we just can't keep our noses out of what's happening on the other side of the world. Ever read George Washington's Farewell Address?"

I shook my head. "He told us not to concern ourselves with what other countries are doing to and amongst themselves. He said it would just get us mired in a big mess. But did we listen? Nooooo. He warned us! Jefferson warned us! Most all of the Founders warned us! John Quincy Adams, about thirty years later, said 'America does not go out in search of monsters to destroy.' Well, now we do, John Q."_ Col David Hackworth

They would wonder how most people claim they are religious and Christian when they can't even keep simple Christian ideals opting out for greed and corruption without helping other's, or even wanting to help others!

“Then the King will say to those on the right, `Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.' Then these righteous ones will reply, `Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?' And the King will tell them, `I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'” (Matthew 25:34-40).

They would think we have destroyed a country!

Answer 10

The founding fathers would roll in their graves over the liberals:

-Giving tax money to people too lazy to work
-Allowing aliens to immigrate ILLEGALLY
-The democrats not supporting our troops