How do you think the founding fathers of the United States would think?

Question

About todays status of the United States?

Answer 1

Not good. We have not been this divided since the Civil war.

Answer 2

Consider the government the Founders had in mind when they wrote the Constitution. It would be squabbling so much and so constantly within itself that it wouldn't have the time or unity to interfere in private affairs. Sure, we have a lot of governmental infighting right now, but it's nothing more than politics; if a politician sees a chance to expand his authority into something new, he won't hesitate to do so. If enough people want that power, consider morals effectively tossed out the window as all of them rush to form a majority. Our government very rarely now makes decisions based on what's right; right and wrong are left up to a majority vote, whether or not that majority knows what it's thinking.

Another restriction of this government would be its pitiable size: while the government would be entitled to certain bits of property which were necessary to its proper function, the vast majority of property would belong to the people. Some government ownership would include a police force, firefighting, and other such things necessary to national security. Libraries, roads, other services (such as disaster relief -- think about the fiasco after Hurricane Katrina, and consider how a private company could have handled it), and yes, even the money supply (except a small tax which the government would require to keep itself running), would belong entirely to the people. You don't see any of that now; in fact, it seems entirely impossible that you can find anything in this world which some government has nothing to do with at all.

While I'm soliloquying here, I'll go so far as to say that the government today has entirely deviated from its assigned purpose: to uphold and protect the rights of its people. That is the only useful and true purpose of any government; beyond that, tyranny commences. Many today are of the mistaken belief that the government grants one's rights to him; this is not true. Were that true, did people have rights before any form of government began making up laws and giving out rights (what I like to call playing God)? People always have their most fundamental rights, regardless of what any government says or does -- you know the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution: life, liberty, property, and the pursuit of happiness. Anything that a government does without the express purpose of protecting those fundamental rights ends up encroaching upon them. The government did a very good job of protecting the citizens' rights for its first fifty years or so of existence, but slowly began to deviate from that toward making certain that everyone was happy -- especially the politicians. The last hurrah was the Emancipation Proclamation and the abolition of slavery, when the government recognized that all people have the same God-given rights regardless of, for lack of a more general term, affiliation. Since then, the government of protecting rights has surfaced only in fits and bursts (some aspects of the Civil Rights movement were good, as was ensuring women the right to vote), but I can't see any more of this happening in the near future.

In short, the Founders would be horrified and deeply ashamed of what they would see today. I envision the majority of them not so much turning over as outright spinning in their graves right now, and it will only get worse from here. I don't know if there's any way to reverse it, either.

Answer 3

They would be absolutely appalled by our politicians greed, partisan politics, and corruption that has existed for the last 40 years. They would puke at the sight of all the political correctness we have to put up with from both Democrats and Republicans in both Houses, and most of all, They would be totally repulsed to the way society has become Godless, without morals, and academically ignorant.

Answer 4

In my opinion, they are rolling over in their graves. This country was founded on the ideal of freedom from oppression. Whether it be unfair taxation, freedom of speech, or freedom of religion, This country is based on the fact that we are free to make our own decisions, and follow our own beliefs. The government has come to close to overstepping these freedoms on many occasions. What ever happened to " Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness"?

Answer 5

I, for one, believe the Founding Fathers are clawing at their coffin lids. The adulteration of of the intent of the Fathers for this country lies equally at the feet of all sides of the congress, presidency and, judiciary. Current leadership is only concerned with power and growth of the govt. without regard for what is correct for America.

Answer 6

They would be saddened.The Federal Government has way overstepped.The balance between it and States Rights is a disgrace.

Answer 7

Too much gov't control. Too many taxes. Not enough members of the gov't looking out for the best intrests of the common man.

Answer 8

I think they would be appalled by the lack of morals people have now. I think they would be disgusted by the lack of ethics. I think they would be outraged at the way people manipulate the laws to justify their sick lifestyles, and I think they would move back to Europe.

Answer 9

Fearful.

Answer 10

they'd be ashamed of how religion has taken over and how we don't value democracy anymore.
if we did we'd have more people voting (and no electoral college), no sympathy for violating the constitution(even during war time), and we'd strive more equality everyday instead of trying to prevent it.