What would they think?

[jerkyman45]

I'm writing a paper for a government class I'm taking, and the question posed is If the Founding Fathers returned today, how would they feel about what has become of the nation they began?"

I answered that they would be dissapointed, with so many infringements on personal liberties and so many assaults on our freedoms that we hold dear, namely those enumerated in the Second Ammendment. I wanted to know what you guys thought about this, and what your answers to the question would be.

 

[lotus]

"We told them not to let women vote!"

 

[Werewolf]

The founders would marvel at the prosperity and wealth of the nation they founded. They would be awed by the technological advances.

They would be shocked and disappointed by the amount of power that the federal government has seized from the people it was set up to serve.

 

[loki.fish]

They're already rolling in their graves about the way the government has seized too much control from the people.

 

[Lupinus]

at first they would be proud

then they would turn on cnn and ask why the hell there wasnt more hangings and cry when they say the goverment today.

 

[Drewtam]

The above responses are true...

but the first thing they would notice: why are women wearing pants?
why are they wearing only underwear in public (shorts, t-shirts and bikinis)!?
Everyone has such vulgar and foul language?
HOW many illegitimate children are born each year?

The casualness of everyday dress, moral compass, speech, divorce, feminism, disregard for the bible/religion, mixed marriage/mixed children, children dont work, end of slavery, total war, welfare, and a list of other such dramatic cultural changes over the past 200yrs would overwelm they're first impressions.

Some these seem minor and obvious to us now, but we are worlds apart from the culture of our founding fathers. In some ways this is a good thing (end of slavery, we are wealthy enough for our children not have to work the fields till thier fingers bleed, etc); in other ways we have degraded since thier time (in our speech to one another, divorce, impatient, selfish, etc).

They would be extremely saddened to see that thier worst case scenario of Federal power came true. The federal gov't regulates everything from the toilets we sit on , to the cars we drive , the guns we buy , the food we eat, and every thing that touches our lives :banghead: .

Yes we have advanced technologically so much in the past 100 years.
Fresh, purified water,
Indoor plumbing,
electric light,
excellent roads,
washing/drying machines,
combines/harvestors,
insecticides/herbicides,
industrialised housing materials/construction equipment/computers,
cars,
etc
but these, in the end, are the tools of our society, not the substance.
I think we have as a society have forgotten that; this stuff is all great or a great waste but it depends on who we are as a people.

Drew

 

[wdlsguy]

I think they would be disappointed that the King's Men are allowed to own weapons citizens can't own. Also the fact that most citizens see nothing wrong with this situation.

 

[bluecowdawg]

They would be shocked and disappointed by the amount of power that the federal government has seized from the people it was set up to serve

:banghead: I think this would be most dissapointing to them

 

[Standing Wolf]

The founding fathers would gasp in horror, then call for armed rebellion.

 

[czdavid]

Hey fellas. This is my first post (like that wasn't obvious) so bear with me. I would honestly have to say they would be surprised by the advances we've made over the past 230 years. But on the flip side, they would wonder what version of the Constitution we've been reading lately! I am ashamed at how flippantly so many politicians have treated the one document that preserves our freedoms. I can only imagine how ashamed they would be!

 

[Griff]

Welcome, Sir; and good post!
Thomas Jeffereson, (BudLight//Mister Brilliant Everything Invennnntor-Guy//BudLight) seemed to be of the opinion that politicians were somewhat expendable also, and, more often than not, deserving of such a fate, in his quote about the Liberty Tree needing an occasional watering with the blood of tyrants.

Overall, though, I think that they were optimists, and would be happy to see that the good company here, at least, are sticking to the plan.

 

[jerkyman45]

Thanks for the input guys.

 

[High Planes Drifter]

Firearm related: If they did come back I for one would ask them to explain EXACTLY what they meant by the Second Amendment ; in no uncertain terms, to the gun grabbing liberals. Arms, as in "The Right To Keep and Bear Arms" , does NOT mean pitchforks and shovels !

General : I think they would be speechless....... just speechless.

 

[Furncliff]

With all due respect to the founding fathers.

They had a very difficult time agreeing on what went into the foundation of this country. They would have an equally difficult time agreeing on a viewpoint of the nation as it is today.

Just as we do.

After you quizzed them for a couple of hours they'd all want a beer, aboard a jet, bound for Disney World.