I just studied Franklin’s address (which was previously unfamiliar to me) in Chapter 5. That speech was a sad capitulation to the titanic power struggle occurring beneath the surface of the Constitutional Convention—one in which even Franklin was cancelled. On the other hand, the speech was also a brilliant coded message to the future to be aware of the shortfalls of the Constitution (or, perhaps, any constitution) and to keep honing the paradigm. Thoroughly enjoying your book!
Thanks so much, Jack! Yes, isn't Franklin's speech at the end of the Constitutional Convention chilling? "...this is likely to be well administered for a course of years, and can only end in Despotism..." And for him to accede to it and say, "The opinions I have had of its errors, I sacrifice to the public good. I have never whispered a syllable of them abroad. Within these walls they were born, and here they shall die."
I can't help but wonder, if Franklin had not taken sick and been late to the Convention, enabling Washington the warmonger to replace him as chair, would the US have no permanent military, no gov't debt, and no slavery for the next 80 years? Would states have had the right to issue their own currency, providing a model for the rest of the world? The last 200 years of colonization might have gone a different direction.
They were going to have slavery regardless. The Southern states would not have come in without it. As for the issuance of currency, the states would be tempted to the same bad practices as the Federal government. I"d suggest currency created by ordinary people organized in credit unions. I have a plan.... But not for a comments section.
I just studied Franklin’s address (which was previously unfamiliar to me) in Chapter 5. That speech was a sad capitulation to the titanic power struggle occurring beneath the surface of the Constitutional Convention—one in which even Franklin was cancelled. On the other hand, the speech was also a brilliant coded message to the future to be aware of the shortfalls of the Constitution (or, perhaps, any constitution) and to keep honing the paradigm. Thoroughly enjoying your book!
Thanks so much, Jack! Yes, isn't Franklin's speech at the end of the Constitutional Convention chilling? "...this is likely to be well administered for a course of years, and can only end in Despotism..." And for him to accede to it and say, "The opinions I have had of its errors, I sacrifice to the public good. I have never whispered a syllable of them abroad. Within these walls they were born, and here they shall die."
I can't help but wonder, if Franklin had not taken sick and been late to the Convention, enabling Washington the warmonger to replace him as chair, would the US have no permanent military, no gov't debt, and no slavery for the next 80 years? Would states have had the right to issue their own currency, providing a model for the rest of the world? The last 200 years of colonization might have gone a different direction.
They were going to have slavery regardless. The Southern states would not have come in without it. As for the issuance of currency, the states would be tempted to the same bad practices as the Federal government. I"d suggest currency created by ordinary people organized in credit unions. I have a plan.... But not for a comments section.