It's also a terrible intellectual blunder. Here are four reasons why no one should ever invoke "The Founders":
1. There is no one recognized club of "Founders" (If only there was a Facebook group).
- Are you talking about some of the common big names, like Washington, Adams, Franklin, and Jefferson? Or, are you talking about some lesser-known men like Witherspoon, Henry, Marshall, and Jay? Maybe you're more progressive and want to talk about Abigail Adams. Turns out, no one is EVER talking about the same individuals in these arguments.
2. There is no one point or event in United States History that can be dubbed "THE founding."
- Could be the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Could be the Articles of Confederation in 1781. Could be the Constitution in 1787. Could even be the Virginians in 1607 or the Puritans in 1620. Who your "Founders" are will depend on which dates and events you choose to focus on.
3. The "Founders" were a diverse group of people, with a diverse set of beliefs on everything.
- The Constitution did not fall out of heaven already complete, with everyone in perfect agreement on its divine origin. It was forged through days of debates, and scores of compromises. No single man at the Constitutional Convention got exactly what he wanted. What every man did get was a document of compromise that they could all settle with, even if they didn't agree with everything in it.
4. The "Founders" were humans, who changed their minds over time.
- A good example of this is James Madison.
In 1787, he was the primary architect of the Constitution, pushing for a stronger national government than many of his contemporaries wanted (Jefferson, Henry). Only a decade later, in 1798, he helped Jefferson draft the Kentucky and Virgina Resolutions, classic defenses of the rights of states to challenge the power of the national government. So if you're referring to Madison in your founders argument, which Madison are you referring to?The Founders were many, diverse, and human. Appealing to them like they're Jesus re-personified, or a unified biblical text is unfair, and unhelpful.
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2 comments:
Jefferson is probably more problematic than any other "founder" due to the continual ambiguity with which he spoke on many things.
Brian, you are a purist, which makes you particularly ill-suited for politics, where nearly everyone in nearly every age has had no qualms about enlisting persons, events, and ideas to which they have no logical claim upon for their arguments. The aim is not to present truthful claims, but to persuade people to do what you want them to do. It is the classical problem that Plato had with the sophists of his day.
I lament with you.
Very nice piece on "the Founders."
I found your blog by clicking the “Next Blog” button on the blue Nav Bar found at the top of most Blogger/com/blogspot blogs. I frequently just “blog surf” to find out what others are doing in the blogosphere. I enjoyed the experience. Keep it going.
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