Have Americans Lost Touch?

Portrait of Benjamin Franklin

Like a failing marriage, Americans seem to have lost touch with the principles that once guided their purpose. America was founded out of the struggle for economic freedom in Europe. Europe was dominated by monarchies and aristocracies that existed for the purpose of existing, and nothing more. The people's of Europe were heavily taxed and no development to the land, to infrastructure, or to industry was realized from those taxes. The funds collected from the people were used to support a disproportionate government and its extravagances. The opportunity to build a government whose sole purpose was to support the development, prosperity, and happiness of its people was only possible in the New World.


After the American Revolution, industrial and agricultural production flourished. America quickly outpaced many other economic powers that had existed for centuries. An influx of European immigrants fled to America in hopes of a new start where any man could reap the benefits of his labor. Government existed as the foundation to organize these efforts. For, the nation thrives when its people are productive, successful, and happy. The need for infrastructural development was at the core of the nation's desire. From the genius of Alexander Hamilton, a national bank was developed and a report on public credit circulated throughout the financial circles. The idea that the nation could go in debt to itself to allow for an increase of productivity and by way of doing this taxes would increase to pay off the debt/credit originally created. It was a revolutionary idea in banking, one that still has yet to receive its full "credit" today.

The nation was headed by great men, praised and honored by the people. America was showing the world what was capable in a nation when it rides on the side of its citizens. 

Let us teleport through time, nearly 250 years later to today's America. People are ignorant. They know nothing of American history, of the principles which founded the nation, and most have disdain, if not hatred for their government. In my opinion this is because they do not understand the true purpose of the government, of its role, and therefore have no way of holding it responsible. Our government is "for the people" and must be organized to protect their interests. It is "by the people" and those people must be qualified for the job. It is "of the people" and those people must know who they are. If you do not understand these concepts and the historic and revolutionary struggles that went into establishing them, then you have lost touch.

After the Constitutional Convention was over, an onlooker asked Benjamin Franklin, "Well, Doctor, what have we got--a Republic or a Monarchy?" To which Franklin responded, "A Republic, if you can keep it."