Reply #157: Because the founders believed in evolution [View All]

[Prism]

Political systems, until that time, were basically formulated to lock in existing power structures. Western civilization and government, however, have been evolving over time to include more and more individual freedom. The founders' genius was in recognizing this in both the Bill of Rights and the elastic clause. They knew that what they believed in at that time would not last. They wanted a government that could evolve with the people. If you read the letters and papers of the founders, this theme constantly crops up in their thoughts. They kept saying "This will change. That will change." They created a form of government that would allow change. That was revolutionary for their time, and it is an idea that has lasted and provides a lamp to future generations. Change. It is at the heart of our ideals and always has been. That's the genius of America.

Many founders even knew that not only would slavery not last, if it was not phased out the country would pay a price. Over and over again in American political thought leading up to the Civil War, politician after politician kept saying "Slavery is going to screw us, one way or another. This system cannot hold if the republic is to maintain its integrity." They were right. No one did anything, and when the piper needed paying, the cost was almost unendurable. It nearly shattered us.

Even today, under that same Constitution, we could change things for the better. We can have a society and democracy that provides for our current needs. Our problem isn't the Constitution. Our problem is that the people lack the unity and knowledge necessary to work that Constitution for their benefit. The politicians and moneyed classes use every method imaginable to keep the unwashed masses ignorant of the power they hold in this system. If we really wanted to, we could toss all of them out tomorrow. If we really wanted to, we could reorder the existing power structure to be more citizen friendly.

It requires the will of the people, and the founders knew that and provided us with a way. Their foresight and their creation of a system that would bend to the will of the people has lasted, and the ideas behind it have evolved with it. This Constitution could last for centuries more if the people and politicians were vigilant guardians of its ideals. Right now, our politicians are not good custodians of that document. The people are slumbering.

Something will have to change, and that things can change are why we honor the founders today.