Why should Americans always defer to the Founding Fathers?

[Mathilda]

But surely people did live in that geographical region more than 93 years ago...?

1) Sure, but the same is true for North America.
2) We aren't likely to pine back to Russian or Swedish rule times.

 

[Dachs]

But surely people did live in that geographical region more than 93 years ago...?

People lived here more than 230 years ago...

 

[Tacitusitis]

Not-very-bright people think truth derives from authority.

So something is good or true if you can find a quote of Einstein or George Washington supporting it.

It's bad or false if you can find a quote of Stalin or Mao supporting it.

And evolution is "Darwinism," etc etc.

 

[BSmith1068]

People lived here more than 230 years ago...

Yes, but those of us who came since did a really good job of getting rid of them.

 

[MobBoss]

Yes, but those of us who came since did a really good job of getting rid of them.

I think he was still referring to white people....

 

[Joecoolyo]

I'm not aware of any other country that seems to defer back to it's founders as much as the US.

What about Chavez and Bolivar?

 

[RedRalph]

Some Turks do seem to hark back to the ideals of Atatürk

Very good point.

What about Chavez and Bolivar?

Another good point, though this is more for ideological reasons rather than "he founded Venezuela, thus we must listen to him". It's not *quite* the same thing, but it's pretty close.

 

[Traitorfish]

What about Chavez and Bolivar?

I always saw that as romanticism as much as anything else. Bolivar was a Liberal, while Chavez is a Trotskyist, and their philosophies don't really have much in common beyond pan-Americanism. It's like the way Scottish republicans go on about Bruce and Wallace, who were both monarchists.

 

[Left]

Very good point.



Another good point, though this is more for ideological reasons rather than "he founded Venezuela, thus we must listen to him". It's not *quite* the same thing, but it's pretty close.

Mexican groups also cite Zapata all the time. Its weird looking at both sides of a debate pretending to be the heirs of Zapata.

 

[BasketCase]

So, why should what the Founding Fathers intended be of any relevance to today's political and social issues? I don't know anything near enough about them to judge them, so it's not that I'm saying they are bad templates for a nation, I'm saying why should their opinions count nowadays anyway?

Because they're good ones. If they're not, then repeal part of the Bill of Rights. If a significant number of Americans wanted to do that, they would try. They have not.

So, really, that's the gist of it. The Founding Fathers are to be paid heed because The American Voters say so.

 

[RedRalph]

Kind of circular logic don't you think?

 

[Traitorfish]

Because they're good ones. If they're not, then repeal part of the Bill of Rights. If a significant number of Americans wanted to do that, they would try. They have not.

So, really, that's the gist of it. The Founding Fathers are to be paid heed because The American Voters say so.

But why do they say so? You can't just say "That's how it is because that's how it is". I mean, for God's sake, you're not British.

 

[Formaldehyde]

I think we need to lead a revolt against those who say that's the way it is. After all, that is what our founding fathers would have done.

 

[SerriaFox]

Americans refer to the founding fathers because:

1. We were a "created" country which gives our creator particular voice

2. Because they strongly disagree with some change and our looking for legitimacy

3. Our founding fathers are some of the most quotable people in history.

 

[Cutlass]

Desire not to create "rights" by fiat when there is a perfectly good process for changing the Constitution written into the document?

Which is called Congress. If only you people would leave them free to do it.

 

[Ajidica]

You forgot #4: Romanticism and Misunderstanding.
I had a friend who kept going on an on about how Thomas Paine loved Capitalism and that Common Sense is an embodiment of that because Capitalism is a 'common sense' economic ideology and so on.
Needless to say, I quickly proved him wrong.

 

[DinoDoc]

Which is called Congress. If only you people would leave them free to do it.

Congress is part of the equation, yes. Not the whole part of course.

 

[Tacitusitis]

Because they're good ones. If they're not, then repeal part of the Bill of Rights.

Non sequitur...

 

[Cutlass]

Congress is part of the equation, yes. Not the whole part of course.

The Supremes decide what Congress can and cannot do. Not some pretense of knowing the minds of people 200 years dead.

 

[Arakhor]

3. Our founding fathers are some of the most quotable people in history.

If you say so. I'd take Shakespeare any minute of the year though.