American Pariah: Why the Founding Fathers Would Reject the GOP

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Republican lawmakers, pundits, and Tea Party patriots all claim a desire to return to the Founding Father’s view of America and a strict constitutional interpretation of governance in America. The problem is that the Founders had a very different idea of America than these new constitutionalists, and they would reject the philosophy that the rich and industrialists should have the power to control the government.

Republicans and conservatives in general lean heavily toward and support corporations and financial institutions’ domination of America and its citizens. The Founding Fathers believed that people should be the first priority of the government, and some of our most famous constitutionalists believed that banking and corporate monopolies were a pariah on America.

Conservatives believe in free market capitalism without restriction or regulation regardless of the drain on the economy, and keep working Americans in near poverty in order to maximize profits. When they cannot beat down workers in America, they lobby legislators to get tax breaks for moving jobs out of the country where they find the cheapest possible labor. When Democrats tried to take the tax breaks and incentives away for moving jobs overseas, Republicans blocked their efforts and insured that Americans stayed unemployed; just so corporations could keep their tax breaks, cheap labor, and no regulatory oversight.

Republicans also made every attempt to block financial reforms so banks and the rich could continue reaping profits at the expense of workers. It seems that conservatives believe banks, corporations, and the wealthy are privileged, and work tirelessly to allow them unrestricted control and wealth at the expense of working people. The founding fathers did not, and would not approve of the mindset and practices of conservatives regarding big business and the banking industry.

The man responsible for writing the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson, said in 1816 that, “I sincerely believe that banking establishments are more dangerous than standing armies.” Jefferson was prophetic in warning that banking establishments could do more damage to America than an army, and if he were alive today, he would certainly see his words come to fruition as the banking industry and financial institutions have had a major role in creating the deep recession the country and the world is in today.

Benjamin Franklin stated that, “No man ought to own more property than needed for his livelihood; the rest, by right, belonged to the state.” Franklin would not approve of corporate America owning and controlling America or its workforce, much less controlling the government.

The second President of the United States, John Adams, said in 1765 that, “Property monopolized or in possession of a few is a curse to mankind.” Adams knew that too much power in the hands of a wealthy powerful few would be detrimental to mankind, and in America today, the curse to mankind is the few monopolizing the resources of the majority.

The Founders would not approve of the tyranny of corporate-industrial power in America, and yet conservatives claim to want to return to the original intent of the Founders. Either Republicans and Conservatives are ignorant of the original intent of the Founders, or they know and ignore it for the campaign contributions the banking and corporate industries provide them. The framers of the Constitution were concerned that what is happening today would be a detriment to freedom and stability; they were correct.

Republicans have enabled class warfare between the wealthy and the working class, and they give every advantage to the extremely wealthy over working people. Even some conscientious wealthy Americans realize there is too much advantage given to the rich at the expense of the working class, and know it is not fair.

Warren Buffett, one of the worlds’ richest men knows there is class war in America and realizes the rich get all the advantages at the expense of the middle class and the poor. Buffett said that, “It’s class warfare, my class is winning, but they shouldn’t be.” Buffett has been outspoken about the disadvantage the poor and working class are put in and knows it is wrong.

When Republicans, Teabags, and conservative groups claim they want the original intent of the Constitution and the Founding Fathers, they should first learn what their intent was for America. However, conservatives only use catch-phrases that sound noble, and Americans fall for their lies and deceit every time. Why else would Americans vote for people who act contrary to the intent of the Founders? Because they are lazy, ignorant, and think that because a group says what they want to hear, they will look out for their interests.

The Founders were quite explicit that America should be governed by a representational legislature, and warned against banks and monopolies getting too powerful. Conservatives have taken the Founders’ intent as what not to do, and have given power to the banks and corporations at the expense of working Americans. The founders were concerned about tyranny of the wealthy and tried to warn us about the danger, but it just served as a model for conservatives to allow the tyranny of corporate banking to control the government. This is not the America the Founding Fathers envisioned, and the blame lies at the feet of Republicans and their conservative money masters.

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Rmuse

Audio engineer and instructor for SAE. Writes op/ed commentary supporting Secular Humanist causes, and exposing suppression of women, the poor, and minorities. An advocate for freedom of religion and particularly, freedom of NO religion.

Born in the South, raised in the Mid-West and California for a well-rounded view of America; it doesn't look good.

Former minister, lifelong musician, Mahayana Zen-Buddhist.