And it seems that we've been having the states'rights debate since the very beginning. On one hand, you had the Federalists, let by Washington and Hamilton. On the other, you had the Democratic Republicans, founded by Jefferson and Madison. They had different visions of what America should become
And you know what else? The tabloid press was just as crazy back then as it is now. The they accused Washington and the Federalists of wanting to create a British-style monarchy in America. "They want to create an all-powerful federal government. They want the president to have king-like authority."
And Washington didn't handle the criticism well. He only took the job reluctantly, and he couldn't wait to get out of office.
Also, it sounds like American politics has been divisive and partisan from the start. George Washington had hoped that Americans would rise above the nastiness of party politics, but he was dead wrong. Almost immediately, America was bitterly divided between two parties, and they attacked each other viciously.
Thomas Jefferson became an enemy of Washington. He accused Washington of horrible things, and he did everything he could to undermine him. And one of his friends, Benjamin Franklin Bache, made it his life's mission to smear and slander Washington. He founded a newspaper just for that purpose.
So, I guess American politics has always been divisive and nasty. I guess what were experiencing today isn't so unique after all.
I guess this is sort of a built-in feature of democracy, one of its down-sides. It pits us against each other and makes us fight over every policy
I'm reading Ron Chernows biography about George Washington. My brother bought it for me as a Christmas gift. It is by far the largest book I've ever read.
Something about Washington stood out to me. Whenever he assumed a new office, the first thing he did was dampen people's expectation. "I am not qualified for this office. But my country calls upon me, so I will try my best."
He didnt brag about how he was going to make America great. He didn't talk about how we're going to win, win, win. No, he gave an honest assessment of his abilities.
I thought that was interesting because it's such a contrast to Trump - and most other politicians today.
Lucky for him, Washington didn't have to do any campaigning. He never went to college, and he wasn't as smart as the other founders. He also wasn't very charismatic. But he was so popular and admired that he was a shoo-in to the presidency.
Maybe there was no need to hype up voters with absurd promises
And it seems that we've been having the states'rights debate since the very beginning. On one hand, you had the Federalists, let by Washington and Hamilton. On the other, you had the Democratic Republicans, founded by Jefferson and Madison. They had different visions of what America should become
And you know what else? The tabloid press was just as crazy back then as it is now. The they accused Washington and the Federalists of wanting to create a British-style monarchy in America. "They want to create an all-powerful federal government. They want the president to have king-like authority."
And Washington didn't handle the criticism well. He only took the job reluctantly, and he couldn't wait to get out of office.
It reminded me so much of the right-wing conspiracy theories. I thought that was very funny.
Also, it sounds like American politics has been divisive and partisan from the start. George Washington had hoped that Americans would rise above the nastiness of party politics, but he was dead wrong. Almost immediately, America was bitterly divided between two parties, and they attacked each other viciously.
Thomas Jefferson became an enemy of Washington. He accused Washington of horrible things, and he did everything he could to undermine him. And one of his friends, Benjamin Franklin Bache, made it his life's mission to smear and slander Washington. He founded a newspaper just for that purpose.
So, I guess American politics has always been divisive and nasty. I guess what were experiencing today isn't so unique after all.
I guess this is sort of a built-in feature of democracy, one of its down-sides. It pits us against each other and makes us fight over every policy
Democracy is adversarial by design.
I'm reading Ron Chernows biography about George Washington. My brother bought it for me as a Christmas gift. It is by far the largest book I've ever read.
Something about Washington stood out to me. Whenever he assumed a new office, the first thing he did was dampen people's expectation. "I am not qualified for this office. But my country calls upon me, so I will try my best."
He didnt brag about how he was going to make America great. He didn't talk about how we're going to win, win, win. No, he gave an honest assessment of his abilities.
I thought that was interesting because it's such a contrast to Trump - and most other politicians today.
Lucky for him, Washington didn't have to do any campaigning. He never went to college, and he wasn't as smart as the other founders. He also wasn't very charismatic. But he was so popular and admired that he was a shoo-in to the presidency.
Maybe there was no need to hype up voters with absurd promises
Of course, that's his "plan"! Don't believe anything he says!🙄