Trump is the kinglike president many feared when arguing over the US Constitution in 1789 – and his address to Congress showed it
theconversation.com
When the US Constitution was written, many people − from those who wrote the document to those on the outside who read it − believed that endowing the president with kinglike powers was dangerous.
  • yesman@lemmy.world
    1·
    7 days ago

    I think we need to drop the premise that the Founders were geniuses who’s dusty ass opinions count for jack shit.

    The secret is that they were just regular politicians from a long time ago.

      • FauxLiving@lemmy.world
        0·
        7 days ago

        It’s promoting the idea that the opinions of politicians from the 1700s carry any more weight than the opinions of doctors from the 1700s.

        Adherence to “what the founding fathers wanted” is a toxic meme. They were historical figures, that’s all.

        The Supreme Court uses this meme as a totem to excuse motivated reasoning in their decisions and people are simply conditioned to accept the words of 300 year old politicians over the reality of the present.

        We can understand the danger of Trump without quoting from old slave owners, pretending that they carry special wisdom.

        • cheers_queers@lemm.eeEnglish
          0·
          6 days ago

          it’s especially ironic, considering that the founding fathers themselves did not want this. they created a “living document” because they were smart enough to realize that times change and laws should change with it.

          unfortunately, their biggest fans today have completely ignored that part.