Jefferson and Hamilton

“And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”

There is a well known and often commented upon phrase that seems to sadly sum up much of the partisan nonsense that is currently afflicting our elected representatives and their media flacks: “Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.”

It appears that given the dearth of intelligent discourse on the pressing matters of state and the imbecilic rancor that exists within the body politic, it is apparent that the aforementioned phrase is more than apropos.

The American people should not accept that status and must demand more.

The spectrum of political ideologies now mandates that the only solution to the nation’s current woes is to ‘reclaim’ America, and ‘return’ it back to the American people. The methodology that is offered as the vehicle for that transition to invoke the framers and the founders and announce loudly across all outlets and electronic soapboxes that their particular political persuasion has some level of birthright to the principles and ideals of our founding fathers, and that were those men of two hundred plus years ago here today they would absolutely endorse the aforementioned political philosophies and governmental solutions.

Rubbish.

The fact that should concern the electorate is that despite the sincerity with which our elected officials make these claims, the fact is that all it does is amplify their ignorance of American history and the glorious manner in which those founding fathers were able to launch the audacious experiment that is American self rule democracy.

To wit:

There could scarcely be more polar political opposites than Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton.  Jefferson believed in a strong central federal government for issues of national protection and foreign policy, but that a more agrarian based society with powers granted more to the local governments was the American ideal. Hamilton was a staunch believer that commerce and trade was the true route to a more prosperous America.

In today’s political ideology, Thomas Jefferson would fall more into the classification of moderate Democrat while Hamilton would undoubtedly be the poster child for the conservative movement currently in resurgence.

Yet these two giants of American independence, their views diametrically opposite, understood the promise of America and the need for those entrusted with her success would need to forge compromise.

Thomas Jefferson was appointed by President George Washington to be the fledgling nation’s first Secretary of State. Alexander Hamilton was also requested by President Washington to serve in his first cabinet as Treasury Secretary.

Perhaps those currently holding elective office should take note of Washington’s’ wisdom in choosing the best people for the necessary duties, knowing that in such instances those people will put aside their political squabbles and serve the American people with the best fruits of their industry.

If that wisdom is ignored, as it currently appears, we will no longer prosper and flourish as a nation. We will surely drown in political platitudes.

We owe our posterity the same political courage that was truly best exemplified by our founding fathers, in all their political opposition glory.