“ Sir, I agree to this Constitution with all its faults, if they are such; because I think a general Government necessary for us, and there is no form of Government but what may be a blessing to the people if well administered, and believe farther that this is likely to be well administered for a course of years, and can only end in Despotism, as other forms have done before it, when the people shall become so corrupted as to need despotic Government, being incapable of any other.
Ben Franklin. Man. The speech he gave (or had given on his behalf) at the Constitutional convention is truly interesting. You can read it here: http://www.usconstitution.net/franklin.html. He was exceptionally wise, and so jaded… Don’t be taken in: Most of the “Founding Fathers” were just that. Pragmatists, for the most part, when it all boils down. I’ve really been enjoying Gore Vidal’s [I]Inventing a Nation[/i]. So. You know. Forgive me that.
