I am 3/4 through Bordewich's "Bound for Canaan", a history of the politics of the early to mid 1800's in slave America, and the Underground Railway.
It is no wonder that "former" Slave States are at the core of Red States today. The political philosophers who founded the Nation stated a principle but served that principle with expedience, the keystone of America's worst troubles ever since. "3/5 of a person". Indeed.
We see now what Jefferson meant when he did not differentiate when he wrote that we are all equal, and have equal rights as entitlements: equal life, equal liberty, freedom to do what we want if we don't hurt others. One, two, three. If you don't believe in that, you're not an American.
That also means, one person, one vote. Just like the indispensable "3/5" compromise, the Electoral College is an absurdity the time of which has come to dispense with as indefensibly bigoted as denial of voting based on race or gender or property.
Quite fascinating how accepted social norms change over time, the idea of politicians today challenging each other to duels would be quite ridiculous😅
Definitely! It would make things a bit more exciting though! 😆
What an entertaining essay!
I am 3/4 through Bordewich's "Bound for Canaan", a history of the politics of the early to mid 1800's in slave America, and the Underground Railway.
It is no wonder that "former" Slave States are at the core of Red States today. The political philosophers who founded the Nation stated a principle but served that principle with expedience, the keystone of America's worst troubles ever since. "3/5 of a person". Indeed.
We see now what Jefferson meant when he did not differentiate when he wrote that we are all equal, and have equal rights as entitlements: equal life, equal liberty, freedom to do what we want if we don't hurt others. One, two, three. If you don't believe in that, you're not an American.
That also means, one person, one vote. Just like the indispensable "3/5" compromise, the Electoral College is an absurdity the time of which has come to dispense with as indefensibly bigoted as denial of voting based on race or gender or property.
Really impressive piece, and glad to know that I'm not the only John Quincy Adams fan out there!