Historians sometimes disagree as to the motives of the American Revolution and the development of the 1787 Constitution that still guides our broader society. Were the Founding Fathers willing to commit treason to protect their money? Maybe. When they sat down to amend the Articles of Confederation they ended with a new Constitution that presented a sly form of democracy that actually limits full citizen participation in the electoral process. The election of presidents from 1788 to 1920 excluded women, Native Americans and severely limited black males reaching voting polls because white males with money wanted to ensure political control.
However, the Founding Fathers created the Electoral College to protect the country (or themselves?) from an uneducated electorate. They were afraid the uneducated and uninformed masses could be seduced by a political charlatan that might reverse everything they built in Philadelphia in 1787. Maybe they were right. Maybe the uneducated and uninformed masses could be seduced by a charlatan.
Forty years ago, Jim Jones led his “church” into the South American jungles, called it Jonestown and promised to create a communal community where all would be welcome and treated fairly. Sounds good. Right up to the day Jones’s followers ambushed and killed a US Congressman and his entourage. Recognizing the sun was setting on his so-called paradise, Jones prepared his final solution.
It’s hard to imagine over 900 individuals committing suicide at the command of someone clearly off his rocker. Jones was certainly a charlatan who led hundreds to their deaths. Forty years ago news of the events shook this country. However, these events somewhat confirmed the fears of the Founding Fathers. The uneducated and uninformed seemingly could be seduced into following someone whose motives may not be in the best of everyone.
Not sure what Jones’s real motives were when he relocated his congregation to South America. Forty years later I don’t think it really matters. What matters is that his followers believed in him and he returned that trust by commanding them to drink tainted Flavor Aid. Maybe the Founding Fathers were right after all.
It does make me wonder about the supporters of our President. No matter his numerous moral indiscretions, there is an unwavering support reminiscent of Jones’s followers. I’ll be on the lookout if sales of Flavor Aid suddenly increases.
See you soon.
PS: Has anyone seen the President’s taxes yet?