Written by Frank Li
Shocked by the title? Shock not! John Adams said it more than 200 years ago!
In this post, I will further elaborate it, with the advantage of having more than 200 years of history behind us.
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1. The French Revolution vs. the American Revolution
Below is an excerpt from The French Revolution vs. the American Revolution.
Unlike the French Revolution, which was started by the starving people for bread, the American Revolution was actually instigated by a bunch of rich people, most notably Samuel Adams and John Hancock, who simply did not want to pay [more] taxes to the mother country! They conspicuously hid this real reason behind an eloquent slogan of “no taxation without representation.”
It’s time to end the lie!
In short, the American Revolution was not a revolution per se. Instead, it was a rebellion by the rich people, for the rich people, of the rich people!
2. The Declaration of Independence
It is a beautiful document, especially effective against King George III at the time. But will it last? Perhaps not …
For more, read: “All Men Are Created Equal”, Really?
3. The U.S. Constitution
It is also a beautiful document, especially effective at the time.
However, “We the People”, as in the original U.S. Constitution, refers to everybody, except for the minorities, women, and even white men without [enough] property!
In short, it was by the rich people, for the rich people, of the rich people!
For more, read: “We the People,” Really?
4. Who are the Founding Fathers?
All were white men. Most were rich and slave-owners. Few truly believed in “all men are created equal”, but all liked it as an eloquent slogan against the British king at the time!
They wanted to keep their way of life, if not becoming richer, with being independent from Britain being most important – Freedom from King George III!
5. What did the Founding Fathers do, actually?
After asking George Washington to be the king for America but he refused, they founded America as a republic. Three highlights:
- The Founding Fathers studied democracy and rejected it.
- They copied a lot from the Roman Empire.
- They wanted a limited government.
Let me elaborate on each …
5.1 They studied democracy and rejected it!
Democracy (i.e. one man, one vote) was invented in ancient Greece. Athenian democracy lasted less than 150 years.
Aristotle clearly saw the problem of democracy (see image below), and thought the problem might be solved by resolving the inequality issue.
In contrast, Thomas Jefferson did not like democracy at all (see image below), and wanted no part of it for America.
Why was Jefferson so different from Aristotle? Did Jefferson think it was impossible to resolve the inequality issue, as Aristotle thought? If yes, was Jefferson of/for/by the rich?
5.2 They copied a lot from the Roman Empire!
From the structure of the government to the symbol!
As for the structure, one example: the power was to chiefly reside in the U.S. Senate, with the Electoral College as a safe-guard against [pure] democracy (by the popular vote).
As for the symbol, compare the two eagles below!
For more, read: America: What Did Our Founding Fathers Do, Actually?
5.3 They wanted a limited government
Leave the [rich] people alone and let them be what they wanted to be – be rich and richer (via “the accumulation of wealth”), with the rising tide lifting all boats, hopefully!
6. Discussion
America has been a contradiction since its first days. Two grand examples:
- A limited government with a set-up to become an empire, with a tremendous amount of territory expansion over time. For more, read: Expansionism: Woodrow Wilson vs. Thomas Jefferson.
- The notion of “We the People”. Read on …
Two monumental changes fundamentally challenging the notion of “We the People”:
- The American Civil War: It was the first big attempt to make America truly of/by/for the people, rather than of/by/for the rich people!
- The Second American Revolution under Way?
Let me elaborate on each …
6.1 The American Civil War
The image below is worth more than 1,000 words.
This notion of the “people”, by Lincoln’s time, would soon include slaves.
6.2 The Second American Revolution
Below is an excerpt from The Second American Revolution under Way?
America has been in a steep decline over the past decade at least. “We the People” simply do not know what to do, other than trying something, anything, very different, such as electing someone very different to be the President – First Barack Obama, then Donald Trump!
Two basic questions:
- Today, aren’t we still a country of/by/for the rich people? Any doubt? Look at the money involved in politics!
- Have we simply diluted the notion of a royal family from one to several?
Two profound questions:
- Can an empire be built-to-last without an emperor?
- Can a country be great without a great (but limited) government?
7. Summary
Can any country possibly be more exceptional than America, which was founded with neither a king nor a pope? No, of course not! Yet, today, not only is America most religious among the developed countries, she also seems to be yearning for a king, if not a living God (Is Donald Trump a God?). Why is that?
To correctly answer the question, we must go all the way back to the birth of the country (i.e. the America Revolution), in order to truly understand what America was some 240 years ago and what America is today.
Governance is hard.
Exceptional at birth, America has proven to be not exceptional at all.
For an accurate diagnosis of America, as well as the best solution, read my last book: American Democracy – Why is it failing & how to fix it?
8. Closing
The American Revolution is a lie!
Or more precisely, its purported reason (e.g. “all men are created equal” and “We the People”) is a lie!
It’s time for my fellow Americans to recognize it as such, before possibly making America great again!
Now, please sit back and enjoy the long video below: to the British, the American Revolution was a civil war!
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