What would the Founding Fathers think about America today?
367250
I think that they would be amazed with all the government red tape. Jefferson believed in limited government involvement in peoples lives. Washington being a general would be surprised in the military both foreign and domestic. And I think they would be surprised on how much of a world powerhouse (the United States) the 13 original rebel colonies turned into. They would be pleased in all the good things and distressed with all the bad.
1184459
Some wise guys once said-\n"That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."\n\nIn other words, it is our duty to revolt against oppression and dictators and ensure our constitution represents the needs of the people.\n\nIt was the founding fathers of the United States who wrote these words into the Declaration of Independence and they apply just as much today as 200 years ago.\n\nThe only problem is many people are scared because of the all the "don't go there, its treason" clauses inserted by law makers ever since to stop reform.\n\nTime is up. America needs change.\n\nhttp://united-america.org
417500
This is actually from the Declaration of Independence...\n"...life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Thomas Jefferson, who wrote it, had not quite determined whether or not the colonists had a natural right to property. But he did have great conviction that the British, or any government for that matter, could not impede their God-given right to live out their lives without tyrannical, micromanaging elitists controling every aspect of life.
390887
Are going???????  ...Don't you really mean to say: Have already gone?    ...Indeed, we are looking at a very sad and dangerous heading for our hard-fought democracy.   Poor founding fathers have been shaking in their bones for some time now, I'm afraid.   I truly wonder: Have we really taken good enough care of the wonderful and immeasurable heritage they had left us?   It is much harder to recover our lost liberties than to lose them.   ...The worst crimes in this world have always been committed and justified in the name of the best and the holiest of intentions.
1042939
Wow. The question contained the answer that I would have wrote. Look up the Ben Franklin quote about Liberty. That says it all.
349997
There was a time when that was true. \ni was brought up believing that America was the land of the free. \nas you get older and wiser, things are never what they seem. \nin today's America it is land. \nof the free NO MORE. \nsadly.
1096284
Don't feel that they hate liberty and America exactly, but have own opinions that don't really express the true American spirit.  They tend to look at the small picture instead of the whole.
673598
No.  You're showing your reverence for freedom of expression, which is a right the Founding Fathers wanted.  I can't see how one can be said to be bashing America by using American tactics.
80782
This is a thoughtful question..........Yes, this is a real possibility. America has always stood for the premise of what our country was founded by our forefathers.  Today we have so many people that want to enjoy the "freedom" of our Nation but do not want to accept the responsibilities. Many people do not hold to the same beliefs of the Bill of Rights or the Constitution...........they think of self and the dollar.  Many of the same 7 reasons Rome fell exist in the United States today.  Others have touched on the reasons, this weakens our nation. We need to take back the strengths that we held true in the 20th century and prior years.
720121
"My fellow Americans, Tomorrow thousands of Government Bureaucrats will receive pink slips as I am eliminating the department of housing and urban development and the department of education.  In one swoop of a pen I will save the government millions and improve education in America.  Later today I will sign the Fair Tax bill into law, eliminating the income tax and all other pay role taxes and the Internal Revenue Service enacting a Federal sales tax to be enforced by the states.  This act will eliminate vast amounts of government waste and bring power back to the citizens of the country.  \n\nI look forward to bringing you a government that will bring you more liberty and take less from you, giving you more responsibility and freedom to live as you choose, a government of the people and for the people.  I believe as Thomas Jefferson did that 'he who governs least, governs best'"
776792
I wouldn't; it is an outdated system that needs to be completely overhauled...the genius of the founding fathers is that they knew that they could not anticipate what the future would be and therefore built in a system to change things as the country evoled...i.e the second amendment and the electoral college both need to be reconsidered
494815
What a silly solution.Accept your countries great achievements.This made america proud.Better to direct your thoughts to todayThen america was the envy of the world. Not so today
525557
An American is a defined legal status as structured by the United States Constitution and the resulting policies already established.  This is no different than defining citizenship of people around the world when going from country to country.  \n\nIt is the question of "What makes a Good American?" that should be asked.  I believe that among the characteristics that a good American should possess the following of essentials:  Embrace of the Democratic Ideal and an acceptance of its lack of definitive edges.  Active participation in the evolution of the democratic government from the local to the national level, A sense of duty to protect these ideals from harm and sacrifice for their growth, Legal compliance with established laws and peaceful but fervent action to reform those laws one finds unsatisfactory, willingness to learn and use the English language, and above all a sense of gratitude to all of those men and women who have suffered and died just to keep America a place where freedom is still alive and where our biggest worries are most often trivial in comparison to those faced by the rest of the world.
1050150
It's scary how much Jefferson, Madison, and Franklin predicted in their sayings and how badly they're ignored today when their philosophy is most applicable.\n\nHey, JFK quoter...figure out what "liberty" means and we'll see which way that quote applies.  JFK also said (quoting Teddy Roosevelt), when asked to sing a bar of his favorite song:\n\n"The President is merely the most important among a large number of public servants. He should be supported or opposed exactly to the degree which is warranted by his good conduct or bad conduct, his efficiency or inefficiency in rendering loyal, able, and disinterested service to the nation as a whole. Therefore it is absolutely necessary that there should be full liberty to tell the truth about his acts, and this means that it is exactly as necessary to blame him when he does wrong as to praise him when he does right. Any other attitude in an American citizen is both base and servile. To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. Nothing but the truth should be spoken about him or any one else. But it is even more important to tell the truth, pleasant or unpleasant, about him than about any one else. "\n\nhttp://www.worldofquotes.com/author/John-Fitzgerald-Kennedy/1/index.html\n\nSgt_K:  Reality check man, on that $3.00 a gallon, the refinery makes about $0.10 profit (PLUS the initial cost of the barrel of oil), meaning the sale price is slightly higher.  The OIL company that drills the oil sells it at market value, currently around $70/barrel.  The retailer (often owned by the same oil company that refined and drilled the oil, ie Shell) pockets all but the tax rate, which runs at around 17% excise on gas.  Sum total, Shell, Conoco, Exxon, etc pocket around $2.50 on every $3.00 gallon sold.
345600
The American Constitution is a living document whose meaning changes over time.  It was written by the founding fathers.  Thomas Jefferson's ideas were heavily relied upon.  Courts constantly interpret the meaning of the words, which is why it changes.  This explains, for example, why abortion rights have changed over time.
447927
Present America is like pre WWII Germany!\nYou just see they want any others to prosper. Because of their ongoing fookish decisions, whole world is suffering (e.g. hike in petrol price to $72/barrell!!! Is it not fact?)\n\nAmericans are enjoying their lavish life at the cost of world.\n\nThose who think otherwise, should re-assess their veiws & may modify their comments.
670709
Patrick Henry would have objected to much of this administration's policies.  \n\nI think Patrick Henry would be screaming about the decline of liberty under this administration, and the threat from wiretapping, the Patriot Act, and dozens of other kinds of government snooping.  In that day, patriots understood that a government with great power was a government that had great power to take liberty away from the people.\n\nHe would also cringe at the size of the government, and the tremendous expansion under this administration.  He would know that all the massive spending increases would eventually come back to haunt us in higher taxes, despite the disingenuous tax-cuts that haven't matched the spendthrift habits of this administration.\n\nHe would question the foreign policy that entangles us in the internal affairs of nations around the world.  Our founding fathers were very adamant about the importance of staying clear of foreign entanglements.  \n\nFrankly, I think most of the founding fathers would be immensely saddened by this administration.  I think you have it backwards.  They might agree with some of the WORDS that have come from this government (the theory), but the practice of this administration would be precisely what they fought against.  \n\nOf course, Patrick Henry and his companions wouldn't have agreed with many of Bush's opponents either.  They would have been distressed about the interference in private commerce that both parties now seem to advocate, and the willingness of Democrats to raise taxes consistently.  Of course you know that Patrick Henry was a great anti-tax advocate.\n\nOverall, I'd say we have strayed far from the principles this nation was founded upon, and we'd all do well to study more about what it takes to maintain a free country. Patrick Henry and the other founders could teach us all a lot about what is needed for our future.