Political Crossfire Forums

"It has been said that the United States Government is a failure. I don't go so far. On the contrary, I consider it a marvelous exhibition of human wisdom. It was as perfect as human wisdom could make it, and under it the American States greatly prospered until very recently; but being the work of men it had its defects, and it is for us to take advantage by experience, and endeavor to see if we cannot arrive by careful study at such a plan as will avoid the mistakes of our neighbors. In the first place we know that every individual state was an individual sovereignty—that each had its own army and navy and political organization – and when they formed themselves into a confederation they only gave the central authority certain specific rights appertaining to sovereign powers. The dangers that have risen from this system we will avoid if we can agree upon forming a strong central government—a great Central Legislature—a constitution for a Union which will have all the rights of sovereignty except those that are given to the local governments. Then we shall have taken a great step in advance of the American Republic." -Sir John A. McDonald, September 12, 1864.

so this random person no one has ever heard of bought into the Lost Cause myth and he was alive at the time?

Not sure what the Lost Cause myth has to do with this. Sir McDonald doesn't excuse slavery (although he likely would, given how racist he was), he doesn't endorse Antebellum values, doesn't appear to consider Civil War as some sort of just cause, etc.

What this speaks to is the great failing of the Founding Fathers, who were wise and intelligent but ultimately short-sighted in a very damaging way. I thought it was interesting that the first Canadian PM had a similar grasp of the situation as I do. He even clearly lays out why our form of government is superior to the US system.

Another reason why I posted this is because how it seems relevant even now. Many of the issues facing your country exist for no other reason than the errors described above.