We are a country founded on two unintentional, fundamental flaws.
Jefferson’s iconic 1776 phrase “all men are created equal” in declaring independence from King George, III was the first flaw. “All men” skipped all Black men and all women because all Blacks and all women were less than equal to White men.
OK, White women were not slaves, although not a few were treated that way.
And OK, Jefferson later seemed to regret his writing, a little. He freed 2 slaves while he was alive and 5 more at his death – out of 600.
Blacks were given a step up toward equality, the right not to be slaves, 87 years later (1863). Women received the right to vote 144 years later (1920) and the right to abortion 197 years later (1973).
49 years after receiving that right (2022) and 246 years after “all men are created equal,” a woman’s right to abortion was curtailed by a Supreme Court… dominated by men.
Today, 249 years after the Declaration of Independence, the idea that all people are created equal is far closer to reality than in the Foundng Fathers’ era, but for so many it is still more aspiration than inspiration. And the source of ongoing conflict.
Speaking of the Founding Fathers, here’s second fundamental flaw: a capitalist economic system.
Capitalism arrived in this country in the form of land ownership and slavery soon after the arrival of the first settlers. In the 19th century, it grew into ownership of industry and more. Today it operates in every corner of the country, from the medical system, to the prison system, to food supply, to restaurant chains, to law firms, to school systems, to media companies, and more.
Business owners, whether running slave farms or hospital chains have one thing in common: the owner – the Boss – operates as a benevolent dictator. The Boss calls all the shots, from hiring and firing, to marketing, to financing, to individual sales, to annual Christmas parties. Need more machines? Want to expand? See the Boss. Want a raise, more staff, better vacation, more widgets? See the Boss.
In a democracy, there is no dictator. Decisions are made through debate, voting, more debate, more voting. 535 voters in Congress, 9 voters on the Supreme Court and 1 President decide things – after being chosen by hundreds of millions of citizen voters. Democracy takes time, patience, political acumen, and fortitude.
It is as different from capitalism as men are from women; they coexist, but barely.
When, in the 1800’s, the US wanted to expand west, the slave owners wanted to expand, too. Democracy debated and, with the Missouri Compromise, approved…um… partial expansion. But the conflict didn’t end, eventually exploding into a divorce proceeding, the Civil War. The slave owners lost. But the fundamental conflict between business and democracy continues to this day.
The best democratic leaders excel at debating, convincing, bargaining, inspiring, schmoozing. The best capitalist dictators excel at making the right universal choices and giving the right universal orders.
It is unusual for a business tycoon to become a successful politician, although there are exceptions (Rockefeller, Romney, Schwarzennager, Bloomberg, Warner, for example.) But they had to drop their dictator techniques in the process.
So how did a country with these two foundational flaws become so successful?
A shared value system.
From the early settlers to today, the US culture has valued honesty, civility, individual rights, and protection of the minority. Most people trust their government and their fellow citizens. Most follow the law. Most value integrity. They don’t lie, cheat or steal.
Politicians and capitalists have operated together within this shared value system for almost 250 years as a beacon of success for the entire world, flaws and all.
But today, there is cause for great concern. Our current leader constitutes a third and possibly fatal flaw: he does not share the values.
A failed capitalist (6 bankruptcies), a congenital liar, a convicted felon who thumbs his nose at both the Justice system and the Bill of Rights, a remorseless bully, a fanboy of world dictators, he ignores the law and lacks even basic integrity, instead forcing Mafia Don values onto a democratic government.
The result? A deeply divided country consumed by conflict, distrust, and fear of the future.
I wonder what the Founding Fathers would do.
Actually, I don’t.