There is a movement in America to return to the intent of the Founders, but I wonder just how long it will take to re-educate ourselves and others of the original intent. It can be exhausting business.

Take for instance, the word “Democracy.” For years, media and good folks have been calling the U.S. form of government a democracy. In reality, the word was adopted in the early 1900s as a catch phrase from the “Intercollegiate Socialist Society” to throw light on a movement of industrial democracy known as socialism. (page 155, 5,000 Year Leap)

To define our Constructional form of government, the Founder’s called it a Republic (Re=The, Public=People), or “The People’s Law.” It is a representative republic based on the Rule of Law, the Constitution being the supreme law of the land.
 
Now, I have observed another word in jeopardy of being re-defined. The word is “debate,” as demonstrated in detail by the Media.The recent Presidential “debates” framed an individual candidate with scripted questions from media persona in a talk-show-commentary format. 
 
Before you could say “ lights, camera, action,"  Republican candidates had fallen head long into the sticky dough of conflict and personality destruction. Their images were displayed forever before the world for all to ridicule.
 
Just once, I would like to see less personality clashes and more substance in the answers. Specifically, when questions on one topic are asked, that time be given for each person to answer them.


A true debate, then, happens after the first round of comments are made, followed up by rebuttals. Second, third and fourth rounds, with specific topics, usually occur, complete with a final round. Again, everyone having a chance at it.
 
The "judge” could be the audience, with clicking devices, or a chosen group of qualified debaters.The one who presents the best facts and convincing proofs for the argument or issue, becomes the winner, with places for 2nd and 3rd.
 
But then, I am learning hard lessons about life. It is not always about getting what you want or even that you are entitled to what you want.
 
Life is really all about hard work and the consequences of our actions. The founders would put it something like this: Life is all about choices of doing what is good for the whole (public virtue), controlling yourself and your passions (self government), and dealing with problems individually first (people’s rule).

They would say life is about saving for the next generation and having a free choice of giving to those in need. It is not the role of government to demand we give to those who don’t have. “Charity giving” is the responsibility of individuals and churches. (Ben Franklin called it “calculated compassion.”)

Life is more about thinking before you speak, placing the words so they are better received (wisdom), rather than whatever feels good at the moment, in a fit of rage, no matter the consequence (passion). (See George Washington’s “Rules of Civility.”) 
 
Hopefully in the coming weeks, passions will be more subdued, the original intent of debates recovered, and we will hear the candidates state their stands clearly.

Meanwhile, I’ll keep going back to the the Founder’s intent.

“The sum of all is, if we would most truly enjoy the gift of Heaven, let us become a virtuous people; then shall we both deserve and enjoy it. While, on the other hand, if we are universally vicious and debauched in our manner, though the form of our Constitution carries the face of the most exalted freedom, we shall in reality be the most abject slaves.” –Samuel Adams

Samuel Adams, Firebrand of the Revolution.

To read more about what our Founder’s believed and how to apply it to today, order the Book “The 5,000 Year Leap; A Miracle that Changed the World” (Principles of Freedom 101), by Cleon Skousen, founder of the National Center for Constitutional Studies.

I believe all Republicans should get a copy.