Okay,
Early American History is not my strength, so I started reading Empire of Liberty. I have only read a couple of chapters, but wow, already some interesting revelations. Our early founders, although very "liberal" in the sense of their time, still had a tremendous disdain for the "common people" and didn't think that businessmen, farmers, or small tradesmen had the qualities to hold elective office, which should be reserved for "gentlemen" who had the proper education and time to contemplate great matters of state.
What's even more interesting is that the author states that even Adam Smith, whose Wealth of Nation is considered the first great capitalist tome, believed that businessmen could not be good politicians because they "were too engaged in their occupations and the making of money to be able to make impartial judgements about the varied interests in their society" (p.24). In other words only "idle" gentlemen of great professions such as lawyers who didn't have to get their hands dirty could develop the intellect and virture to rule....hmmmm, sounds kinda like the bull**** we hear from the modern Democratic Party, filled with brilliant idle lawyers, professors and community organizers, that only THEY can save us from the greedy capitalists, businessmen and bankers.
Of course trying to compare Barack Obama, Rahm Emmanual and Timmy Geitner to Jefferson, Washington and John Adams (one of the snootiest of the Founding Fathers actually) is a bit of stretch in ANY realm, but it is interesting, nonetheless. Obviously the unwashed massses have always been looked down upon by our betters...or are they? Were they?
Should be a great book....
What's even more interesting is that the author states that even Adam Smith, whose Wealth of Nation is considered the first great capitalist tome, believed that businessmen could not be good politicians because they "were too engaged in their occupations and the making of money to be able to make impartial judgements about the varied interests in their society" (p.24). In other words only "idle" gentlemen of great professions such as lawyers who didn't have to get their hands dirty could develop the intellect and virture to rule....hmmmm, sounds kinda like the bull**** we hear from the modern Democratic Party, filled with brilliant idle lawyers, professors and community organizers, that only THEY can save us from the greedy capitalists, businessmen and bankers.
Of course trying to compare Barack Obama, Rahm Emmanual and Timmy Geitner to Jefferson, Washington and John Adams (one of the snootiest of the Founding Fathers actually) is a bit of stretch in ANY realm, but it is interesting, nonetheless. Obviously the unwashed massses have always been looked down upon by our betters...or are they? Were they?
Should be a great book....
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