Adapt founders' wisdom to modern times

A recent letter quoted Alexander Hamilton’s warning about how disorder and populist fervor can lead a nation to embrace authoritarianism. It’s a powerful, timely quote. I salute the original poster for contributing to public discourse. They clearly read, care, and are likely pointing to one of the great dilemmas of our time.

That said, context is king.

Hamilton was insightful, but not infallible. He distrusted the common citizen and leaned toward centralized power, even flirting with monarchic structures. This quote came from his argument against the republican party. Jefferson, his rival, feared the opposite: that central authority would crush liberty and that the average person was the true guardian of a free republic.

Both were right. Both were wrong. And neither could have imagined today’s world — shaped by nuclear weapons, digital currencies, corporate influence, and algorithms.

What happens to Jefferson’s America when timely decisions are required to prevent catastrophe? What happens to Hamilton’s America when private capital captures the very instruments of governance?

The founders left us guidelines, but not the context to make them continually practicable. Balance must be sought by each generation. The danger lies in idolizing one side or forgetting how much the ground has shifted since then.

Quote the Founders. Think deeply. Speak freely. And let’s go beyond their time, adapting their spirit to ours. I think that's what they'd expect us to do in our time.

JOSEPH MAJORS

Bonners Ferry