What the Founders Would Think About Today’s America?

The Founding Fathers envisioned a nation where liberty and self-governance thrived, protected by an informed and engaged citizenry.

But what would they think of us now? Would they see their vision alive and well—or recognize a slow decay fueled by apathy and ignorance? Let’s face it: the cracks are undeniable. A society that barely reads the Constitution, much less understands it, has little chance of safeguarding its freedoms. Worse, the Founders gave us the tools to fight tyranny—tools we’ve left rusting in the shed.

Article V: A Loaded Gun We’ve Haven’t Used

The Founders gave us Article V to protect the republic from its own worst enemy: ourselves. They knew no government is immune to corruption, not even the one they so carefully crafted. That’s why they created a mechanism for the states to bypass Congress and propose amendments when the federal government runs off the rails. But let’s keep in mind that they didn’t put an expiration date on it.

They assumed future generations would rise to the occasion, educated and brave enough to act when the time came. What they didn’t foresee was a nation distracted by entertainment and comfort, too ill-informed to recognize creeping tyranny—or too indifferent to care. They thought Article V would be a safeguard; today, it’s more like an ignored relic, gathering dust in the attic.

Let’s face it, if we’re not willing to use this tool, it doesn’t matter how brilliant the Founders were. They handed us the gun, but we’re the ones who are refusing to load it.

Freedom Requires Education, and We’ve Dropped the Ball

Thomas Jefferson famously said, “An educated citizenry is a vital requisite for our survival as a free people.” He wasn’t kidding. The Founders assumed future Americans would understand their rights, debate policies passionately, and hold their leaders accountable.

Instead, we’ve let our education system fail us. Civics? Barely taught. Constitutional literacy? Virtually nonexistent.

Ask the average American about the Federalist Papers, let alone the Anti-Federalist Papers, and you’ll get blank stares. This ignorance isn’t just embarrassing—it’s flat out dangerous for all of us.

Without a solid grasp of our system of government, how can we expect to fix it? How can we propose amendments through Article V when most people can’t even name the three branches of government? If ignorance is bliss, then tyranny is the hangover we truly deserve.

Apathy: The Silent Killer of Liberty

The Founders counted on us to stay vigilant. James Madison warned us that “liberty may be endangered by the abuse of liberty, but also by the abuse of power.” Today, apathy has done more damage than outright oppression ever could.

Too many of us as citizens of this country have checked out. Voter turnout is incredibly dismal. Political conversations devolve into partisan shouting matches. When was the last time you heard someone seriously discuss a Constitutional amendment to rein in federal overreach? The Founders envisioned a government accountable to the people and it appears that what they got was a people who can’t be bothered enough to care.

The real tragedy? This isn’t because we’re powerless. It’s because we’ve chosen comfort over confrontation. The Founders would be appalled, not just at the state of our government, but at the state of us. Remember this bit of text, one of the most powerful lines in American history, found at the very end of the Declaration of Independence?

And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

This was putting everything on the line folks. Stop and think about that… Can or would you do the same for your country?

Can We Wake Up Before It’s Too Late?

Here’s the hard truth: the Founders weren’t perfect. They gave us a lot, but they overestimated us in one critical way, they assumed we’d stay vigilant. They assumed we’d stay educated. They assumed we’d care.

If we want to honor their vision, we’ve got to shake off the complacency and get back to work. Start by reading and working to understand the Constitution. Share what you’ve learned with your kids, your friends, your community. Support real civics education in schools. And for heaven’s sake, consider using Article V before it’s too late.

The Founders handed us a roadmap to liberty, but they couldn’t promise us we’d follow it. That’s on us.

Just Sayin…

Help Restore First Principles Reach New Subscribers By Clicking The Like Button, Assuming, Of Course, That You Like This Post...

And If You Have a Comment To Make, Please Do So. RFP Is Always Happy To Get A Conversation Going!