Mr. Adams, Thank You

John Adams was America’s second president (1797-1801). He lost a second term to his vice president – Thomas Jefferson. Adams was George Washington’s vice president; both terms. He was the father of America’s sixth president – John Quincy Adams. John Adams was a man unto himself. Even as he led the independence movement; he also defended the British soldiers who fired into the crowd killing five colonists in the event known as the Boston Massacre. His book, “Thoughts on Government” should be required reading in every secondary school in the United States. It presents such basic concepts as “a government of laws; not men,” “separation of powers,” and limiting government to “enumerated powers.” He would be more than upset (but read below; he predicted it) if he returned today and saw the mess we’ve made of this magnificent experiment. As you read his comments below, you may notice that he also anticipated much of the silliness that now dominates America’s government entities and its silly players. Parenthetical comments are solely the responsibility of TheFundamentals.  These quotes are all attributed to Mr. Adams.

The Revolution was affected before the War commenced. The Revolution was in the minds and hearts of the people; a change in their religious sentiments of their duties and obligations. This radical change in the principles, opinions, sentiments, and affections of the people, was the real American Revolution. (Tea Party critics: take notice.)

Great is the guilt of an unnecessary war. (GWBush. LBJohnson. Are you listening?)

Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.

Democracy... while it lasts is more bloody than either aristocracy or monarchy. Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There is never a democracy that did not commit suicide.

All the perplexities, confusion and distress in America arise, not from defects in their Constitution or Confederation, not from want of honor or virtue, so much as from the downright ignorance of the nature of coin, credit and circulation. (TheFundamentals calls it “fiscal promiscuity.”   For people like Obama, Bush, Greenspan, Geithner and Bernanke, Mr. Adams has it right. It’s downright ignorance.)

Because power corrupts, society's demands for moral authority and character increase as the importance of the position increases. (This one is almost cynically humorous. Brings to mind WJClinton, JEdwards and GHart.)

Arms in the hands of citizens may be used at individual discretion... in private self-defense. (Mayor Daley, are you paying attention? Oh, that’s right. You’re much smarter than Mr. Adams.)

As much as I converse with sages and heroes, they have very little of my love and admiration. I long for rural and domestic scene, for the warbling of birds and the prattling of my children. (This is far and away TheFundamentals favorite quote.)

Power always thinks... that it is doing God's service when it is violating all his laws. (Ye gods. Ain't this the truth? Power is Arrogance.)

Fear is the foundation of most governments. (He got it. He saw it. He lived it. Nothing changes. Welcome to the 21st century.)

While all other sciences have advanced, that of government is at a standstill - little better understood, little better practiced now than three or four thousand years ago. (Could this have anything to do with the simple fact that only government and politics attract, employ and glorify the truly incompetent?)

The happiness of society is the end of government. (See above)

There are two educations. One should teach us how to make a living and the other how to live. (Our second favorite quote.)

The Hebrews have done more to civilize men than any other nation. If I were an atheist, and believed blind eternal fate, I should still believe that fate had ordained the Jews to be the most essential instrument for civilizing the nations. (We mostly agree but, no, TheFundamentals still thinks that AIPAC stretches the privilege.)

In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm and three or more is a congress.—  (OK, founding father John Adams never said it but his character spoke those lines in the musical “1776” and TheFundamentals thinks he might just concur with this thought if he only could.)

John Adams. You may have been a Federalist but you were our kind of Federalist and we miss you. Thank you for what you did and what you gave us. You knew of what you spoke.