"American Dialogue"

(The Founders and Us)
-by joseph j. ellis
2018
Despite my being deeply impressed by ellis' "Founding Brothers", i was hesitant to read any more works by this Pulitzer-prize winning historian. Even if he remained brilliant, i wasn't sure any history book could have any relevance for those interested in solving the problems we face. If you're 95% sure the system is broken beyond repair, why study it? Our country has never represented the interests of "we, the people" - indeed, our bloody history is best understood as a war against the people, here and abroad. It's long past time for America to live up to its almost accidental idealism, and a new government is required for that. I'm 96% sure all founding brothers would agree.
Despite my hesitation, this book grabbed me instantly and never let go. Indeed, it surpasses ellis' earlier work, getting right to the heart of America's greatest crises, income inequality and race. It deconstructs their origins, revealing the oft-surprising extent to which individual founders were hopeful of avoiding hypocritical disasters in these areas. This is high-level understanding of the present through the lens of the past.
Moderns americans only relate to our country as a seamless monolith, so it's startling to understand how almost non-existent America was after the revolution. For decades, we were a RINO (republic in name only). Just individual states going about our unsavory businesses.
But for the first time, some of you might feel genuine admiration for our first president, as george was the only founder to try to avert indigenous genocide. He attempted to secure them their own inviolable homes and perpetual sovereignty. His proclamation to that affect failed because the government lacked any power to enforce its edicts.
Jefferson was the most influential founder in shaping our racial history, and for this will his name ever be sullied. The story of jefferson is the tragedy of a humyn who knows what is right, but spends a lifetime rationalizing wrong. Early in his career, he tried a handful of times to condemn slavery, but even at his best could never envision a society of whites and blacks as equals - this despite profound evidence to the contrary before his eyes, in his own plantation (and bedroom). As a youth, jefferson was the only founder i idealized, but as an adult that honor goes to...
John adams. He fought against the horrors looming for our country in terms of income inequality, a legacy all the more surprising coming as it does from the pre-industrial age. Indeed, it's likely that all the founders would look upon our government as one designed for a class-based agrarian society, and of little relevance to the modern world.
After the towering chapters on race and income inequality, the book fizzles a bit, but remains a worthy and brilliant read.