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progressoid

(53,170 posts)
6. They only wanted White, land owning men to vote...
Thu Apr 24, 2025, 11:06 AM
Apr 2025

Adams talked about it with James Sullivan, a state court judge in Massachusetts

May 26, 1776

It is certain in theory, that the only moral foundation of government is the [agreement] of the people, but to what an extent shall we carry this principle? Shall we say, that every individual of the community, old and young, male and female, as well as rich and poor, must [agree] to every act of legislation?...

Is it not equally true, that men in general in every society, who [are poor and do not own property], are also [unfamiliar] with public affairs to form a right judgment, and too dependent upon other men to have a will of their own? …Few men, who have no property, have any judgment of their own. They talk and vote as they are directed by some man of property, who has attached their minds to his interest.

Depend upon it, sir, it is dangerous to open [such a] source of controversy and altercation, as would be opened by attempting to [change] the qualifications of voters. There will be no end of it. New claims will arise. Women will demand a vote. Lads from 12 to 21 will think their rights not enough attended to, and every man, who has not a [dime], will demand an equal voice with any other in all acts of state. It tends to confound and destroy all distinctions, and [surrender] all ranks, to one common level.

https://shec.ashp.cuny.edu/items/show/1645

Recommendations

1 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Evil Clowns weren't a thing in 1776. Kid Berwyn Apr 2025 #1
Look up Pulcinella Geechie Apr 2025 #7
Thanks! Fear of creepy clowns must be in human DNA. Kid Berwyn Apr 2025 #8
Pantagruel, like Trump .. a goutish lout, no doubt. Bo Zarts Apr 2025 #15
"goutish" MorbidButterflyTat Apr 2025 #20
Actually, I think the thing they didn't foresee was that an entire party would capitulate to an authoritarian. CrispyQ Apr 2025 #2
They didn't want there to be any parties at all soldierant Apr 2025 #18
That's exactly what I've been thinking William Seger Apr 2025 #3
You have to remember Hieronymus Phact Apr 2025 #4
Really? Beowulf42 Apr 2025 #11
Yes Really Hieronymus Phact Apr 2025 #13
They got a few things wrong Sugarcoated Apr 2025 #27
Yes they did Hieronymus Phact Apr 2025 #28
Idiocracy has come true. n/t SpankMe Apr 2025 #5
They only wanted White, land owning men to vote... progressoid Apr 2025 #6
They wanted a weapon to hurt the people they hated, and address their grievances. patphil Apr 2025 #9
Actually, some of the founders were very worried about the possibility of a populist being elected by dumb voters. Martin68 Apr 2025 #10
True, but it was a bad idea that has actually made Whyisthisstillclose Apr 2025 #12
Perhaps you missed my comment that it didn't work... Martin68 Apr 2025 #32
I didn't word it well, but I was just agreeing with you. My bad. Whyisthisstillclose Apr 2025 #34
No Problem, I get it. Martin68 Apr 2025 #35
The other reason for the electoral college was to protect slavery. NNadir Apr 2025 #31
This picture makes me want to punch his ugly vile face doing his jerk of dance kimbutgar Apr 2025 #14
Eloquent! MorbidButterflyTat Apr 2025 #21
I am still shocked that anyone voted for this idiot LetMyPeopleVote Apr 2025 #16
They probably also believed that... LudwigPastorius Apr 2025 #17
Stupidity itself can be just as bad if not worse than pure evil DSandra Apr 2025 #19
They had classical educations, and the Greeks and Romans had plenty of such characters... JHB Apr 2025 #22
or that an entire political party would pimp for something like that Skittles Apr 2025 #23
Tyrant CitizenZero Apr 2025 #24
American voters are this stupid or maybe not so stupid...... SupportSanity Apr 2025 #25
Or that the GOP, or any other party, would behave with willful abonnement of all principles in the face of such lunacy Ford_Prefect Apr 2025 #26
They weren't all that smart if true... Meowmee Apr 2025 #29
Even if they could have there is no solution for stupidity in a democratic government. D23MIURG23 Apr 2025 #30
No one in this world, so far as I know and I have researched the records for years, Ping Tung Apr 2025 #33
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