Peter Daou: Stunning Alexander Hamilton quote. If you haven't seen it, you won't believe it

[Hortensis]

12. :) Most pre-constitution states went too far in

creating "too-republican" (i.e., power in the people) governments, which were wildly erratic and incompetent and incapable of providing the stability society has to have to prosper. Our founding fathers lived the dilemmas in your last sentence.

I don't remember details, but on the states' side, an entire legislature might be elected for only one year; and since royal governors had been oppressors under royal rule, some states had no executive at all, or a very unempowered one. The federal congress was supposed to perform all executive, legislative and judicial functions, so had enormous duty to meet the desperate needs of our new nation but no control over the states' activities or ability to tax.

It is wonderful that, with no real examples to follow -- other than the many disasters currently playing out -- our founders did such a fantastic job. But we did have some very good, thoughtful and informed minds. We still do, I'm sure; they're just maligned and mischaracterized by a deliberate clamor created to hide their abilities.