1/ Citing Hamilton can be a useful thing, but citing him on executive power is...complicated. Or should be.
bloomberg.com/opinion/articl…
bloomberg.com/opinion/articl…
2/ Formally speaking, he didn’t want the President to be a king.
But he openly said that he considered the British government the finest government on the face of the earth, and that he wanted to push the US government as close to that example as possible under republican terms.
But he openly said that he considered the British government the finest government on the face of the earth, and that he wanted to push the US government as close to that example as possible under republican terms.
3/ There’s a fascinating Madison quote that touches on this. Asked why he abandoned Hamilton, Madison said (partly paraphrased): I abandoned Hamilton...Hamilton abandoned me because he wanted to “administration” the gov’t into becoming something it was never intended to be.
4/ In other words—according to Madison—Hamilton tried to use administrative means to empower the national government.
At a time when people were leery of executive power, there’s a reason why Hamilton was denounced as a monarchist until the day he died and beyond.
At a time when people were leery of executive power, there’s a reason why Hamilton was denounced as a monarchist until the day he died and beyond.
5/ It’s also important to remember:The Federalist was a persuasive document. Its purpose was to explain & reassure people about their fears re: the not-yet-ratified Constitution.
Executive power? Scary.
Citing it to get at the spirit of the Constitution as written is 1 thing...
Executive power? Scary.
Citing it to get at the spirit of the Constitution as written is 1 thing...
6/ ...citing The Federalist as a direct mirror of Hamilton’s heartfelt sentiments requires some careful thought.
7/ I’ve seen folks say Hamilton is the reason the republic survived.
I’d say something different. The republic survived because his ideas were accompanied by those of others who disagreed with him.
It was the clashing and coordinating of competing ideas that founded the gov’t.
I’d say something different. The republic survived because his ideas were accompanied by those of others who disagreed with him.
It was the clashing and coordinating of competing ideas that founded the gov’t.
8/ Given the threat of authoritarianism, it would be wise to recall that democratic governance is grounded on a clash of competing ideas among pols & populace & an estab’d system to select or devise a result
A system where ONLY the supreme leader’s ideas matter is not democratic
A system where ONLY the supreme leader’s ideas matter is not democratic
9/ And that is your Hamiltonian morning minute (or five).
Let’s not put Hamilton on a pedestal.
Leaders on pedestals often do more harm than good.
And government is a human enterprise carried out by trial & error—and very real people.
Let’s not put Hamilton on a pedestal.
Leaders on pedestals often do more harm than good.
And government is a human enterprise carried out by trial & error—and very real people.
