A PSA. What about the Federalist? Does its principles apply today?

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   tsmogposted 6 weeks ago

   [Image is a live link to YouTube trailer for the course (1:39 min)]
   
   
   
   Discover the enduring principles of good government and the impressive structure of the American Constitution. presented by Hillsdale College
   https://online.hillsdale.edu/courses/pr … CRs-1snPLw
   
   In a republic, every citizen has a duty to understand their government. The Federalist is the greatest exposition of representative government and the institutional structure of the Constitution. It explains how the Constitution established a government strong enough to secure the rights of citizens and safe enough to wield that power. This course will examine how Publius understood human nature and good government, and why he argued that the only true safeguard of liberty lies in the vigilance of the American people.
   
   This [Free] course includes ten lectures, each about 30 minutes long. Complete the course and receive a certificate by watching the lectures and taking the short quizzes that follow. Study guides are provided to supplement each lecture. You can engage in conversations with other students on the dedicated discussion board. Take the course at your own pace and in the manner that best fits your schedule.
   
   Enroll in “The Federalist” today to rekindle the vigilance needed to preserve republican self-government.
   
   Explore Hillsdale College catalog for additional courses to accompany that morning coffee for say a half hour or more time.
   https://online.hillsdale.edu/courses

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      GA Andersonposted 6 weeks agoin reply to this

      Yes, the principles of operating a Republican form of government, as explained in The Federalist Papers, are still as valuable today as they were when written.
      
      I took this Hillsdale course a year or two ago and found the best benefit was a better understanding of the reasoning behind our Constitution's construction in the words and reasoning of the times. I can recommend this course.
      
      GA.

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         tsmogposted 6 weeks agoin reply to this

         Thanks for the comment, GA, and the recommendation. I plan on taking this Free online course in the future. I have read Federalist #10 and watched videos about it with my excursion looking into identity politics.

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            GA Andersonposted 6 weeks agoin reply to this

            Prompted by different arguments on these forums (going back 15 years), I had also looked into different specific 'papers'.* Given my political and ideological bias, I found a lot to be impressed by.
            
            Then I bought the book, The Federalist Papers. Since it wasn't a spellbinder leading to an unknown ending, I carried it around for a month and still didn't finish it.
            
            The Hillsdale course provided the 'back story' to the individual publications.
            
            As a guess, you probably won't find it as deep or esoteric as your commented interests indicate you like. The entire process was entirely human and normal. No gods, just smart men with a common vision that valued history's examples. The surprise for me was the important contributing names that we seldom hear mentioned.
            
            GA

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            Ken Burgessposted 6 weeks agoin reply to this

            In a republic, every citizen has a duty to understand their government.
            
            The only true safeguard of liberty lies in the vigilance of the American people.
            
            ---
            
            The people must have a connection to the culture/society (tribe) developed in them, which ties in to...
            
            The people must have a purpose, in addition to having a common culture that they all belong to, believe in, and are willing to sacrifice for...
            
            ----
            
            If you do not foster and develop those two critical components... then what government you have is relatively meaningless, because you are not protecting nor are you providing anything of value... what good is freedom, individuality, without purpose... without meaning... without a society to share in it?
            
            -----
            
            I look at what is successful today... it would be those corporations and nations that are providing their employees and citizens with purpose, and have set goals.
            
            When you look at Tesla and Space X... purpose... driven leadership...
            
            Compare that to GM or NASA... existing to get the next government bailout... do they have a real purpose, or passionate leadership?
            
            Tesla's mission is to change the world... and they have/are...
            
            Space X's ultimate mission is to make it to Mars...
            
            Compare China's Space efforts to ours... they are landing rovers on Mars, on the Moon, they are getting prepared to set up mining operations on the Moon...
            
            America, Space X aside, isn't doing a whole heck of a lot... but hey, we have our priorities straight... we might not be going to Space... but we absolutely are going to make our DEI quotas in who makes up that team...

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               tsmogposted 6 weeks agoin reply to this

               Thanks for expressing your opinion.

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                  Ken Burgessposted 6 weeks agoin reply to this

                  We may have completely divergent frames of reference...
                  
                  but its always nice to explore other people's perspectives, is it not?

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                     Sharlee01posted 6 weeks agoin reply to this

                     Yes, my very sentiment.

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                     tsmogposted 6 weeks agoin reply to this

                     First, I don't know who the 'we' is? Is that you and I? Or, is it in the sense of people in general? You replied to my post so I would presume the intent is in regard to you and I. No matter, because from my 'perspective' I don't believe people come from the same cookie cutter mold.
                     
                     Personally, sharing, I believe each individual is a unique individual as created by God. However, I place no condition or demand that anyone accept my belief(s).
                     
                     Regarding the proposed question, I enjoy learning, firstly. I am an enthusiastic learner to a fault. That said, I will, at this time, say sometimes.

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                        Ken Burgessposted 6 weeks agoin reply to this

                        Thank you for the elaboration.
                        
                        And agree... sometimes...
                        
                        Less so perhaps in the current year, than years ago.
                        
                        I think we are all a little overwhelmed by the speed of change in the Information age as it currently is...
                        
                        So much information available ... every source discredited as Conservative or Progressive, Patriarchal or Feminist, etc. etc.
                        
                        Perhaps one of the biggest problems of today is we no longer have a common culture, common facts, with which we all agree on.
                        
                        Some people believe there are only two sexes... something 10 years ago 99.8% of people could all agree on... happily... today???

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                           tsmogposted 6 weeks agoin reply to this

                           Thanks for replying.There actually is a lot one could unpack with what was shared. I agree on some of the points, however in my view it is not the age of information, it is the age of disinformation with at times misinformation. Sad!

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               Sharlee01posted 6 weeks agoin reply to this

               Ken,  You're raising a lot of thought-provoking points here. I’ll admit, I may be a bit over my head in parts of this conversation, but I’m trying to learn, and I appreciate your post. I agree that in a republic, civic understanding and cultural cohesion are vital. Without shared purpose and a unifying identity, the freedoms we enjoy can start to feel hollow.
               
               What you’re saying echoes a lot of the logic found in the Federalist Papers, especially the emphasis on civic virtue, an engaged citizenry, and the idea that liberty only survives when the people are invested in the republic itself. Publius warned us that without a common culture and moral framework, factionalism and apathy could destroy the foundation of self-government.
               
               Your comparison of organizations with clear, purpose-driven missions to those that seem to be merely surviving is striking. It really underscores how much leadership and vision matter, not just in business or government, but in national character too. The Federalist Papers argued that good institutions alone aren’t enough; the people must remain vigilant, informed, and connected to one another through shared purpose.
               
               There's a lot to reflect on here, especially when it comes to how we define progress and prioritize values. Thanks for adding such a strong view to this thread.

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                  Ken Burgessposted 6 weeks agoin reply to this

                  without a common culture and moral framework, factionalism and apathy could destroy the foundation of self-government.
                  
                  ---
                  
                  Yup.  And that is where we are in America... and by extension 'The West'.
                  
                  DEI is nothing if not the break down of 'common culture' and the 'moral framework' consisting of merit, experience, capability being the primary (if not the only) factors for receiving a job or contract.
                  
                  DEI is factionalism... the opposite of united in socio-cultural-purpose... the opposite of Nationalism... the opposite of Merit... the opposite of 'I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.'
                  
                  Progressivism is putting individual fantasies and feelings over reality and success and mission accomplishment.
                  
                  Democrats today, by association if nothing else, are the political body for Progressivism, for DEI, for anti-Western sentiment and Open Border initiatives.
                  
                  Feelings over Facts...
                  
                  Equity over Equality...
                  
                  We are definitely nearing the "factionalism and apathy could destroy the foundation of self-government." moment.

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                     Sharlee01posted 6 weeks agoin reply to this

                     Ken,   Absolutely nailed it. Without shared values, we’re just a collection of loud groups pulling in opposite directions, and that’s exactly what we’re seeing unfold. I’ve been watching the chaos in LA, and honestly, it’s hard not to feel sick over it. Flags burning, calls to “kill Americans,” and total disregard for what this country stands for, it’s beyond protest, it’s a full-on assault on America’s cultural core.
                     
                     DEI, progressivism, identity politics, it’s all turned into a weapon against unity. Instead of striving for excellence and common ground, we’re told to prioritize group identity over merit, emotion over truth. And worst of all, when these ideas fail and society fractures, they blame the very people trying to hold it together.
                     
                     We need to wake up. This isn't just about one city or one riot, this is about whether we still believe in the American idea. I’m tired of the silence. It’s time more Americans speak up and get off the damn fence before the whole thing comes down.
                     
                     To reconnect to the thread's subject, this is exactly what Madison warned about in Federalist 10: factionalism destroying the foundation of self-government. Without a common culture and moral framework, we stop being a united people and become divided tribes. DEI, identity politics, and the rejection of merit are breaking down the very unity our Founders said was essential. What we’re seeing now isn’t progress, it’s the unraveling of the American idea.  DEI, in my view, is weed that needs Ortho Weed B Gon.

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                        Ken Burgessposted 6 weeks agoin reply to this

                        "Without a common culture and moral framework, we stop being a united people and become divided tribes. DEI, identity politics, and the rejection of merit are breaking down the very unity our Founders said was essential. What we’re seeing now isn’t progress, it’s the unraveling of the American idea."
                        
                        A problem... is it not?
                        
                        Compounded immensely by the fact that it is being facilitated and funded by our own government... as exposed by DOGE with their USAID investigation... as exposed when DOGE showed 5.4 million 'illegal' migrants given Social Security numbers during Biden years...
                        
                        The big money behind these efforts is coming from corporations, nations, and institutions that have the majority of wealth and power... they are the ones that want a Borderless World... they are the ones that want a One World government and financial system... not the American people.
                        
                        Its all rather messy at this point...

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                           Sharlee01posted 6 weeks agoin reply to this

                           Ken,    Absolutely agree, your comment captures the core tension we’re living through with piercing clarity. The American experiment was never just a geographic or political project, it was always meant to be undergirded by shared values: ordered liberty, individual responsibility, and a belief in objective truth. The Founders, despite their own imperfections, understood that without a common moral and civic culture, the republic would fracture under the weight of factionalism.
                           
                           In my view, what we’re witnessing today isn’t merely ideological drift; it’s institutionalized disintegration. When the state itself facilitates erosion, from mass illegal immigration to bureaucratic manipulation of identity categories, it ceases to act as a steward of the nation and becomes something else entirely. Add to this the supranational influence of corporate and globalist interests, and the "consent of the governed" begins to look more like a relic than a principle.
                           
                           In the Federalist Papers, Madison warned of the dangers of faction, groups united not by reason or shared good, but by interest and passion. What’s more dangerous than a faction today is when the apparatus of power actively amplifies those factions for its own ends.
                           
                           Food for thought: What happens when a country’s elite no longer sees itself as culturally or morally bound to its own people? And what becomes of a nation when its own unity is treated as the enemy?

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                              Ken Burgessposted 6 weeks agoin reply to this

                              Last Paragraph is a great question...
                              
                              However, harking back to when they created the country and Constitution...
                              
                              They were trying to unite very separate States, created by colonies from different countries and corporations...
                              
                              They were actually trying to counter an innate and negative diversity which came from being made up of various colonies from a variety European Nations with very negative relations between them.
                              
                              Colonies which were displacing a people and culture(s) currently occupying the continent... Colonies that made up much less physical territory than currently exists today... 50 States and global presence.

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   Sharlee01posted 6 weeks ago

   Tim, once again, a great thread, actually refreshing topic.
   
   The Federalist really is one of the most brilliant breakdowns of how representative government can actually work in the real world. What I’ve always found fascinating is how Publius (especially Madison) doesn’t sugarcoat human nature; he leans into it. He knew ambition, self-interest, and factionalism were inevitable, so the whole system was designed to manage those forces, not pretend they don’t exist. That’s the genius of it.
   
   Federalist 10 and 51 are probably the clearest examples of that, using structure and competition to keep power in check. But honestly, across the board, the essays anticipate almost every argument that was or still is made against the Constitution. Federalist 39’s discussion on federalism, or 78’s take on the judiciary? Still incredibly relevant, especially when we’re debating federal power or judicial authority today.
   
   And you nailed it,  none of it works without an informed and active citizenry. That’s the part a lot of people miss. The Constitution gives us the tools, but it’s on us to use them wisely. The more I’ve dug into The Federalist, the more I’ve realized how layered and intentional the whole framework really is. Happy to chat more about it,  it’s one of those topics I never get tired of.
   
   Also, and I say this with fingers crossed,  let’s hope this thread stays a thoughtful dive into the roots of our republic and doesn’t spiral into a Trump-fueled sideshow. We’ve all seen how fast 'Publius' turns into 'Public enemy #1' the moment someone casually mentions Article II.

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      tsmogposted 6 weeks agoin reply to this

      Thanks for the comment, Sharlee. As shared with GA, I plan on taking this course in the future, though I have studied a few of the papers.

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         Sharlee01posted 6 weeks agoin reply to this

         Very complicated, but very interesting subject. Hope we get some to join in.

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