POLITICS: Tom and John set example

Twenty or more states have expressed their desire to convene a Constitutional Convention. I have much more confidence in those who framed the Constitution than today’s politician’s, who could easily be influenced by hundreds of special interest groups.

Many of the original framers of the Constitution were signatory to the Declaration of Independence and had mortgaged all of their property to France and Holland to finance the Revolution. Their zeal to establish an independent Union put them, and their families, in jeopardy.

The building of the nation began with George Washington, a plantation owner from Virginia, of no political affiliation, who commanded the Colonial Army against the British; a man who embedded himself with his troops, asking only that his expenses be covered with no reimbursement for his time until the war was ended.

Then there was John Adams, a Federalist, who envisioned a central government large enough to protect the fledgling Union. He established our banking system, giving us the framework and power to borrow when necessary for national defense, territorial expansion, and other costs of government.

He was followed by Thomas Jefferson, a Democratic-Republican who had the imagination and foresight to appoint John Jay, a brilliant Federalist lawyer, to negotiate treaties with Britain, Spain and France. The cessions and purchase acquisitions he negotiated quadrupled the size of the Union. Jefferson was one of the major framers of our Constitution and arguably had the greatest effect any person had on forming the Union. Jefferson, a Democratic-Republican, appointed Jay, a Federalist, as his negotiator; obviously believing that party affiliation was secondary to performance. This is an example of how our president and Congress should function.

Our Constitution has served us well over its lifetime, why mess with it? The above presidents and other learned men formed this great document with much forethought and compromise. Many of these individuals prayed to God for guidance and their prayers were surely answered. The Constitution, as it exists, has held our various states together and allowed free enterprise to expand with no government established religion. That is how we should proceed.

LEONARD BRANT

Post Falls