Mahanth is Editor

“A Republic, if you can keep it.” — Benjamin Franklin

Set aside whether you are in America or elsewhere as you read this. Whether you love or hate us Americans and all that We the People are about.

Regardless you can probably appreciate the noteworthy nature of anything lasting 250 years in the realms of human endeavor. Our uniquely messy notion state of a nation-state became an unending continuum spanning generations and technological revolutions. A bold little experiment that steadily grew in power over time, despite ups and downs all along the way. The founding fathers knew all too well the near-impossibility of longevity in democratic political systems, acutely aware of looming downfall brought on by the power-hungry mind of some future Mad King. Like, say, the one sitting on the throne across the pond in England in 1776 whose colonial yoke settlers discarded with armed, intellectual, and moral heft. They studied their history back then, even without TikTok.

One quarter millennium later, here we are. Where are we?

There is reason to celebrate this birthday. Through Revolution, Civil War, Great Depression, World War, Cold War, 9/11, plague, and natural disaster America has endured. A unique combination of grit, innovation, collectivism, and leadership in the face of the abyss have repelled imperialism, communism, fascism, racism, sexism, and terrorism from within and outside. Still the quest for a More Perfect Union is not guaranteed to succeed in our time, or any. The debt we owe our forefathers for their sacrifices, and our progeny springing up in the world we’re choosing to bring them into, must be repaid in installments in real time if we really believe the big idea is worth preserving. The ever present temptation to backslide, especially into the welcoming arms of corruption and authoritarianism, perpetually stalks this Republic like an invisible, unrelenting gravitational pull. A forever curse emanating from the darkest shadows of our own profoundly ignorant and selfish nature. This pull is more powerful than the Devil himself.

In my opinion we are currently failing both our predecessors and our successors, succumbing to the Cult of Victimhood and worshipping at the altar of the Almighty Dollar above all other Gods, across all political stripes of this country. So let’s promise ourselves this occasion should warrant a time of introspection and reflection, even as we plan the BBQs, fireworks and beers.

We seem Hellbent on destroying everything we’ve built, and far more. The ability of the human species to survive with itself, let alone in balance with the rest of nature are obviously in serious jeopardy. America is currently failing the rest of the world in a global ecosystem that heavily relies on us for leadership to collectively navigate a delicate ship of human consciousness through the literal and figurative storms of modern life mercilessly lashing against it. There exist no other options for this role, whether we like it or not. We’re it. No Plan B. Such is the burden of being the world’s only superpower. We asked for this responsibility, over and over again.

So can we keep it? Will we lead ourselves into 250 more increasingly better years, or straight toward the mass extinction that awaits if we don’t do a better job of coexisting?

If we think capitalism and democracy will work long into the future, our duty is to go out and prove their merits. As consumers and voters, we can show the world the American system isn’t actually so divided or broken; that Americans are actually good people at our core, skilled in governing, and we welcome the mantle of leadership through the gauntlet that lies ahead for us all. That doesn’t mean strutting around in a shiny golden ceremonial crown and demanding fealty to it. No matter how good it feels to own the other side. That particular method has been tried and failed millions of times throughout history. After all, bowing down to the cult is humanity’s default setting, and always has been.

We will need to be far more vigilant to prevent the fears of those who birthed this nation from coming true 250 years later.