Chapter 2: What Were They Thinking?
Page 47: Let’s explore what government is
Ben Franklin gesturing to crown vs. ballot box, military might and Capitol building vs. people.
BEN FRANKLIN
Why not close out this chapter with our thoughts on government in general…
…what it’s for, for example? Or maybe what form it should have? Up to you.
But as for specifics…
Franklin holding pages with titles of various Constitutional Law issues like War Powers and Gun Control.
FRANKLIN
Don’t bother with what we thought about any particular topic… …until you get to that topic!
Like, bring it up when it’s relevant to the discussion?
Sis looking eager.
SIS
You mean… we could finally get started on the good stuff?
FRANKLIN
Yes. You can finally get to the good stuff.
SIS (jumping for joy)
Works for me! I’m IN!
AUTHOR
Works for me, too.
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
Works for us!
AVERAGE JOE
Well, it’s not how I’d have done it…
But hey…
…Whatever works, right?
I like the theme, and I am looking forward to this one. Americans have especially diverse notions of what Government is and should be. I am a Canadian here, “Peace, Order, and Good Government” makes us a fairly homogeneous bunch. Watching the arguments south of the border about what government should and shouldn’t get involved in (and sadly how often partisanship controls the debate), I really hope to see some perspective based on principle.
I’ve been quite for a long time since I last spoke here, but the work is really appreciated, Nathan. When I started reading this thing I never imagined how often I would fall back on examples and demons from this comic to explain concepts that friends and family were stumbling over when they were confused about why the law/government worked the way they do.
Oh, and as a side note to that, I do cite my source. The more people I get looking at this the better. And I wouldn’t want to plagiarize.
Thank you very much, Kevin! I think you’ll like the next few pages.
Aw… we’re not staying for the party?
Seriously, just from the bar tab it was pretty clear the Founders were partying like no tomorrow.
>According to the bill preserved from the evening, the 55 attendees drank 54 bottles of Madeira, 60 bottles of claret, eight of whiskey, 22 of porter, eight of hard cider, 12 of beer, and seven bowls of alcoholic punch.
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/stanton-peele/alcohol-addiction-were-th_b_610598.html
Party hard, indeed.
Considering the quality of their work compared to their successors today, I think we need to bring more booze into Congress.
“Urrrghhhhh… my head. What a session we had! But I don’t remember a thing. We didn’t do anything silly, did we?”
“Hey look: be it resolved by two thirds of both houses that an amendment is proposed, to wit: ‘Article one is hereby repealed'”
“Oh. Well, at least it wasn’t ratified while we were out.”
“Yeah. About that…”