As far as countries go, 250 years is not very old, but as Americans, we seem to be mighty proud of it. But we also seem to be a bit worried. Can our nation survive another 250 years given the current state of divisive politics? Why does it matter that we do?
I believe it matters because 250 years ago, our forefathers proposed an experiment that the old and established nations of Europe thought would never work—a government without kings to guide it, a nation without class divisions, a land where every person is given equal rights and opportunities, and a country ruled by ordinary citizens. For 250 years, that experiment has worked, mostly. We’ve had some hiccups, and we’ve failed to provide everyone with the rights we claim for ourselves. However, I believe the experiment has been a success.
What would happen if we were to allow the experiment to fail? What if we would again let the privileged rule over the masses? Communism, socialism, oligarchy, monarchy, and aristocracy all fail because they put power into the hands of a few. Today, even in America, there are those who wish to take power from others and award it to themselves. If they are successful, the American Experiment will fail.
To quote one of the founding fathers at the Constitutional Congress … “We cannot fail!”