I keep seeing the the phrase " The Founding Fathers" written in threads. They seem to be spoken of as gods or heros. I thought I might point out that they were wanted felons that were to be shot or hung on site. Thomas Jefferson was devoted athiest yet wrote of a creator. Ben Franklin was wanted for crimes in England before he came to america. His Fire insurance company in Philedelphia would be called racketeering today and he would face life in the penitentary under the rico statued. James Madison and Thomas Paine would be executed under our own laws for treason. The "WE THE PEOPLE" were slave owners every one. The constitution was an experiment in goverment --and it took them years to agree on that and none of them walked away happy. I think if we want some heroes we might look at a 75 year old appalachian woman who raised 13 children and educated them in a 1 room house. Or maybe a rich football player from Kansas City who couldn't swim but gave his life to save two children who were drowning. Perhaps it might be 3 million people trapped in a country they want little to do with -- who have withdrawn to the "beyond the sidewalks and civilization" There they raise their cows , chickens and children with a mutual understanding of dirt to rain ratios. Some might call this group the new founding fathers--we found out the experiment in goverment was a terrible waste of time and the best goverment is the one you apply on yourself !(posted 9009 days ago)