This summer I have been reading David McCullough’s Pulitzer Prize-winning biography of our second president, John Adams. In this account, he artfully describes the motivations the colonists had for seeking independence from the English monarchy and the establishment of the world’s first true democracy.

There are, of course, the well-known descriptions of the English military brutality and the shortcomings of our inexperienced revolutionaries. What I found most interesting were the well-documented efforts of the founders to form a government that would be insulated from what they felt were the historical weaknesses of most leaders.

We know of John Adams’ feelings on these matters because of his habit of recording in writing detailed accounts of daily activities both in a journal and in frequent letters to his wife, Abigail. We are fortunate that this evidence has been carefully preserved and was available to Mr. McCullough.

The importance of religious freedom, fair voting and freedom of speech are well known. What is less well known is the large amount of effort our founders devoted to the principles of the distribution of power. Their experience with the English monarch caused them to fear any leader having unbalanced power.

The appeal of having a good leader with power is that decisions can be made quickly and efficiently. Adams and others were aware, however, of the demonstrated human weaknesses of hubris and self-interest.

In his journal he writes: “Government is nothing more than the combined force of the multitude, for peace, order, safety, good and happiness of the people. … Nature throws us all into the world equal and alike. … The preservation of liberty depends upon the intellectual and moral character of the people. As long as knowledge and virtue are diffused generally among the body of a nation, it is impossible they should be enslaved. … Ambition is one of the more ungovernable passions of the human heart. The love of power is insatiable and uncontrollable. … There is danger from all men. The only maxim of a free government ought to be to trust no man living with power to endanger the public liberty.”

The carefully constructed results of the founders’ efforts were three co-equal branches of government and the principles of fair debate followed by fair voting. We should be very proud of our ability as citizens of The United States of America to have allowed the formation and function of our democracy. In spite of occasional messiness, it has functioned quite well.

But, how are we doing now?

We have begun the process of limiting the availability of certain books in public libraries. Some politicians now base their voting on whether or not the vote will threaten their win in the next election. Certain media interests are threatened with loss of financial support because of fair reporting of certain political realities.

A conservative-leaning Supreme Court has decided that the president is immune from prosecution for his decisions, saying that impeachment is the solution for improper behavior. (Impeachment is a political process initiated by Congress, which is currently controlled by the president’s party.)

Some law firms have been punished by the president because of legal activity against him. The president continues to say, without evidence, that he won the 2020 election. Immigrants continue to be arrested by masked ICE agents and often are not allowed legal representation or exposure to the judicial branch of government.

We citizens must have higher standards for our elected officials. We need to insist that they follow the interests of the Constitution and our founders instead of their self-interests and reelection desires. The weaknesses of humans have not changed over time.

Faith in my present government is waning; faith in my fellow citizens is not. Please prove me right through vigorous nonviolent action and loud expressions of your patriotism.