I just witnessed a very sobering moment. In a University history class, we were discussing the ideological clash between Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton during the period of the Early Republic, and how they had very different visions for the future of America. On one hand, Hamilton advocated for a central national bank and increasing urbanization/industrialization, and believed that debt was a good thing. Jefferson, meanwhile, saw cities as breeding grounds for vice, and felt that self-government necessitated a virtuous citizenry, which required personal independence (freedom from debt). This, of course, is a very simplistic characterization of their respective views, but it gets the general points across. Obviously, neither view is perfect. Personally, I prefer Jefferson's vision, but I don't believe that Hamilton's does not possess important ideas.
Anyhow, when the professor polled the students on which vision of American they personally preferred, ALMOST EVERYONE supported Hamilton. When the professor went from student to student asking them to explain their choice, these were some of the responses:
>"the musical mentions my name lol"
>"the general opinion seemed to be going in that direction, so I went with Hamilton."
Seriously? So, because a trendy, hipster musical popularizes the one Founding Father that the Left doesn't seem so keen to constantly denigrate, we must automatically subscribe to a system which seeks to attain group cohesion through debt slavery?
I feel that the responses in the class suggest a larger cultural movement. Hamilton's star has risen while Jefferson's has fallen. Both were undoubtedly great men, but I feel that the recent championing of Hamilton in pop culture, combined with the coordinated attack on Jefferson's legacy, should garner our collective suspicion. Hamilton's rise will create more acceptance towards centralization, while Jefferson's fall will tarnish the ideas of classical republicanism.
What do you think?