Equality
The founders believed that elected representatives are responsible for “refining” and “enlarging” “the public view” through a constant give and take with those to whom they are responsible. They founded this country with the understanding that citizens are endowed with the right, the moral sense, and the responsibility to make just choices. The statesman’s part is to discern and then persuade the American people to adopt the course most consistent with justice. If a statesman fails, either in discernment or persuasion, he can be removed from office. There is nothing in the system that guarantees a perfect result – the people might not approve what is right, be persuaded to approve what is wrong, elect fools, or remove the wise from office. However, this system of mutual accountability respects the equal dignity of all and fosters the expectation that each would engage his highest reason, rather than his basest passions, in resolving the deep political questions that came before him.
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