[kellynla]

"Hamilton's system was one of the founding's great achievements, along with the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Continental Army. Parts of it fell by the wayside. The Bank of the United States' charter was not renewed in 1811. Protectionists matched, and greatly exceeded, Hamilton's modest plans. But the right man had been in the right job at the right time. Enough of Hamilton's peers acquiesced in his handiwork so that the country got off on the right foot."

Happy Birthday, America! Semper Fi, Kelly

[MikefromOhio]

I tell you what, I think Franklin HAD to have over a 200 IQ. He was self taught in all of his scientific disclipines. That shows more intelligence than they at Time will give him credit for.

[highball]

Not only did we get off on the right foot, but much of what he originally wanted came to pass.

I don't like everything Hamilton advocated, but George Washington trusted him and hardly ever went against his advice. The General knew quality when he saw it.

Hamilton for me was always the American success story. An impoverished bastard immigrant who never even knew his own birth date rose to become one of the leading men of his day or any other. Marvelous.

Happy 4th!

[Meldrim]

Not one was a manufacturer? Didn't Franklin build stoves at one time? And I think their was some type of mill (indigo?) on Washington's property.

[IronJack]

Al Gore placed fairly well, coming in at a speculative IQ of nearly 80, on about the same level as Thomas Jefferson's housecat. John Kerry was slightly lower, roughly a 76, or equivalent to a climbing philodendron. And Ted Kennedy's IQ was not measurable; he got drunk and threw up on the test, then passed out in his own vomit.

[niteowl77]

As a kid, I was subjected to the (then current) public school "Hamilton=bad, Jefferson=good" cheerleading. Over the past 35 years, I've come to appreciate the flawed - but unusually farsighted - Hamilton more than I do Jefferson.

And Washington above them both.

[Who is John Galt?]

Hamilton's system was one of the founding's great achievements...

Mr. Hamilton's proposal for a system of government for the United States:

http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/debates/618.htm

was simply a reprise of the British system of government.

Case closed.

;>)

[Pyro7480]

BTTT