In Franklin’s speech on the other thread, Franklin points out that a moral group of “Governors” is a necessity for good government and that at some point, when the population has degenerated, despotism arises as a “necessity.” I hope we Americans truly are exceptional and can turn back from tyranny when we are on this brink . . . and I know of no historical example of this . . . so it will truly be exceptional. That is why I think the fighting spirit right now is more important than the Constitutional details of an imaginary document produced at an indefinite future time by unknown people.
I've been reading a lot about Washington lately. Just finished an excellent biography "His Excellency". I'm now reading 1776 by David McCullough. Both books make the same point about Washington.
In effect, he already thought the people were corrupted to that point. His experiences during the war, with the troops, with the Congress, with the states, convinced him that you could not rely on the goodness of people or on public spirit. That is why he was such a proponent of a strong, central government.
I agree that a spirit of resistance is important and useful, even without a bigger gameplan. Just not revolution. By definition, revolution implies you have some clue what you want to institute once you topple the old way.