The Tyranny of the Agent

In 1787 the deliberations of the constitutional convention were debating about what the new nation would look like. Would we have a king? Would there be some other system? Because the deliberations were in secret, anxious citizens gathered waiting to find out the results. And as the men exited the building we’re told about a Mrs. Powell who confronted Benjamin Franklin and said, “Dr. Franklin, what do we have: a republic or a monarchy?” And with no hesitation whatsoever Ben Franklin says, “A republic, if you can keep it.”