Doing a deep dive into John Adams’s Defence of Constitutions, and it is getting way too real. I’ll lean on C. Bradley Thompson’s excellent summary: 1/8

First, simple democracies are taken over by an aristocratic elite. These are people who tend to gain power, either by talent, ambition, or avarice. But they always pop to the top in every part of society. 2/8

The elite become overbearing on the “many,” or the People. First “docile, obsequious, and deferential,” they begin to resent the elites who are aloof in society and oppressive in policy. 3/8

Eventually, the People let their resentment turn to insurrection and tyranny by majority. They vote themselves into power, unleashing a class war. As the majority, they begin to usurp the rights of the minority. 4/8

They will “confiscate and redistribute property.” “Debts are abolished, unequal taxes are imposed, and ex post fact laws passed.” They can justify any tyranny with “reasons of state” and become just as horrible as the very elite they grew so resentful of. 5/8

The people are no more virtuous, and may even be less so, than the aristocrats. With “property so insecure and precarious, the inevitable result is “universal idleness and famine.”” 6/8

One day they cry for “liberty” and the next day they demand “abolition of debts, and division of goods.” In the end, “the idle, vicious and abandoned will live in constant riot on the spoils of the industrious, virtuous, and deserving.” 7/8

If that’s not relevant to today’s populism, then I don’t know what is. As I’ve said before, Adams is understudied and has a lot to say to Americans today. 8/8

He is a must read on Adams. His new book is high on my list to read this year.

Thanks! I’ll definitely check it out.