What is the great experiment? What does it mean to you? Is it about our country becoming a democracy? For that to become a reality, doesn’t it mean that we first need to be democratic toward our fellow citizens?

But here’s the dilemma: too many of us are conducting our own social experiments. Some are trying to promote liberty for all; others are pursuing happiness based on their own selfish efforts or at the expense of the public. Meanwhile, the rest are just trying to stay alive by gaming the system.

So, if nobody is advocating for our country’s great experiment, how will we ever thrive? It seems to me there is only one way for our country to survive: returning to the grand experiment of trying to be a Republic.

Sadly, I have concluded that it will also become another failed experiment. For it to succeed, we first need to try to be Christian toward our fellow patriots. But it seems to me that the evangelicals and nationalists don’t want to keep the peace.

By: ElRoyPoet, 2019

The American Form Of Government

“Before 1780 the form of government in the USA, a Democratic Constitutional Republic with a severely limited central government had never been attempted before. During the war of 1812, there were significant doubts such a government could survive. The USA consists of states, joined together. The states have full police power. The federal government’s power is limited to 16 powers listed in the constitution. On top of that one branch of the government makes the laws, another branch interprets the laws, and a third branch enforces the laws. Congress makes the laws. The president cannot make laws, only congress. Congress actually has more power than the president.
In the USA, the citizens are considered sovereign. Neither the federal government, nor the state governments are considered sovereign. The USA is not a nation of people with a single culture, a single religion, a single ethnicity, nor any single belief. As a result, maintaining a citizen-supported government is exceedingly difficult. The nation almost split in 1860, an extremely bloody civil war resulted. The citizenry has never agreed on the things we consider immoral and unlawful. We do agree on the majority of items—but on the fringes, there is no agreement. For example, there is wide agreement that murder and rape are immoral, but very little agreement on drug use or abortion. The USA started out as a never-before-tried experiment. We’ve been at this for 239 years. We still don’t know if the experiment will work long term. We hope it will!”
Excerpt from Why is America considered the great experiment?

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Matthew 5:9

“Though liberty is established by law, we must be vigilant, for liberty to enslave us is always present under that same liberty. Our Constitution speaks of the ‘general welfare of the people’. Under that phrase all sorts of excesses can be employed by [authoritarian] tyrants—to make us bondsmen.” By: Marcus Tullius Cicero

“The struggle of man against power is the struggle of memory against forgetting.” By: Milan Kundera

“It does not matter how well the Bible, or the Constitution is written: if those aspirations are not animated by the spirit that dwells in your heart.” By: ElRoyPoet

Freedom vs. Force – The Individual and the State

The Great Experiment: Reclaiming the Spirit of Unity and Moral Foundation

The question of what constitutes the great experiment of America has been at the heart of its identity since its founding. To many, it symbolizes the pursuit of democracy, liberty, and justice. But what does this experiment truly mean, and how can it be sustained? Is it enough for the nation to establish democratic institutions, or must there be a deeper moral and spiritual foundation? Historically, the success of America’s experiment has depended not only on political structures but also on the moral character of its citizens. Without a shared commitment to principles rooted in compassion, integrity, and faith, the experiment risks becoming a series of fragmented social tests rather than a cohesive national identity.

The founding fathers envisioned a nation built on democratic ideals, emphasizing the importance of individual rights and government accountable to the people. The Declaration of Independence declared that all men are created equal, and the Constitution sought to establish a government that derives its power from the consent of the governed. Yet, even in its earliest days, America grappled with contradictions—most notably slavery and the exclusion of women and marginalized groups—that revealed the gap between ideals and reality. The Civil War (1861-1865) was a pivotal moment in this ongoing moral struggle, illustrating that democracy alone cannot sustain a nation unless it is rooted in justice and moral integrity.

Today, the nation faces a similar dilemma. Too often, Americans are conducting their own social experiments—each pursuing their own version of the American Dream, sometimes at odds with one another. Some promote liberty for all, inspired perhaps by the founding principles of freedom and equality. Others pursue happiness through selfish efforts, often at the expense of the collective good. Still, many are simply trying to survive, gaming the system to get by. This fragmentation reflects a failure to uphold the moral underpinnings necessary for a thriving democracy.

Historically, the idea that moral and spiritual values are central to national cohesion is not new. During the 19th century, social reformers and religious leaders emphasized the importance of Christian virtues—such as charity, humility, and compassion—in shaping a moral society. The abolitionist movement and the Civil Rights Movement both drew upon Christian principles to advocate for justice and equality. These movements showed that moral conviction rooted in faith could serve as a unifying force capable of challenging systemic injustice.

Given this history, it seems that the only path for America’s survival is to return to the foundational moral and spiritual principles that once unified its people. The idea of America as a Christian nation, historically rooted in the principles of Judeo-Christian ethics, once served as a moral compass for leadership and community life. Before the nation can truly flourish, it must embrace these principles again—treating fellow citizens with compassion, humility, and justice.

Unfortunately, the current landscape suggests that some factions, notably certain Christian nationalists, are not interested in maintaining peace or fostering unity. Instead, they often promote division under the guise of religious patriotism, threatening the very fabric of social cohesion. The challenge is that for America to succeed as a nation, it must move beyond superficial allegiances and genuinely embody the virtues that can sustain a diverse yet united society.

In conclusion, the great American experiment is not merely about establishing a democratic government, but about cultivating a moral and spiritual foundation that unites citizens across differences. History teaches us that democracy without morality is fragile; it requires a shared commitment to justice, compassion, and integrity. If America is to thrive in the future, it must rediscover and recommit to the moral principles that once made its democracy resilient—principles rooted in faith, humility, and love for one’s neighbor.