George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, were visionary - but flawed men. They wrote and signed their names to "All Men Are Created Equal," while no women were involved, and many of the men were slave owners. History tells us that many of them struggled with this, but economics and politics brought compromise that left many people without any rights, and others as property to be bought and sold.
George Washington's will freed many of his slaves upon the death of his wife Martha. She wrote to a friend that she feared that some of the slaves knew this fact, and might try to hasten their freedom. She granted most of them freedom before her death (most of whom then stayed on as underpaid sharecroppers.)
Thomas Jefferson had a long running relationship and children with one of his slaves. He was in debt, and could not free his slaves as his creditors had a lien on everything that he owned, including the human being that that was the mother of his children.
Franklin Roosevelt spent the time before he died with his mistress, not his wife.
When we think of the flaws of today's political leaders, we should look at the past. Look at the flaws of those before. And know that We The People have been down this road before, and We have found our way. And if we focus on what we have in common, not on what divides us, we will stand together into the future. The authority of the governed is granted by the people, not be hereditary, or god given authority.
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