they saw themselves as la law-givers at this unique moment in world history. the first time you could ever do this, determine your own destiny. well, the idea that they got it right, of course, is central to our civic religion in america. we worship the founders. thomas jefferson said, don't. and that's the point i want to make today. there is nobody in the founding period who is more conscious of both the danger of the union, the risks, but also he's more intensely conscious of the rights of an individual. there is a strong libertarian tendency in jefferson's thought and his obsession with rights. on the other hand, there's a strong tendency toward realism, to be aware of the great dangers confronting the nation. and the need to mobilize the force of the nation to sustain its enterprise. so what was the problem with the constitution? why did he say to his good friend, madison, "i don't think we should revere this document. it has many imperfections, and nothing personal, gemmy, but i don't see you as a father or as a founder." now, i'm paraphrasing. it's only