The Tyranny of King Washigton

I'd say Benedict Arnold was a truer American hero than Washington....he was ignored and passed over so many times that he turned to the other side. Can you really blame him?
Mu understanding is that before Arnold turned TRAITOR, Washington gave his as many chances as he could because he recognised the talents of Arnold. Every time Arnold was screwed over, Washington was there to give him another chance and also put him in a different position.
 

Wolfpaw

Banned
While I agree that Washington isn't exactly the man that America has made him out to be, I think everyone is being far too critical of him. George Washington in some ways is pretty similar to Cincinnatus. Washington didn't seize power either, in 1783 he retired his position and went home.
But he didn't. He stayed very active in politics until he achieved the President's House. Cincinnatus didn't do that. He stayed on his damn farm without any goals of ruling the republic after the crisis had abated. Washington's behavior is the exact opposite of that.

Cincinnatus was chosen to be dictator twice and George Washington ran for President twice.
There is a difference between a draftee and a politician. Cincinnatus did his duty, went home, and only stirred when galvanized by a desperate Senate. Washington only ever worked for his own political advantage even from the earliest days of the War.

And frankly, I don't think somebody is great just for not becoming a dictator. "Hey, at least he wasn't Napoleon!" isn't a great argument. Again, Cincinnatus did his duty and went home; Washington did his duty and stuck around. And what people also forget is that Washington did not need to launch a coup; he (like everybody else) knew who the first president was gonna be.
 
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But he didn't. He stayed very active in politics until he achieved the President's House. Cincinnatus didn't do that. He stayed on his damn farm without any goals of ruling the republic after the crisis had abated. Washington's behavior is the exact opposite of that.

There is a difference between a draftee and a politician. Cincinnatus did his duty, went home, and only stirred when galvanized by a desperate Senate. Washington only ever worked for his own political advantage even from the earliest days of the War.

And frankly, I don't think somebody is great just for not becoming a dictator. "Hey, at least he wasn't Napoleon!" isn't a great argument. Again, Cincinnatus did his duty and went home; Washington did his duty and stuck around. And what people also forget is that Washington did not need to launch a coup; he (like everybody else) knew who the first president was gonna be.

Damn good point! And anyway, If he did want to become permanent leader, he would have the complicated support of the army behind him. The congress at that time was not yet as established and entrenched as it is now- its position was very insecure and highly vulnerable to a coup.

Washing as Cincinnatus? thats ridiculous!
 
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