The Modern Federalist No. 1: Freedom & Technology

In 1787, the debate to defend the Union was the question of first magnitude after the American Revolution. In 2025, we face a parallel moment in the Technological Revolution.

In Federalist No. 1, Alexander Hamilton asked: whether societies of men are really capable or not of establishing good government from reflection and choice, or whether they are forever destined to depend for their political constitutions on accident and force.

In 1787, the debate to defend the Union was the question of first magnitude after the American Revolution. The Federalist Papers- 85 essays written in 1787 and 1788- sought to persuade readers that the Constitution was not a matter of political preference, but of national survival.

In 2025, we face a parallel moment in the Technological Revolution. Today, the question of first magnitude is this: Can humanity harness technology with wisdom and intention, or will we be ruled by the accidents of innovation and the force of algorithms?

Like the Founding generation, we stand at a dangerous crossroads: Will these tools serve the common good, or fracture our societies into hostile factions, monopolized by the few and weaponized against the many?

In moments like these, truth and deception compete for influence. We are not always sure that those who advocate the truth are influenced by purer principles than their antagonists. And yet, as in Hamilton’s time, true persuasion must come from reasoned argument- not threats, coercion, or harm.

Even wise and good men and women can find themselves on the wrong side of questions of such magnitude. But may we remain ever favorable to the discovery of truth.

Here, then, is the call to action: Will we become stewards of our freedom and sovereignty? Will we act as contributors, collaborators, and comrades in shaping the next human evolution — one where artificial intelligence advances without eroding human dignity?

Our choices must be guided not by impulse or blind loyalty, but by a wise estimate of our true interests.

Just as the Constitution was designed to balance liberty with stability, so too must we create a framework that preserves human dignity while enabling technological progress. 

Technology no longer waits at the edges. It drives our roads, powers our ports, spans our bridges, and guides our aviation. In schools, artificial intelligence and machine learning will become as fundamental as reading, writing, and arithmetic—pillars of the next human era.

This is not a niche concern for engineers or policymakers. It is the defining political, social, and moral test of our age. And, as in 1787, the world is watching. 

If we succeed, free societies will prove they can adapt to the most disruptive technologies in history. If we fail, the future will be left to market chaos, authoritarian control, or blind chance.

1787 Questions of First Magnitude

In the beginning of our nation, the questions of first magnitude included:

• Should we adopt the Constitution?

• How should power be divided between states and nation?

• How do we secure liberty while keeping order?

2025 Questions of First Magnitude

Today, the new questions are just as stark:

• Who controls artificial intelligence, and how accountable are they to the public?

• How do we protect privacy, autonomy, and freedom of thought in a world of surveillance?

• Can democracy regulate AI before authoritarianism exploits it?

You are not an observer at this moment. You are the people whose choices, voices, and vigilance will decide the outcome.

You are not an observer at this moment.

May we avoid the general misfortune of mankind. May we believe in the ideals of our original republic and remember that “We the People” hold the power and not the privileged few. 

The defense of our digital future—and the pursuit of collective concord— will be the subject of my next address.

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365 Days of Shade