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"The essential principles of our Government... form the bright constellation which has gone before us and guided our steps through an age of revolution and reformation. The wisdom of our sages and blood of our heroes have been devoted to their attainment. They should be the creed of our political faith, the text of civic instruction, the touchstone by which to try the services of those we trust; and should we wander from them in moments of error or of alarm, let us hasten to retrace our steps and to regain the road which alone leads to peace, liberty and safety."
--1st Inaugural Address, 1801.

"It behooves [a chief executive] to think and to act for [himself] and for [his] people. The great principles of right and wrong are legible to every reader; to pursue them requires not the aid of many counselors. The whole art of government consists in the art of being honest. [He need] only aim to do [his] duty, and mankind will give [him] credit where [he fails]."
--Thomas Jefferson: Rights of British America, 1774. (*) ME 1:209, Papers 1:134

I respect our founding fathers but the reality is that our Nation and the very real external threats we face as well as security requirements we must have couldnt have been concieved of by them.

Commonsense urges me to believe that first and foremost they would acknowledge these external threats and deal with them with as much savvy as our current administration.

Would they do it differently...I cannot say, but I am certain they would act.

Our Nation is much much different then anything they could've possibly imagined at the time.

1790 Census
Total US population: 3,929,214
Whites: 80.7%
Blacks: 19.3% (90% in South)
Native Americans not counted, likely over 80 tribes w/
150,000 persons.
Economically Ranking behind all the Nations of Europe
Militarily Ranking behind all the Nations of Europe

2000 US population:281,000,000
69.1 percent white
12.1 percent black
12.5 percent Hispanic
3.7 percent Asian and Pacific Islander
0.7 percent American Indian
0.2 percent "Some other race."
Another 1.6 percent of the population (about 4.6 million
people) identified with two or more races.
An Economic and Military Hyperpower

By and large I think the majority of principles they laid down are transferable...but unfortunately some of them must be orientated to deal with "today".

Where matters of foreign relations and International threats are concerned...I think their principles must adapt.

I am aware of the slippery slope involved in this but given the choice of slippery slope to Nuclear detonation in one of our major cities...

I choose the former.