Whether you like it or not, our Puritan ancestors, who believed that human nature is totally depraved, are very much responsible for our system of government now. The Puritians believed strongly in covenant theology, which meant that they rejected the divine right of kings, and believed rather, that the people had the responsibility to govern themselves. We owe our system of checks and balances to the belief that human nature is flawed. Even the most well-intentioned government can become corrupt and demoagogic at times, the Puritains and the Founding Fathers knew this. That is why no branch of government is supposed to have a monopoly on power.
It is when people believe that humans are innately good, when Marxism, Communism, Socialism, and wacky Utopian governments come about and fail. Because we are not innately good inside, we were born with original sin and should not delude ourselves of anything otherwise.
Really. So you completely agree with Winthrop's "City on a Hill" commune speech?
In fact, I do like it. You seem to have missed the key factor in checks and balances, ect. The power of the government is limited, because the government is run by people under the effects of the Fall.
Agreed, never forget that state power will be wielded by sinners, sometimes by the insane.