So my question is, what did the founding fathers assume but no longer exists that has let things go crazy like they have?
A friend keeps pointing to limited liability, but I think that's throwing the baby out with the bath water. For more on this, look at my post on 04/04/2012 for a reason why removing limited liability is a bad idea. In essence, what said friend wants to do is make people, once again, responsible for the mess they make.
I think that's partially what is missing, but I am not sure if its the only thing missing from the constitution.
WE are responsible for making sure our government, WE THE PEOPLE, are acting on OUR BEHALF.
From day to day we ignore the government and then finally we turn around and notice it is not handling our finances as it should. It grows departments we don't want it to have, it takes powers from us we don't want it to and gives itself powers it shouldn't have. It starts unnecessary wars on behalf of corporations profits, it lies to us and manipulates us. At its worst, it makes us and keeps us ignorant for its own purposes. Namely to keep electing the same two parties even at the expense of the future of the country.
Now we find politicians are more worried about fundraisers for their election campaign than worrying about voters rights. Hence politicians and government are acting on behalf of corporations instead of We, The People.
We can no longer ignore government. We are personally responsible for their behavior, so if you don't like what government are doing, you are to blame. But before you decide to shoot someone, think about what it is going wrong. If its because you were told this on Fox News, remember there was a good reason why the founding fathers wanted an electoral college. Our Founding Fathers were educated men.