Truth, Lies, and Liberty: Benjamin Franklin's Guide to Surviving 2025

Does it feel like the ground is shifting beneath our feet? In a world swirling with "alternative facts," where long-standing international relationships seem to fray, and basic rights feel debated anew, it's easy to feel adrift. Where do we look for a compass? It might seem strange, but perhaps one of the best guides we have is a man born over three centuries ago: Benjamin Franklin.

I've always been fascinated by Franklin – the face on the $100 bill, the guy with the kite – but my interest was recently rekindled after diving into his famous Autobiography, reading Walter Isaacson's phenomenal biography Benjamin Franklin: An American Life, and watching the compelling Apple TV+ miniseries Franklin starring Michael Douglas. Immersing myself in his world through his own pragmatic words, Isaacson's rich narrative, and Douglas's portrayal, left me stunned by how relevant his struggles, principles, and sheer ingenuity feel right now, in March 2025.

Of course, Franklin was very much a man of his time, embodying contradictions that we find troubling today. He owned enslaved people earlier in his life, though he later became president of an abolitionist society – a complexity that reminds us historical figures are rarely simple heroes. Yet, it is precisely his championing of ideals like reason, pragmatic diplomacy, essential liberty, and civic improvement, often learned through his own experiences and evolving views, that provides such a valuable lens through which to view our own times. He wasn't just a Founding Father; he was a master navigator of turbulent waters.

This post explores Franklin's approach to four crucial areas – truth, diplomacy, liberty, and civic duty – and contrasts them sharply with specific actions and trends we're witnessing under the current Trump administration. More than just a history lesson, the goal is to derive a practical "guide" – 8 actionable lessons from Franklin – for navigating, and perhaps surviving, the challenges of 2025.

The Endangered Currency of Truth

Benjamin Franklin was a creature of the Enlightenment. He believed in reason, observation, and the power of facts. His famous kite experiment wasn't just a lark; it was science – testing a hypothesis through empirical evidence. As a printer and writer, he understood the power of disseminating information, founding libraries like the Library Company of Philadelphia so others could access knowledge. His Junto club was dedicated to reasoned debate and mutual improvement, based on discussing ideas openly and honestly.

Contrast that with our current information environment. We hear talk of "alternative facts" from the highest levels. Scientific consensus on critical issues like climate change is often dismissed or downplayed. The media, essential for holding power accountable, is frequently attacked as "fake news" or the "enemy of the people." When the very notion of objective truth becomes contested, how can we make informed decisions as individuals or as a society? It erodes trust and makes genuine debate nearly impossible.

Franklin's life offers clear guidance here:

Lesson 1: Cultivate Deep Skepticism & Critical Thinking. Don't just consume information; analyze it. Question sources, look for evidence, and be especially wary of emotionally charged rhetoric designed to bypass reason. Practice media literacy like it's a survival skill – because it might be.

Lesson 2: Champion Education & Access to Diverse Information. Franklin knew knowledge was power. Support libraries, schools, and independent journalism. Read widely, expose yourself to different viewpoints, and encourage curiosity. An informed public is the bedrock of a functioning democracy.

Lesson 3: Practice Intellectual Humility. Franklin learned to propose ideas tentatively ("It appears to me...") rather than declaring them absolute truth. Be willing to admit when you're wrong. Listen genuinely to others, even those you strongly disagree with. Our polarized world desperately needs more humility and less dogmatic certainty.

Building Bridges or Burning Them? – Diplomacy, Alliances, and Influence

Perhaps Franklin's greatest triumph was securing the alliance with France during the Revolutionary War. It wasn't quick or easy. He spent years in Paris, patiently building relationships, charming French society, appealing to their strategic interests and their Enlightenment ideals. He understood that diplomacy was more than just hard-nosed negotiation; it required mutual respect, cultural understanding, and a long-term vision. That alliance was crucial – it brought money, troops, and legitimacy, ultimately tipping the scales against Britain.

This patient, relationship-focused diplomacy feels worlds away from the "America First" approach that often characterizes the current administration's foreign policy. Alliances sometimes seem viewed primarily through a transactional lens – "What's in it for us, right now?" Long-standing partnerships are questioned if they don't show immediate, tangible economic benefits. This shift is perhaps most starkly illustrated by the recent, controversial shutdown of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) by the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed by Elon Musk. USAID has long been the primary engine of American "soft power"—using development aid, humanitarian assistance, and global health programs to foster goodwill and advance U.S. influence indirectly. Its dismantling, driven by a stated mandate for 'efficiency,' signals a significant departure from using these tools. As reported around March 19th, 2025, a federal judge has already ruled this action likely violated the Constitution, further highlighting the contentious nature of such abrupt shifts away from established practices.

Franklin's diplomatic success offers a counter-narrative:

Lesson 4: Build Bridges: Value Long-Term Relationships & Seek Common Ground. Whether dealing with nations, communities, or individuals, invest in building trust and understanding. Look for shared interests. Recognize that cooperation and mutual respect often yield more durable results than purely transactional or confrontational approaches. Strong relationships are a form of power and security.

The Price of Liberty – Rights, Law, and Security

"They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."

- Benjamin Franklin

This is perhaps Franklin's most famous warning. He understood the constant tension between freedom and security. As someone involved in crafting America's foundational documents, he knew the importance of establishing a government of laws, with checks and balances, designed to protect fundamental rights even when inconvenient.

Today, this warning echoes loudly. Consider the situation reported by AP News earlier this month (March 17, 2025), where hundreds of immigrants were deported under the administration's invocation of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 – an archaic law originally intended for wartime – seemingly bypassing usual judicial processes and even direct court orders. While the administration defended the action as necessary to remove "bad people" and combat an "invasion," critics pointed to the dangers of using emergency powers to circumvent due process and constitutional protections. It's a stark example of potentially sacrificing "essential liberty" for perceived "temporary safety."

Franklin’s principle demands vigilance:

Lesson 5: Be Vigilant: Defend Rights & Due Process for Everyone. Pay close attention when rights (especially due process) are curtailed, even for unpopular groups or in the name of safety/emergency. Upholding the rule of law and constitutional procedures isn't a luxury; it's the bedrock of freedom. Support organizations defending civil liberties.

Lesson 6: Participate Actively in Governance. Franklin didn't just comment from the sidelines; he served. Liberty isn't a spectator sport. Stay informed, vote in every election, contact your representatives, pay attention to judicial appointments and rulings. An active, engaged citizenry is the ultimate check on potential overreach.

Who Serves the Public Good? – Civic Duty, Community, and Action

Franklin wasn't just a statesman; he was perhaps America's greatest civic entrepreneur. Look at his record in Philadelphia: he helped establish the city's first public library, a fire department, a university, a hospital, paved streets, and more. He saw a problem, gathered his fellow citizens, and devised practical solutions. He believed strongly in contributing actively to the improvement of the community – the "common good."

This contrasts with perceptions sometimes surrounding modern politics, where cynicism about public service can run high. Concerns about conflicts of interest, prioritizing personal gain or loyalty over public welfare, or viewing government itself primarily as an obstacle rather than a tool for collective good, seem prevalent. The very idea of sacrificing personal time and resources for community improvement, as Franklin did tirelessly, can feel quaint.

But Franklin's example provides two final, crucial lessons for today:

Lesson 7: Take Practical Action for Community Good. Don't just despair about problems – identify concrete, practical steps you can take. Whether it's improving a local park, mentoring a student, supporting a food bank, or innovating a better way to do something in your neighborhood, follow Franklin's lead: see a need, devise a solution, and get to work, often starting small and local.

Lesson 8: Mobilize Your Community for Collective Action. Franklin's genius was persuading people to work together. He founded countless voluntary associations by convincing others that collective effort could achieve what individuals couldn't. That spirit of mobilizing citizens outside formal structures remains incredibly potent. We see echoes of it today, for instance, in grassroots movements addressing issues like economic inequality, reflected in the significant crowds reportedly attending the "Fight the Oligarchy" rallies associated with figures like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Regardless of one's specific political viewpoint, the act of citizens coming together peacefully to demand change and address shared problems is a deeply Franklinian form of civic engagement. Organize, join forces, make your collective voice heard.

Conclusion: Benjamin Franklin's Guide to Surviving 2025

From the erosion of truth to the pressures on liberty and the reevaluation of global relationships, the challenges of 2025 are significant. Benjamin Franklin, the pragmatic optimist, faced his own turbulent times with a unique blend of reason, ingenuity, civic spirit, and diplomatic skill. The contrasts between his principles and some of our current political realities are stark, serving as both a warning and an inspiration.

His legacy offers us more than just history; it provides a guide, rooted in timeless principles, for navigating our present moment. Let's recap Franklin's 8 key lessons:

1. Cultivate Deep Skepticism & Critical Thinking.
2. Champion Education & Access to Diverse Information.
3. Practice Intellectual Humility.
4. Build Bridges: Value Long-Term Relationships & Seek Common Ground.
5. Be Vigilant: Defend Rights & Due Process for Everyone.
6. Participate Actively in Governance.
7. Take Practical Action for Community Good.
8. Mobilize Your Community for Collective Action.

These aren't just quaint historical notions. They are practical tools for preserving democracy, fostering understanding, and building better communities. Franklin believed in the power of ordinary people, armed with reason and working together, to shape their own destiny.

There's a famous story, perhaps apocryphal but enduringly true in spirit, told about Franklin leaving the Constitutional Convention in 1787. A woman, often identified as Elizabeth Willing Powel, supposedly asked him, "Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?" Franklin's legendary reply was brief and heavy with responsibility: "A republic, if you can keep it."

"If you can keep it." That condition resonates profoundly today, in March 2025. Keeping the republic isn't passive; it requires the active engagement, critical thinking, vigilance, and community spirit embodied in the lessons derived from Franklin's life. It demands we constantly work to uphold truth, defend liberty, build bridges, and serve the common good. Three centuries after his birth, Franklin's wisdom – and his warning – remain his most crucial legacy. The question now, as it was then, rests squarely with us: Will we choose to keep it?

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