Thomas Jefferson Was he a Visionary?

[Taggure]

Say what you may about Thomas Jefferson, but you should ask yourself one question about him:

Was he a visionary or just an astute student of History trying to warn generations to come about the evils of goverment intervention into our daily lives?

John F. Kennedy held a dinner in the white House for a group of the
brightest minds in the nation at that time. He made this statement:
"This is perhaps the assembly of the most intelligence ever to
gather at one time in the White House with the exception of
when Thomas Jefferson dined alone."

When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, we shall become as corrupt as Europe .
Thomas Jefferson

The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.
Thomas Jefferson

It is incumbent on every
generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world.
Thomas Jefferson

I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.
Thomas Jefferson

My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government.
Thomas Jefferson

No free man shall ever be debarred he use of arms.
Thomas Jefferson

The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.
Thomas Jefferson

The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Thomas Jefferson

To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.
Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson said in 1802:
'I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property - until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered.'

[BluemontGlock]

NO Arguement here...!! we sure could use a man like TJ again...

He is my favorite figure of American history, he just got it...

[VBshooter]

TJ was the man!! Lessons can and should be learned from his wisdom.

[Reverenddel]

TJ, Benji Franklin, GW, Any of the Adams guys... Hamilton. It makes you question todays education system quite a bit...

[Taggure]

TJ, Benji Franklin, GW, Any of the Adams guys... Hamilton. It makes you question todays education system quite a bit...

You bring up a good point and I know that we have had discussions here before on the public education system, but you are quite correct that the public education system should be questioned.

Why are they not teaching our children to be thinkers and problem solvers that look outside the box? Well IMO for the short and sweet answer is CONTROL.

The institutions don't want the masses to think for themselves and that is why today’s education system only touches ever so lightly our founding fathers. Kids today really do not know what men like Jefferson stood for and why they made the decisions that they made.

I am sure that there are several here that will bring up the Prussian System as that is what our modern educations system modeled after.

Anyway for those of you that have kids and if not then grandkids or nieces and nephews just for fun check out the history books that they bring home and see just how much is covered on folks like Jefferson. I bet you might find a chapter maybe 2 but that will be about all.

just my .02 worth
Vern

[zephyp]

I hate to say it but if he were alive today he would no doubt be castrated and quartered daily by the MSM and current administration. Better we let him rest in peace and hope he's not made too big a mess rolling over in his grave...

[Diomed]

He had some peculiar ideas about economics, but on most everything else he was about as right as can be, particularly government and what it is and can become.

[zephyp]

He had some peculiar ideas about economics, but on most everything else he was about as right as can be, particularly government and what it is and can become.

Perhaps but he sure nailed the Fed long before it was cooked up and became a reality...

[gunderwood]

TJs primary economics influence was Count Tracy. A reprint can be found here of his work: http://mises.org/store/Tracy-Treatise-o ... -P544.aspx

Don't forget just how underdeveloped economics was for the time. Adam Smith published The Wealth of Nations in 1776, the same year as our revolution. Notice how even though Tracy/Jefferson were pushing for "free markets" they still called it a political economy. They had the basic tenants, but lacked the advanced theory. That would be developed after thier lifetimes.

[KaosDad]

I have two book from "The Library of America"; They collections of writing by Jefferson & Washington. They are NOT easy reads and nibble at them now & again. However, the insights they provide to waht these men were thinking is amazing.

I might be persuaded to lend them out.

[NatureNutAccountant]

Jefferson was definitely an excellent man, and a great visionary. I really wish we had a political party that had the same mindset as Jefferson that was a significant player in today's politics.

I know I consider myself to be a Jeffersonian, I just wish there were more of us.

[Snazuolu]

as a history major, i will say that TJ was a decent person. would he be listed as my fav president? no.. that would goto madison, but TJ and Madison were good friends and both actually cared about our country rather then getting reelected. the only thing about TJ, is he thought we should remain an agriculture based economy. i agree though that if ANY of our FF's came back to life for jsut 1 day to see what we had become, they'd run back to the grave and beg for death again.

[VBshooter]

I am more inclined to beleive they would start figuring out how to straghten it out just like the first time he and the others did.

[gunderwood]

as a history major, i will say that TJ was a decent person. would he be listed as my fav president? no.. that would goto madison, but TJ and Madison were good friends and both actually cared about our country rather then getting reelected. the only thing about TJ, is he thought we should remain an agriculture based economy. i agree though that if ANY of our FF's came back to life for jsut 1 day to see what we had become, they'd run back to the grave and beg for death again.

Yes, it was interestingly tied to his moral philosophy.