tagged w/ Thomas Jefferson
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Dick Cheney was already going down in history as one of the most influential vice presidents ever. Now he's taking flak for being one of the most vocal ex-VPs, too. Since leaving office, Cheney has gone from White House booster No. 2 to White House critic No. 1. Agree with him or not, however, he's hardly an outlier: There's nothing more American than ex-presidents and VPs slamming their successors.
If that makes Cheney unpatriotic, he's in good company. There's a proud tradition of former executive-branch leaders disparaging sitting presidents. The most notorious example—the ur-ex-presidential critic—is Herbert Hoover. After losing the presidency to Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1932, Hoover spent the next nine years railing on him. Like Cheney, Hoover was a conservative Republican. He thus believed that the New Deal insulted American values and that the Roosevelt administration "violated the principles that reach the very foundation of our nation and race." Hoover quieted down after Pearl Harbor, when the country rallied around the president. But he returned to form under John F. Kennedy, whom Hoover called a socialist.
But Hoover wasn't even the first. Presidential and vice presidential disputes stretch back to the founders. During the election of 1800, sitting veep Thomas Jefferson slammed sitting president John Adams—his own boss—as a monarchist. Adams, in turn, painted Jefferson as a revolutionary and atheist who would destroy the churches. (That was before 1804, when the 12th Amendment was passed, putting both president and vice president on a single ticket.) After losing the presidency in 1828, John Quincy Adams made a second career out of criticizing Andrew Jackson and pro-slavery Democrats from his post-presidential perch as a congressman from Massachusetts.Dick Cheney was already going down in history as one of the most influential vice... more
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"Government big enough to supply everything you need is big enough to take everything you love..... The course of history shows that as government grows liberty decreases" - Thomas Jefferson"Government big enough to supply everything you need is big enough to take everything... more
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It is believed that beer was one of the provisions Noah placed on his ark as he counted the animals two by two.It is believed that beer was one of the provisions Noah placed on his ark as he... more
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As July 4th is this weekend, and as we know our Founding Fathers not only cultivated wisdom and individual freedom but also crops, the Sustainable Agriculture Channel will be paying tribute to our Founding Father Farmers now through July 4th. Various articles and other entries will be posted regarding their love for agriculture and how agriculture corrolates to the individual freedom that is our right.
This entry is about Thomas Jefferson and his farm at Monticello which became his life's work among all his other pursuits. For me the freedom to grow your own food on your own piece of land is the essence of personal freedom.
Thank you to Thomas Jefferson and the legacy that he left behind that was not only one that will live forever on paper, but in the fields of Monticello.
http://current.com/topics/86293911_sustainable-agriculture/As July 4th is this weekend, and as we know our Founding Fathers not only cultivated... more
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Earth Day wasn't just once a year for those in Thomas Jefferson's time.They loved the land with their hearts and their hands everyday, and built a nation with the fruits of that love. This is what I miss in America. We have become a country of concrete with large cities, crowded, noisy, polluted, and far away from the simple natural way of life that while hard was so rewarding.
These are some quotations by Thomas Jefferson about the environment that I wanted to share and remember for Earth Day. As our Founding Fathers were mostly all farmers who loved this land, it is only fitting we remember them on Earth Day as well:
From Thomas Jefferson Encyclopedia
(Redirected from Quotations on Environment)
1785 October 28. (to James Madison). "The earth is given as a common stock for man to labour and live on."[1]
1786 October 12. (to Maria Cosway). "How sublime to look down on the workhouse of nature, to see her clouds, hail, snow, rain, thunder, all fabricated at our feet!"[2]
1787 July 30. (to William Drayton). "By varying too the articles of culture, we multiply the chances for making something, and disarm the seasons in a proportionable degree of their calamitous."[3]
1787 December 20. (to James Madison). "I think our governments will remain virtuous for many centuries; as long as they are chiefly agricultural; and this will be as long as there shall be vacant lands in any part of America. When they get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, they will become corrupt as in Europe."[4]
1790 December 23. (to Martha Jefferson Randolph). "...There is not a sprig of grass that shoots uninteresting to me..."[5]
1793 July 7. (to Martha Jefferson Randolph). "I never before knew the full value of trees...What would I not give that the trees planted nearest round the house at Monticello were full grown."[6]
1793 July 21. (to Martha Jefferson Randolph). "When the earth is rich it bids defiance to droughts, yields in abundance and of the best quality."[7]
1797 March 10. (Transactions of the American Philosophical Society). "The movements of nature are in a never ending circle. The animal species which has once been put into a train of motion, is still probably moving in that train. For if one link in nature's chain might be lost, another and another might be lost, till this whole system of things should evanish by piece-meal; a conclusion not warranted by the local disappearance of one or two species of animals, and opposed by the thousands and thousands of instances of the renovating power constantly exercised by nature for the reproduction of all her subjects, animal, vegetable, and mineral."[8]
1800. (A Memorandum Services to My Country). "The greatest service which can be rendered any country is to add an useful plant to it's culture."[9]
1801 August 14. (to Joseph Rapin). "While I wish to have every thing good in it's kind, and handsome in stile, I an a great enemy to waste and useless extra expense, and see them with real pain."[10]
1803 November 8. (to David Williams). "The general desire of men to live by their heads rather than their hands, and the strong allurements of great cities to those who have any turn for dissipation, threaten to make them here, as in Europe, the sinks of voluntary misery."[11]
1806 December 8. (to Edmund Bacon). "We must use a good deal of economy in our wood, never cutting down new, where we can make the old do."[12]
1813 June 24. (to John Wayles Eppes). "The earth belongs to the living...The soil is the gift of God to the living."[13]Earth Day wasn't just once a year for those in Thomas Jefferson's time.They loved the... more
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This year at Monticello in celebration of the inauguration of a new Visitor's Center, this film, Thomas Jefferson's World is being presented to show the real Jefferson. The man who loved his farm, his family, his home, and his books more than politics and pomp and circumstance.
He wrote this in a letter in 1809 to P.S. Dupont de Nemours:
"Within a few days I retire to my family, my books and farms; and having gained the harbor myself, I shall look on my friends still buffetting the storm, with anxiety indeed, but not with envy. Never did a prisoner released from his chains feel such relief as I shall on shaking off the shackles of power. Nature intended me for the tranquil pursuits of science, by rendering them my supreme delight. But the enormities of the times in which I have lived have forced me to take a part in resisting them, and to commit myself on the boisterous ocean of political passions."
Thomas Jefferson was an architect, horticulturist, scientist, writer, inventor, public servant, and a man of controversy. But above it all he was a man who believed in a spirit that birthed a nation. This Monday April 13th is also the celebration of his 226th birthday. America was that much more enriched to have his brilliance and the legacy he left behind.This year at Monticello in celebration of the inauguration of a new Visitor's Center,... more
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Bernie Madoff stealing our trust and getting the freaky Joker treatment, Thomas Jefferson causing the recession, geeks failing to keep our money safe, the most stylish men in America strutting their stuff, King magazine celebrating 50 issues of boobs barely covered, emo rap from Kanye West and Ghostface explained, the cast of 'Watchmen' including Malin Akerman and her tattoos, Angelina Jolie and Jen Aniston's Oscars run in, and lots and lots of poop. They all made it onto the covers of magazines this week. And that means they made it into Conor Knighton's roundup of those covers. He reads 'em so you don't have to.
We've Got You Covered is a recurring segment on Current TV's weekly television show, infoMania. In each episode of We've Got You Covered, Conor Knighton catches you up on everything you need to know about what's in this week's magazines.
infoMania is a half-hour satirical news show that airs on Current TV. The show puts a comedic spin on the 24-hour chaos and information overload brought about by the constant bombardment of the media. Hosted by Conor Knighton and co-starring Brett Erlich, Sarah Haskins, Ben Hoffman, and Sergio Cilli, the show airs on Thursdays at 10 pm Eastern and Pacific Times and can be found online at current.com/infomania. And make sure to check out our facebook profile for special features at http://infomaniafacebook.com.Bernie Madoff stealing our trust and getting the freaky Joker treatment, Thomas... more
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In this week's infoMania Conor takes a look at the Oscars and the economy, Sarah Haskins examines the Jolie-Aniston showdown at the Academy Awards, Sergio counts down the top 5 rap tracks on Billboard, and Ben talks to a woman whose boobs and brains made her famous.
infoMania is a half-hour satirical news show that airs on Current TV. The show puts a comedic spin on the 24-hour chaos and information overload brought about by the constant bombardment of the media. Hosted by Conor Knighton and co-starring Brett Erlich, Sarah Haskins, Ben Hoffman, and Sergio Cilli, the show airs on Thursdays at 10 pm Eastern and Pacific Times and can be found online at current.com/infomania. And make sure to check out our facebook profile for special features at http://infomaniafacebook.com.In this week's infoMania Conor takes a look at the Oscars and the economy, Sarah... more
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I just finished watching "The Day The Earth Stood Still" and it just seems like another one of those conditioning movies. I watched "Cloverfield" yesterday, it was the same way. Panic, taking away of rights, riots, quarantines, invasion of privacy, murder of civilians, authorities abusing their powers, etc...These movies are meant to condition you people for the future. You might think Obama is here to "change", but he's being used for his image. It's working...
He's being used as mind candy to keep the ignorant blind and pacified. While he does absolutely nothing, the elite are propagating your destruction. Malcolm said "the white power structure is just as interested in perpetuating slavery as they did 100 years ago, but now they use modern methods to do so". And that was in 1963. They use methods like "go to school, get good grades, go to college, get good grades, then get a job working for someone else". You're not taught how to do for yourself, you're taught to be workers. They also use methods like these so-called "black" civil rights leaders we have today that just use tragedies to make a dollar. If there were no tragedies for these people like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson to get profit from, how would they eat? Do you think they want to work as bag-boys for wal-mart? These puppets are playing the game and getting payed, they don't care about you. The biggest one yet is Obama. First off, he's not the first president to be mixed with African. Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln, Warren Harding, and Calvin Coolidge were all mixed with African. That's 5 not including John Hanson who was the first president under the articles of confederation. It's sad you've been spoon fed the lie that Obama is the first.
Obama isn't the first of anything. He's not "black", "black is a color and not a nationality. That's another way you people are kept down. You've been given a fallacious race dichotomy. "Black", "white", "brown", are these really races or colors? If you look at your skin, it's not even black. You are not black, you're not African, you're not African American. For one, your race isn't depicted by what land mass you live on or born on. If I'm born on a ship in the ocean, does that make me part pacific ocean? If my parents were both 100% pure African but I was born in Ireland, would I be Irish? No...Your nationality is that of which bloodline your family traces back to. The so-called "blacks" and "negroes" here in this country according to biblical genealogy are from the seed of Shem. Shem through bloodline begot Judah. What's really funny is when I ask a light skinned person what's their nationality, hearing "I'm black" cracks me up every time. What you are is ignorant and blind if you think you're the color black. If skin pigmentation truly depicted race, would you really be "black" since your skin color represents white more than black? If so, what about Michael Jackson? What is his nationality? Obama is pro-choice (baby killing) and pro gay marriage, how much of a so-called christian can he be?
Wake up from your ignorant delusions and come to the truth! I play a lot but I won't allow myself to succumb to the mindset of these "swag" saying, taking pictures of shoes which worth is only what you're willing to give up for them, self proclaimed trendsetting original unoriginal, sheeple...I could care less if you respond, just try to learn from what I've said. If you would like to learn more, send me a message. Good marrow...I just finished watching "The Day The Earth Stood Still" and it just seems like... more
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Read some of the many things Thomas Jefferson said about how Banks controling money is very bad.
Remember the Federal in "Federal Reserve" is no different than the
Federal in "Federal Express"
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If the American People ever allow the banks to control the issuance of their currency, first by inflation and then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around them will deprive the people of all property until their children wake up homeless on the continent their fathers occupied. The issuing power of money should be taken from the bankers and restored to Congress and the people to whom it belongs. I sincerely believe the banking institutions having the issuing power of money are more dangerous to liberty than standing armies.
We are completely saddled and bridled, and the bank is so firmly mounted on us that we must go where they ill guide.
The dominion which the banking institutions have obtained over the minds of our citizens...must be broken, or it will break us.
(Letter to James Monroe, January 1, 1815).
"Paper is poverty,... it is only the ghost of money, and not money itself." --Thomas Jefferson to Edward Carrington, 1788. ME 7:36
"The trifling economy of paper, as a cheaper medium, or its convenience for transmission, weighs nothing in opposition to the advantages of the precious metals... it is liable to be abused, has been, is, and forever will be abused, in every country in which it is permitted." --Thomas Jefferson to John W. Eppes, 1813. ME 13:430
"I now deny [the Federal Government's] power of making paper money or anything else a legal tender." --Thomas Jefferson to John Taylor, 1798. ME 10:65
"The incorporation of a bank and the powers assumed [by legislation doing so] have not, in my opinion, been delegated to the United States by the Constitution. They are not among the powers specially enumerated." --Thomas Jefferson: Opinion on Bank, 1791. ME 3:146
"[The] Bank of the United States... is one of the most deadly hostility existing, against the principles and form of our Constitution... An institution like this, penetrating by its branches every part of the Union, acting by command and in phalanx, may, in a critical moment, upset the government. I deem no government safe which is under the vassalage of any self-constituted authorities, or any other authority than that of the nation, or its regular functionaries. What an obstruction could not this bank of the United States, with all its branch banks, be in time of war! It might dictate to us the peace we should accept, or withdraw its aids. Ought we then to give further growth to an institution so powerful, so hostile?" --Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 1803. ME 10:437
============ ofcourse now its the other way round - it dictates the war we should be accepting ================
"Certainly no nation ever before abandoned to the avarice and jugglings of private individuals to regulate according to their own interests, the quantum of circulating medium for the nation -- to inflate, by deluges of paper, the nominal prices of property, and then to buy up that property at 1s. in the pound, having first withdrawn the floating medium which might endanger a competition in purchase. Yet this is what has been done, and will be done, unless stayed by the protecting hand of the legislature. The evil has been produced by the error of their sanction of this ruinous machinery of banks; and justice, wisdom, duty, all require that they should interpose and arrest it before the schemes of plunder and spoilation desolate the country." --Thomas Jefferson to William C. Rives, 1819. ME 15:232
Read some of the many things Thomas Jefferson said about how Banks controling money... more
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Some choice quotes from the paper. We should NEVER forget history, try hard people.
The National Debt
"I sincerely believe... that the principle of spending money to be paid by posterity under the name of funding is but swindling futurity on a large scale." --Thomas Jefferson to John Taylor, 1816. ME 15:23
"I wish it were possible to obtain a single amendment to our Constitution. I would be willing to depend on that alone for the reduction of the administration of our government; I mean an additional article taking from the Federal Government the power of borrowing. I now deny their power of making paper money or anything else a legal tender. I know that to pay all proper expenses within the year would, in case of war, be hard on us. But not so hard as ten wars instead of one. For wars could be reduced in that proportion; besides that the State governments would be free to lend their credit in borrowing quotas." --Thomas Jefferson to John Taylor, 1798. ME 10:64
The Limits on Contracting Debt
"The term of redemption must be moderate, and at any rate within the limits of [the government's] rightful powers. But what limits, it will be asked, does this prescribe to their powers? What is to hinder them from creating a perpetual debt? The laws of nature, I answer. The earth belongs to the living, not to the dead. The will and the power of man expire with his life, by nature's law." --Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 1813. ME 13:169
"Then I say, the earth belongs to each of these generations during its course, fully and in its own right. The second generation receives it clear of the debts and incumbrances of the first, the third of the second, and so on. For if the first could charge it with a debt, then the earth would belong to the dead and not to the living generation. Then, no generation can contract debts greater than may be paid during the course of its own existence." --Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 1789. ME 7:455, Papers 15:393
"The conclusion then, is, that neither the representatives of a nation, nor the whole nation itself assembled, can validly engage debts beyond what they may pay in their own time." --Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 1789. ME 7:457, Papers 15:398n
"[The natural right to be free of the debts of a previous generation is] a salutary curb on the spirit of war and indebtment, which, since the modern theory of the perpetuation of debt, has drenched the earth with blood, and crushed its inhabitants under burdens ever accumulating." --Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 1813. ME 13:272
Saddling Posterity with Debt
"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 to A. L. C. Destutt de Tracy, 1820. FE 10:175
Some choice quotes from the paper. We should NEVER forget history, try hard people.... more
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John Adams, HBO's prestige historical drama about one of America's founding fathers, swept up 23 Emmy nominations today, the largest number of any program in any category.
Among the nominations was a lead-actor nomination for Paul Giamatti, who played Adams in the adaptation of David McCullough's Pulitzer-prize winning biography of the second president, who was born in Braintree in an area now part of Quincy.
In addition to recognition in several technical and artistic categories, Laura Linney also garnered an Emmy nomination for lead actress in the role of Abigail Adams. Supporting nods went to three actors portraying Founding Fathers: David Morse as George Washington, Stephen Dillane as Thomas Jefferson, and Tom Wilkinson as Benjamin Franklin. The star-studded, seven-part HBO series is co-executive produced by Tom Hanks.
The three-hour debut of the John Adams miniseries was seen in 2.7 million households nationwide, according to the Nielsen Co., the best series debut HBO has seen since 2004.
John Adams, HBO's prestige historical drama about one of America's founding fathers,... more
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According to history, There have already been five African American presidents already in the United States of America. Little known historical facts cite evidence that five U.S.presidents had atleast one parent that was of "Negro" desent. That being said, what is all of the hoopla about today ? Maybe because it's been so long. This is not an atricle of ridicule, nor is it written to excite anger or controversy. These are actually historical facts of African American history that are not taught in American history. Hmm......
According to history, There have already been five African American presidents... more
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Al Gore joined with then Republican Bob Barr to bring us a stark truth: Our Democracy is in grave danger. On this July 4th I remember this landmark speech delivered by a great statesman, Al Gore. And like our founding fathers whose words are still prescient today, so are the words and warnings presented in this eloquent speech describing truthfully the abuses committed against our Constitution by the Bush administration and the enabling by both parties. And though I am displeased that neither Mr. Gore nor any prominent Democrat has specifically called for impeachment, I thank Mr. Gore with all of my heart for speaking truth to power here and for giving us a chance to share in a Democratic dialogue.Al Gore joined with then Republican Bob Barr to bring us a stark truth: Our Democracy... more
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To me this is what the Fourth of July is all about. Remembering the men who sacrificed all they had to take the journey to a more perfect union... a free union. We don't truly have that today, and the main reason why is because we as a people have to really want it. I question now if we really do, and that is sad. These words of wisdom and warning from men who though flawed were brilliant and who knew something themselves about slavery of the mind and soul are words to be reflected on. As John Adams said, "Liberty once lost, is lost forever." We as a people are allowing liberty to slip away as we distract ourselves and lose our focus on these words. How I wish we had men of such courage and brilliance as these to once again point us in the right direction. However, their words can be the inspiration we need to now do that. The question is: will we?
To me this is what the Fourth of July is all about. Remembering the men who sacrificed... more
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Can you imagine what this campaign would have looked like on tv? I thought this was a cute illustration. Though we know that Alexander Hamilton was behind trashing both Adams and Jefferson, his preference was for Adams even though they disagreed about war with France. Personally, if I could vote and lived in that time period, my vote would have been solidly with Jefferson. Sigh if only... someone to vote FOR.Can you imagine what this campaign would have looked like on tv? I thought this was a... more
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U.S. Senator and presidential hopeful John McCain proves to be out of step with the Constitution and the American people when it comes to religious liberties and mainstream values. He claims to believe that religious tests, which are prohibited by the Constitution, should be applied to candidates. He also seems to be ignorant of the history of the U.S. government which has been celebrated for its secualr history and respect for all religious beliefs and the lack thereof when he claims that America was based primarily on Judeo-Christian values. Could McCain be any worse for America? We need a candidate willing to stand for people of all religious beliefs and people with no religious affiliations. We need a candidate who stands up for secularism in government, religious liberties, and the total Separation of Church and State. McCain has proven through this video and his connections to pastor John Hagee and Rod Parsley that he is a proud member of the Religious Right and is out to distort religion for political gain. Eight years has been enough. Show this video to your grandparents.U.S. Senator and presidential hopeful John McCain proves to be out of step with the... more
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Thomas Jefferson and Al Gore. Both spokesmen for truth, both statesmen of exemplary principle. But are we truly heeding their words?
"My hope that we have not labored in vain, and that our experiment will still prove that men can be governed by reason." --Thomas Jefferson to George Mason, 1791. ME 8:124
"I have so much confidence in the good sense of man, and his qualifications for self-government, that I am never afraid of the issue where reason is left free to exert her force." --Thomas Jefferson to Comte Diodati, 1789. Papers 15:326"
Let common sense and common honesty have fair play, and they will soon set things to rights." --Thomas Jefferson to Ezra Stiles, 1786. ME 6:25
"A government of reason is better than one of force." --Thomas Jefferson to Richard Rush, 1820. ME 15:284
"This blessed country of free inquiry and belief has surrendered its creed and conscience to neither kings nor priests." --Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Waterhouse, 1822. ME 15:385
"It is surely time for men to think for themselves, and to throw off the authority of names so artificially magnified." --Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 1820. ME 15:258
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And that is why I have to type this as well as a supporter of Al Gore who is now on my third time reading The Assault On Reason which to me is the Jeffersonian doctrine of our time: Al Gore stated right from the beginning that this book is not a 'candidate' book, and that is correct. It is a serious look in the mirror not only for those in our government who have abandoned reason in exchange for the politics of fear, propaganda, and expediency of men over the rule of law, but more so for the complicit corporate media that is their accomplice, and even more so for the citizens of this country used by that fear, propaganda, and expediency who on the whole constantly complain about the state of affairs but who never seem to want to get their hands dirty when it comes to truly standing up for it. This book is a primer for them in doing that, and yet I don't get the feeling that is how many see it and that is disappointing to me.
I have stated many times how I would feel regarding Mr. Gore leading us in a system envisioned by Jefferson, and I am absolutely heartbroken at the turn of events these past eight years after fighting for him for so many years before that. He will always be my president, and has been since December 13, 2000. However, as he has stated as well, this is not about him but about all of us, and he has done more for this world as a statesman than any of the cretins that stole this Democracy from us and for that he will have my undying respect because he has done it and continues to do it against all odds with a conscience and moral awareness I frankly do not believe politicians possess or are allowed to possess.
He is the premiere American statesman of our time which has come with many years of service through wisdom and pain, and the words I read and am again reading in his book were not read with the eyes of someone just looking to use quotes in them to prop him up as a 'candidate' in a toxic system that wronged him and us for political expediency. I see clearly what he is talking about in this book. And what he is talking about is exactly what Thomas Jefferson spoke of in his time when he was one of the premiere American statesmen: and that is that a Democracy is only as 'Democratic' as the people make it. It cannot be done from the cheap seats. It must be hands on or it is lost. And that does not always mean from a political place, for surely as we have seen those who work outside to bring change inside have been more successful in bringing that change.
more at the link.Thomas Jefferson and Al Gore. Both spokesmen for truth, both statesmen of exemplary... more
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From the HBO Miniseries, John Adams. John Adams (Paul Giamatti,) Ben Franklin (Tom Wilkinson,) and Thomas Jefferson (Steven Dillane,) discuss the Constitution. Jefferson's sentiments are truly those of a freethinker. Which is why I have always loved his writings and agree wholeheartedly with his sentiments. Which is more than likely why the Constitution is open ended in that it gives the American people the opportunity to change their form of government if it should not suit the needs of the people or turn towards tyranny... that is, if they are not too distracted or fearful to notice.From the HBO Miniseries, John Adams. John Adams (Paul Giamatti,) Ben Franklin (Tom... more
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The framers considered political parties to be self-serving factions that cultivated dissent and were ultimately detrimental to good government. Though the framers had not written provisions into the Constitution dealing with political parties, by the end of George Washington's second term, the issues of national government had divided the nation into two distinct and hostile factions: the Federalists and the Republicans.
The Federalists, led by Alexander Hamilton, advocated strong central government. Concentrated in the northeast, they preferred a system under which the population would choose their government officials based on merit and reputation rather than politics, and in which elected officials would rule without the direct influence of the people. Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and others who found Federalist thought offensive, developed a markedly different view of good government under the Washington administration. With their stronghold in the South, Republicans claimed that liberty could only be protected if political power were rested firmly in the hands of the people and those government officials closest and most responsive to the people
snip
In the midst of building hostilities, Washington decided to resign from office after his second term. On September 19, 1796, the American Daily Advertiser published Washington's Farewell Address to the nation. The basic premise of the address was a condemnation of political parties. Washington warned that the development of parties would destroy the government, and worried that special interest groups and foreign nations would easily dominate the factions. On this note, he implored future generations to avoid embroilment in the affairs of other nations, and concentrate on the development of "efficient government" at home, free from foreign influence. Washington left office in March 1797, leaving the nation still very much divided.
Commentary
As of the early 1790s, most Americans remained convinced that political parties were a detriment to good government. The framers had neither desired nor planned for the rise of political divisions. In fact, in Federalist No. 10 of the Federalist Papers, James Madison, one of the leaders of the Republican party, had argued that one of the strong points of the Constitution was that it would prevent the formation of political factions. It was commonly assumed that should factions rise to a position of political power, they would act to achieve selfish goals at the expense of the public good. However, this concept of political parties began to crumble as opposition arose to Hamilton's initiatives as Secretary of Treasury. Many political leaders began to view an opposition party as necessary to check the power of the ideological majority in the national government, and as a means to provide a more fully encompassing examination of the issues presented to the national government. Thus, gradually, political parties took their place as an integral part of American government.
snip
Washington's Farewell Address was a direct response to the fractioning of the American people. From a clearly Federalist point of view he extolled the virtues of neutrality. He pleaded for American political neutrality, that citizens not be forced to choose between political alternatives, but rather choose their leaders on the basis of merit and reputation. He further pleaded for international neutrality, exhorting Americans to avoid "political connection" with Europe, hoping such avoidance would remove the divisiveness of foreign policy from the American political dialogue and allow US leaders to concentrate on domestic goals. While he could not stop the rise of political parties, which had already become a fact of American political life, his plea for neutrality and vision of an isolated America would inform American foreign relations into the twentieth century. The framers considered political parties to be self-serving factions that cultivated... more
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