The principles of Jefferson, however, are far from those of modern day Democrats. Yankee Phil has done a great job of listing some of Jefferson's quotes. I certainly wish the Democrats would accept Jeffersonian principles.
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 the 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
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..'
I don't think Jefferson would think much more of Republicans these days than Democrats. For example:
ReplyDelete"Conquest is not in our principles. It is inconsistent with our government."
"Delay is preferable to error." (hello, Dick Cheney)
"Experience demands that man is the only animal which devours his own kind, for I can apply no milder term to the general prey of the rich on the poor."
"I have recently been examining all the known superstitions of the world, and do not find in our particular superstition (Christianity) one redeeming feature. They are all alike founded on fables and mythology."
"I hope we shall crush in its birth the aristocracy of our monied corporations which dare already to challenge our government to a trial by strength, and bid defiance to the laws of our country."
"In every country and every age, the priest had been hostile to Liberty."
"The spirit of this country is totally adverse to a large military force."
"Some men look at constitutions with sanctimonious reverence, and deem them like the ark of the covenant, too sacred to be touched."
"Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legislative powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between church and State."
Live by Bartlett's, die by Bartlett's. Few Republicans would put these quotes up on their web sites. The founders were complicated men, and trying to claim any of them for your own political cause is a stupid endeavor. By all means read them and learn from them, but they won't be reduced to a right-wing self-help guide, no matter how much you cherry pick from their writings.