The Greatest man in our history, is undoubtedly Thomas Jefferson. Consider what he did and at what age: At age 5, he began studying law under his cousin’s tutor. At 9, he studied Latin and French. At 14, he studied classical literature and additional languages. At 16, he entered the college of William and Mary. At 19, he studied law under George Wythe. At 23, he started his own law practice. At 25, he was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses. At 32, he was a delegate to the Second Continental Congress. At 33, he wrote The Declaration of Independence, and spent three years revising the Virginia legal code. At 36, he was elected Virginia’s second governor, succeeding Patrick Henry. At age 40, he began serving two years in Congress. At 41, he was American minister to France, and negotiated treaties along with Ben Franklin and John Adams. (He didn’t much care for Adams). At 46, he was the first Secretary of State. At 53, he was Vice President and president of The American Philosophical Society. At 55, he became head of the Republican Party, (which was different than the one now in existence. Abe Lincoln was the first head of the current party.) At 53, he became the third President of the United States. At age 60, he doubled America’s size with the Louisiana Purchase. At 65, he retired to Monticello, but at age 81 he almost singlehandedly created the University of Virginia, and at 83, died on July 4th, the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration, on the same day as John Adams, with whom he had mended their friendship.
JFK, at a dinner for intellectuals at the White House, said, “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.” (Tears came into my eyes when I wrote that!). Here’s a few quotes from that greatest of all men:
“The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work, and give to those who would not.”
“It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle, which if acted on, would save half the wars in the world.”
“My reading of history convinces me that most bad government comes from too much government.”
“No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms.”
“I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks (nee Federal Reserve – Don) 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 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.”
“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.” (And that’s why the 200 million guns in private hands in America, make the dummies in D.C. shudder at the thought of a real revolt at their absurd, unpatriotic, treasonous votes, with millions going to D.C. and getting rid of the whole bunch – Don).
Maybe that’s what he hinted at when he said, “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants.”
P.S. Obama gave 2 million federal employees a 16% pay increase, while freezing Social Security recipients’ checks. How much would reducing fed employees their 16% raise, save towards balancing the debt? They’re way over-paid anyway. Would they get mad and quit? Hardly! Congress gave themselves a raise. Why don’t they return it and save money? The Congress elected by the Tea Party are doing exactly what they were elected to do, and that is reduce the debts and size of government. Don’t let any fake polls tell you otherwise. The Republicans should do their plan, vote on it and go home. If Obama and the Demos voted it down or vetoed it, the ball would be in their court.