On July 4th, some words from the man who penned the document we celebrate today
On the national debt
"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 encumbrances 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, 1789
On the dangers of federal power
"I consider the
foundation of the Constitution as laid on this ground: That "all powers
not delegated to the United States, by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it
to the states, are reserved to the states or to the people." To take a
single step beyond the boundaries thus specially drawn around the powers of
Congress, is to take possession of a boundless field of power, no longer
susceptible of any definition." Thomas Jefferson,
1791
On the ultimate outcome of federal direction
"Were we directed from Washington when to sow and when to reap, we should soon want bread."
Thomas Jefferson, 1821
What would Jefferson think of us today?
No comments:
Post a Comment