It has become typical in school textbooks, in public discussions, and in the smug wisdom of Progressives, to diminish the words and actions of those who led the founding of the United States. However, now that the nation has gone through what Al Gore called a “wrenching transformation” away from limited government, free enterprise, and individual liberty (all major ingredients to making the U.S. the freest and most prosperous nation in history), it’s time to listen again to their wisdom.
Thomas Jefferson warned us to:
Avoid Sustainable Development: “When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, we shall become as corrupt as Europe.”
Avoid the Welfare State: “The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.” “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.”
Avoid Massive Government 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.”
Avoid Government Over-regulation: “My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government.”
Avoid Control of Individual Gun Ownership: “No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms.” “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.”
Avoid Compulsive Taxation of Income: “To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.”
Avoid the Federal Reserve: “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.”
Keep the Founding Documents Intact: “May (the Declaration of Independence) be to the world, what I believe it will be, to some parts sooner, to others later, but finally to all, the signal to assume the blessings and security of self-government.” (His last written words June 24, 1826)
The Founding Fathers are irrelevant? Every one of these issues is in the forefront of today’s political debates. Our Founders understood government and its dangers to our liberty. They feared it above all other threats and tried to create a system of self government through which we could protect ourselves from its tyranny. When their warnings are ignored we get Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and a government of lies, oppression, and national bankruptcy.
Tom DeWeese is one of the nation’s leading advocates of individual liberty, free enterprise, private property rights, personal privacy, back-to-basics education and American sovereignty and independence. Go to americanpolicy.org for more information.
