Thomas Jefferson

The following was shared with me by a friend. I do not know it's origin. It is amazingly enlightening!
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Thomas Jefferson was a very remarkable man who started learning very early in life and never stopped.

At 5, began studying under his cousin's tutor.

At 9, studied Latin, Greek and French.

At 14, studied classical literature and additional languages.

At 16, entered the College of William and Mary.

At 19, studied Law for 5 years starting under George Wythe.

At 23, started his own law practice.

At 25, was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses.

At 31, wrote the widely circulated "Summary View of the Rights of British America" and retired from his law practice.

At 32, was a Delegate to the Second Continental Congress.

At 33, wrote the Declaration of Independence.

At 33, took three years to revise Virginia’s legal code and wrote a Public Education bill and a statute for Religious Freedom.

At 36, was elected the second Governor of Virginia succeeding Patrick Henry.

At 40, served in Congress for two years.

At 41, was the American minister to France and negotiated commercial treaties with European nations along with Ben Franklin and John Adams.

At 46, served as the first Secretary of State under George Washington.

At 53, served as Vice President and was elected president of the American Philosophical Society.

At 55, drafted the Kentucky Resolutions and became the active head of Republican Party.

At 57, was elected the third president of the United States .

At 60, obtained the Louisiana Purchase doubling the nation’s size.

At 61, was elected to a second term as President.

At 65, retired to Monticello .

At 80, helped President Monroe shape the Monroe Doctrine.

At 81, almost single-handedly created the University of Virginia and served as it's first president.

At 83, died on the 50th anniversary of the Signing of the Declaration of Independence along with John Adams.

Thomas Jefferson knew because he himself studied the previous failed attempts at government. He understood actual history, the nature of God, his laws and the nature of man. That happens to be way more than what most understand today. Jefferson really knew his stuff. A voice from the past to lead us in the future:

John F. Kennedy held a dinner in the White House for a group of the brightest minds in the nation at that time. He made this statement:
"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."

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_

The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
_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."

Fiscal Responsibility

At our house, we make a budget. I have to balance what is income to expenses. There are always things I would like to do or have that I cannot because my budget would not balance. Some of these things are good and even admirable. I would like to feed all the poor and hungry. I would like to create a cab service for those without transportation. I would like to build a beautiful shelter for the homeless. Even if I used all my income for these admirable things I still would not be able to do them because my income cannot sustain these ambitious, yet worthy, desires.
One of the goals of the Constitution is to promote the general welfare of it's citizens. It does not say to provide for the general welfare of them. There are so many charitable and admirable things we as nation would like to do for our citizens. But like our family, these goals are unsustainable, so are not feasible. We have many good philanthropic organizations, including churches, who can reach out and help our citizens when able. We have created a group of dependents, who have not learned to be self-reliant. Yes, some cannot do it for themselves and we as a people, not as a government, need to step up and insure for their welfare. But our government cannot sustain the entitlement programs it has created over the past 70-80 years. The government is broke. People will have to save for retirement. People can save in time of plenty for hard times. There is much we can do for ourselves without depending on the government. That is not their role. It's not designed for that. It has it's hands full protecting this country and securing it's liberty. That's what the Federal Government was created for.
How good it would feel to reach in my own pocket to help others instead of being forced to hand over an insane amount of money for taxes. All would benefit -- the giver and the receiver.
I know how to budget. I know how to balance a budget. Give me the stickin' pen Mr. President!

Standing on Principle

Last night I watched the vote in the House with fear and trepidation.
Although, much of what was desired in the health-care bill is good, we cannot afford it. In addition the method put forward to achieve the goals are foolish and some are unconstitutional. The Supreme Court of the land will decide the final outcome of this bill.
I would like to applaud some of the members of Congress who used courage and prudence in last night's votes. To all the Republican members, thank you for hanging together unanimously to make this a problem owned entirely by the Progressive members of the Democratic Party. But especially I'd like to thank the brave and noble Democrats who voted on behalf of their constituents against a monumental foe. It wasn't easy for you to vote against the Obama-Pelosi-Reid "machine". Thank for remaining principled. Thank you to these brave and noble Democrats:

Alabama
1-Bright
2-Davis
Arkansas
3-Berry
4-Ross
Georgia
5-Barrow
6-Marshall
Idaho
7- Minnick
Illinois
8-Lipinski
Kentucky
9-Chandler
Louisiana
10-Melacon
Maryland
11-Kratovil
Massachusetts
12-Lynch
Minnesota
13-Peterson
Mississippi
14-Childers
15-Taylor
Missouri
16-Skelton
New Jersey
17-Adler
New Mexico
18-Teague
New York
19-Arcuri
20-McMahon
North Carolina
21-Kissell
22-McIntyre
23-Shuler
Ohio
24-Space
Oklahoma
25-Boren
Pennsylvania
26-Altmire
27-Holden
South Dakota
28-Hesseth Sandlin
Tennessee
29-Davis
30-Tanner
Texas
31-Edwards
Utah
32-Matheson
Virginia
33-Boucher
34-Nye
Send these folks a "thank you", especially if they are in your district.
Let's continue to fight this bill! Fight it UNTIL. Fight it until it's repealed at best or vastly revamped. We the people... say enough is enough. Stop taking away our rights. Stop destroying our future. STOP!