When President John F. Kennedy welcomed forty-nine Nobel Prize winners to the White House in 1962 he said, “I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talent and of human knowledge that has ever been gathered together at the White House - with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone.”
“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
“To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.” Thomas Jefferson
“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.” Thomas Jefferson
“When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, we shall become as corrupt as Europe.” Thomas Jefferson
How could we, the stewards of a government so carefully crafted by Mr. Jefferson and his founding brothers, have wandered so far from the principles they carefully laid out to guide us in only 10 generations? The answer is not really a long and complicated one, it can pretty much be summed up by Mr. John Corzine and MF Global, in a word “corruption.” And the fault is yours and mine.
Corruption is not new to the 21st century, but we have allowed it to escalate to unprecedented levels in far too many American institutions including business, education, labor, and most importantly, Washington. Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and the Founding Fathers under the tyranny of King George, knew very well that power corrupts and they designed our government accordingly, allowing the people to replace it frequently. What they didn’t envision was professional politics made possible by an apathetic and uneducated electorate.
The problem with the modern version of Mr. Jefferson’s government is that professional politicians like _________, _________, and __________ are very good at getting elected and, for the same reason, very poor at leading and governing. Their corrupt short-term self and party interests blind them to the more substantive and far reaching issues facing our nation and future generations. Very few of them understand how the engine of this country works. They seem content to drive it into the ground without regard for its basic maintenance, much less, respect.
Congress is bogged down pointing fingers with pipelines and taxes, while the debts we ‘pass on to future generations’ mounts by the billions. Our President steers us toward Socialism, despite the lessons history teaches of its many failings and despite the glaring example of Europe.
A country is made strong by is its people and economy they create. The most effective leaders understand that they are in position to serve the people by organizing and challenging them to achieve common goals and to thrive. Mr. President and Congress, “stop wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of [us].” Lead as one serves.
