As we blog about politics, one of the defining principles that we have here at the ‘Grok is Liberty – as a people, in current society, as individuals. Too often, we blithely go about our day and are unobservant of the swirls of politics around us. These swirls, sometimes begun by people who do wish to seize power and some by people that are simply "well intentioned" but are not familiar with the Law of Unintended Consequences, pass laws and regulations that restrict such Liberties as we now have (or had).
I ran across the below over at The Radio Patriot – a collection of some of Thomas Jefferson’s Notable Quotes. Consider a few of them while contemplating current events and see if our elected officials are paying attention to them (or justifing their positions).
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 one-half the wars of the world.
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.
My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government.
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.
To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.
Heh! Hey, NPR….NEA….ACORN….boy, this list could get long, couldn’t it….
And to think, as the post reminds me, he was but 33 when he wrote the Declaration of Independence…
