Michael Victory
Jefferson the futurist
By Michael Victory
According to Murphy (2006), Thomas Jefferson was born in 1743 and died in 1826 at the age of 83. I would like to share a few of his thoughts from almost 200 years ago, as they are relevant to more than a few events occurring in the present and as my wife points out, have been applicable since the day he first said them.
Jefferson on Debt
Jefferson said, "The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not" (Foley, 1900). Today the United States has the largest government and national debt in its history. A link to the debt clock: http://www.usdebtclock.org/. Over the past decade many people purchased homes they couldn't afford. As a result, the real estate collapse continues to flood the market with home foreclosures. Jefferson's rule, "Never spend money before you have earned it" (Foley, 1900).
Jefferson on Health Care
Massive increased spending programs designed to "take care of us" can do the opposite. What would Jefferson say? According to Foley (1900), Jefferson said, "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."
Jefferson on Bank Bailouts and Future Generations
Jefferson feared what too much government and massive government spending funded by borrowing will denote for our children's future. The bank bailouts of 2008 and 2009 cost Americans hundreds of billion dollars. According to Foley (1900), Jefferson said, "I sincerely believe that banking establishments are more dangerous than standing armies, and that principles of spending money to be paid by posterity, under the name of funding is but swindling futurity on a large scale."
Growing is an awareness and uneasiness about fundamental dilemmas that exist within our commercial regime. I preserve optimism and hope for our future, as I believe the tides will turn. And in the worlds of The Futurist, "I hope our wisdom will grow with our power, and teach us, that the less we use our power the greater it will be" (Foley, 1900).
Murphy, M.M. (2006). The history and philosophy of education: Voices of educational pioneers. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.
Foley, J.P. (1900). The Jeffersonian Cyclopedia: A Comprehensive Collection of the Views of Thomas Jefferson. New York, NY: Funk and Wagnalls Company.
© Michael Victory
October 29, 2010
According to Murphy (2006), Thomas Jefferson was born in 1743 and died in 1826 at the age of 83. I would like to share a few of his thoughts from almost 200 years ago, as they are relevant to more than a few events occurring in the present and as my wife points out, have been applicable since the day he first said them.
Jefferson on Debt
Jefferson said, "The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not" (Foley, 1900). Today the United States has the largest government and national debt in its history. A link to the debt clock: http://www.usdebtclock.org/. Over the past decade many people purchased homes they couldn't afford. As a result, the real estate collapse continues to flood the market with home foreclosures. Jefferson's rule, "Never spend money before you have earned it" (Foley, 1900).
Jefferson on Health Care
Massive increased spending programs designed to "take care of us" can do the opposite. What would Jefferson say? According to Foley (1900), Jefferson said, "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."
Jefferson on Bank Bailouts and Future Generations
Jefferson feared what too much government and massive government spending funded by borrowing will denote for our children's future. The bank bailouts of 2008 and 2009 cost Americans hundreds of billion dollars. According to Foley (1900), Jefferson said, "I sincerely believe that banking establishments are more dangerous than standing armies, and that principles of spending money to be paid by posterity, under the name of funding is but swindling futurity on a large scale."
Growing is an awareness and uneasiness about fundamental dilemmas that exist within our commercial regime. I preserve optimism and hope for our future, as I believe the tides will turn. And in the worlds of The Futurist, "I hope our wisdom will grow with our power, and teach us, that the less we use our power the greater it will be" (Foley, 1900).
Murphy, M.M. (2006). The history and philosophy of education: Voices of educational pioneers. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.
Foley, J.P. (1900). The Jeffersonian Cyclopedia: A Comprehensive Collection of the Views of Thomas Jefferson. New York, NY: Funk and Wagnalls Company.
© Michael Victory
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