The Importance of the Jeffersonian Model

At the dawn of America’s independence, her newly formed government was populated with reluctant leaders; statesmen in the truest sense of the word.  Whereas in today’s world, such statesmanship is practically an anathema; for those who do exhibit statesmen-like principle are often ridiculed, for their strict opposition to the unprincipled, morally bankrupt, tactics of today’s political movements.

The Hypocrisy of the Ruling Party

“I never submitted the whole system of my opinions to the creed of any party of men whatever, in religion, in philosophy, in politics, or in anything else, where I was capable of thinking for myself. If I could not go to heaven but with a party, I would not go there at all.”

– Thomas Jefferson

In contemporary American society, there is a considerable hubris and hypocrisy, exhibited by the ruling party and supporters of this party; whether it be Republican or Democrat.  Both parties claim to be adherents of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, yet both parties unapologetically denigrate these foundational principles at virtually every opportunity.

It is as if the principles of equal protection under the law, upon which our republic was founded, have been discarded in favor of a democracy in which favored groups are rewarded using protection rackets and money powers to govern.

American society is ever becoming like many ancient societies, where the national government becomes the centerpiece of everyone’s lives.  They use bread and circuses to keep the people occupied, such that they do not object to the gradual takeover and subjugation of an individual’s right to self-determination.

Some-day in the near future, it may be virtually impossible to make a decent living in America, without working directly for the government or as a contractor of the government.  This merging of the corporations with the government is the very definition of Industrial Fascism.

The Immorality of Unconstitutional Spending

“This I hope will be the age of experiments in government, and that their basis will be founded in principles of honesty, not of mere force.” — Thomas Jefferson

If you consider the extent to which we are taxed and scrutinized, as well as the legal definition of Citizen of the United States, then we are already employees of United States; because in legalese the term Citizen is held to mean Employee. This is how the government gets away with the so-called Income Tax, despite the fact that direct un-apportioned taxes are expressly forbidden in the Constitution. In fact many Americans are already working 3+ months out of the year to pay for the taxes they are compelled to pay by the government.

In recent history, for each year that passes, the government spending increases at a staggering rate and the rate of taxation through wage withholding and inflation increases at the same rate. Virtually all of this spending is unconstitutional, so it follows that virtually all of the taxation and inflation which burdens the people of America is itself unconstitutional. The controllers today’s America have made it into a prison with no walls, bars or shackles; in which we all must submit, under constant threat of property loss and incarceration.

When the government increases its spending, it is increasing the amount of involuntary servitude on the people. It is, in effect, taking from certain groups and giving to select favored groups. Generally the favored groups are involved in some form of incestuous relationship with the governing authority; they are favored because they provide campaign money or votes for the politicians.

The Immorality of an Unconstitutional Health Care Establishment

“Those, which depend on ourselves, are the only pleasures a wise man will count on: for nothing is ours which another may deprive us of.” –Thomas Jefferson

There is a great deal of debate over reform to the health care system and the creation of massive government programs to administer healthcare; along with insurance plans to be offered, crafted and strictly regulated by the Federal government. During this debate, both sides prattle over this and that; but one rarely hears mention of whether or not any of this action is authorized in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

I firmly believe that neither the current health care system, nor the majority of the current widely supported proposals for health care reform, pass the test of Constitutionality. They are all rife with favoritism towards certain groups and fail to address the underlying problems that plague America at this juncture in time.

In regards to the current taxpayer subsidized healthcare system, as well as the proposed expanded taxpayer subsidized healthcare system; there is not a shred of evidence that these are authorized in the Constitution.  Whenever proponents of these policies are confronted on the matter, they cling desperately to the General Welfare Clause in the Preamble of the Constitution.

The preamble of the constitution establishes no powers or rights. It merely states the purpose of the constitution. No further development of what “general welfare” means can be made based on the mention of it in the preamble.

The heading statement of Article 1, Section 8 confers on congress powers to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises. It then states the purpose of this in broad terms, to be expressed in detail in the list of 16 powers that follows. This purpose is that the funding placed at congress’ disposition is to be used for federal and state debts due to the revolutionary war and for future defense and for the “general welfare of the United States.” It concludes with limiting the duties, imposts and excises to amounts that would be uniform among the states.

It is wrong to read more than a basic power to tax and spend into this, to see any other power being granted here. All other details, as to what, specifically, the tax revenue may be spent on follows in the list of 16 specific powers.

— Peter Namtvedt

Conclusion

May it be to the world, what I believe it will be, (to some parts sooner, to others later, but finally to all,) the signal of arousing men to burst the chains under which monkish ignorance and superstition had persuaded them to bind themselves, and to assume the blessings and security of self-government. That form which we have substituted, restores the free right to the unbounded exercise of reason and freedom of opinion. All eyes are opened, or opening, to the rights of man. The general spread of the light of science has already laid open to every view the palpable truth, that the mass of mankind has not been born with saddles on their backs, nor a favored few booted and spurred, ready to ride them legitimately, by the grace of God. These are grounds of hope for others. For ourselves, let the annual return of this day forever refresh our recollections of these rights, and an undiminished devotion to them. –Thomas Jefferson

However far we may stray from the Jeffersonian principles upon which our republic was founded; it is imperative that we continue in earnest, to strive for their re-instatement at the very core of our societal principles. If ever there were a person who represents the American spirit in its truest sense, that person is Thomas Jefferson.

Jefferson crafted The Declaration of Independence the most important document in American history. He pledged his life, his fortune and is sacred honor, in the pursuit of an enlightened society; free from the tyranny of monarchic rule. A society in which individuals were free to prosper, under the protection of inalienable rights; where no group is more favored in the eyes of the law and no group is subject to coercion by the tyranny of the majority.  We should hold the Jeffersonian Model in the highest regard, as it is among the highest of aspirations any society can strive for.