To take from one, because it is thought that his own industry and that of his fathers has acquired too much, in order to spare to others, who, or whose fathers have not exercised equal industry and skill, is to violate arbitrarily the first principle of association, ‘the guarantee to every one of a free exercise of his industry, & the fruits acquired by it.
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I agree with Jefferson because IT’S WRONG TO STEAL!
Our Founding Fathers warned that anything Socialist in nature would be UNCONSTITUTIONAL. It is the ignorance, apathy and apostasy of our people that will bring about our destruction and is the leaders of our education system and our government that are destroying us.
It’s wrong to steal; Regardless of what you do with the money. And robbing everyone equally is still theft.
agree. wealth distribution however well intentioned is a type of tyranny that has no place in a free society and since a free society was the founders goal, they rightly spoke out against it.
I agree with it because its common sense, I earned it there fore I should be the one to enjoy it! you are not entitled to what i have aquired via sweat and labor! but you are more than welcome to follow my footsteps and earn for yourself!
I agree with Thomas!
Quite simply, not rewarding productivity let alone punishing it discourages productivity. No one has a genuine freedom if he is punished for exercising it.
also CORPORATIONS NEED TO BE LIMITED and THWARTED in such a way that if another business or scientist wants to compete then BIG BUSINESS cannot set up a cartel such that they have a STRANGLE HOLD on the FREE MARKET to prevent NEW TECHNOLOGY from being implemented…
@terence anti-trust and monopoly laws already exist so legal remedy exists, no thwarting or limiting necessary. Quality, viable products and production coordinated with economies of scale are all New Technology need to compete.
This covers very well the ‘welfare’ state and entitlement society we have created by government programs payed for with tax dollars. And we are well aware that a very large percentage of the welfare and entitlement program receipents are perfectly capable of working. And refuse to take a drug screen as a part of their conditions to receive there big brother hand outs.
“Whether property alone, and the whole of what each citizen possesses, shall be subject to contribution, or only its surplus after satisfying his first wants, or whether the faculties of body and mind shall contribute also from their annual earnings, is a question to be decided. But, when decided, and the principle settled, it is to be equally and fairly applied to all. To take from one, because it is thought that his own industry and that of his fathers has acquired too much, in order to spare to others, who, or whose fathers have not exercised equal industry and skill, is to violate arbitrarily the first principle of association, ‘the guarantee to every one of a free exercise of his industry, and the fruits acquired by it.’ If the overgrown wealth of an individual be deemed dangerous to the State, the best corrective is the law of equal inheritance to all in equal degree; and the better, as this enforces a law of nature, while extra-taxation violates it.” – Thomas Jefferson, letter to Joseph Milligan, April 6, 1816; “The Writings of Thomas Jefferson,” 14:466, edited by Andrew A. Lipscomb and Albert Ellery Bergh, 20 volumes; Washington: Thomas Jefferson Memorial Association, 1905.
@Ray, I do not see redistribution of earned wealth (whether by me, my forefathers or by my children) can be well intentioned (I don’t think you disgagree with this).
@Terence, I am still perplexed as to the problem people have with corporations., especially in the context you state. I am free to pursue the introuction of my company’s new technologies. It would be easier if I were a large corporation since I would have internal funds instead of requiring VC$. But even big companies end up (eventually) respecting the patent rights of small companies.
Thomas Jefferson and the rest of the Founding Fathers somehow understood the tyranny of Robin Hoodism and of big government. When you tax, and re-tax and then tax after death the proceeds of a successful business, it is indeed tyranny. Unfortunately we live in a time when those who do not have what other people have earned (or inherited) envy the other person instead of working to achieve so they and their families can have now and for future generations.
Repeat the words: the first principle of association, “the guarantee to every one of a free exercise of his industry, & the fruits acquired by it.”
OK In case ya’ll haven’t noticed, the people of this country have by and large elected a bunch of idiots that can’t read, don’t care what the Constitution says, and could care less about you the Taxpayers who fund their lifestyle and treachery. The biggest dumbass currently resides in the white house, put there by a majority of dumbasses. So, it’s all well and good to post all this patriotic crap, but what are you actually going to do about it?
This is a good argument against Obama’s preaching of Redistribution of Wealth! If we eliminate the ability to profit from hard work or good investment, then we eliminate the desire to do either!
The problem is that people who do not contribute but only recieve have as much say as those who contribute but do not recieve. It is this reason that Tax cuts are so hard to pass. What do the Recievers care about a Tax increase, they are not paying it. It does not bother them. “When the people find they can vote themselves the treasury, it will herald the end of the republic.” (Ben Franklin but I cant find from where).
Terence McBride… i agree but the free market would eliminate the cartels you speak of. cartels are a product of government policy not the free market.
And yet every time a Republican opens his mouth he talks economic principals, while important, but not a word about private property rights of our own labor. We work for ourselves, we do not belong to anyone else.
@Scott – “Patriotic crap?” I submit to you that one of the problems we face in this country is an undereducated and ill informed electorate. Yes, some people have been elected to office who do not appear to respect the Constitution or the Founding Fathers, but by and large, we get what we deserve.
Smart Manager + Dumb Employee = PRODUCTION
Dumb Manager + Dumb Employee = OVERTIME
Smart Manager + Smart Employee = PROFIT
Dumb Manager + Smart Employee = PROMOTION
Why would Government and the Electorate be any different?
We the People(Electorate) need to become the Smart Manager Role though,…
Jay Fraser… do you believe every individual that has supported liberal policy to be evil. i believe many of these people are misguided but i hardly think they support socialism because they are intent on destroying society. i believe they have good intentions, they are just wrong.
No Ray, I do not believe people who supported or voted for the POTUS are evil…I believe that many people are not informed and follow the crowds. All I want is for people to leave me, my company, my future wealth and whatever else I have alone. I earn, it is mine, it is not anyone else’s. I earn, my company succeeds, it should not be taxed and taxed and taxed…and no one should determine that for some arbitrary reason that either I have “too much,” or that I should be the one to determine if I leave everything to my kids, my grandchildren, or burn it. If I want to give it away, then it is my decision.
No taxation without representation; How can a government in the red rationalize that they deserve or know better how Our money should be spent, if they can not even operate a non-profit and programs within it’s means or budget. When has the congressional budget office ever had a projection or estimation that was proven correct?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/its-time-for-taxpayers-to-demand-a-receipt/2011/03/28/AFtbaYpB_blog.html
In Matt 26:11, Jesus said, “The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me.” So we know that for all time, there have been and will continue to be those who are “poor”. Levitical law set aside a portion of each harvest for the poor ~ Lev 24:9-10: “When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God.” While I believe this teaches us to consider the “poor”, we are to provide something for them, but not take away the dignity of doing something for themselves. THEY had to come and pick up what they wanted. INSTEAD, what we have done is give, give, give, to a bottomless, thankless “pit”. There is no sense of self-respect for those who live on the dole. No sense of any obligation, w/the exception of holding out their hand to demand more. The entire system of welfare in this country is wrong and should be reconsidered. Presently, that will not happen. And now, we have created a monster that is every enlarging and demanding more and more. The present policy of redistribution is not based on truly helping the poor and needy, but reducing the “haves” to ” have not’s”. The intention is evil, not good. And the end goal is to make everyone equally oppressed.
I think people who support socialism and liberal politicians do so because they want something for nothing. They like the idea of redistribution because they have no real understanding of free market economics and where jobs really come from!
The problem is value must be continually created, not just divided up till there is none left nor any atmosphere capable of supporting it’s creation anymore. The money value creating enterprises and corporations will go further offshore(with the tax base as well) if our economy is not conducive to viable profit margins and returns on products and services we create. For example; Sarbanes Oaxley was knee jerk(reaction to Enron corruption) legislation that penalized everyone except bean-counters accounting and tax firms(the very guys who cooked Enron’s books in the first place) & whose only true value creation depends on viable profitable businesses sector creating value and continually generating wealth, but it retards and penalizes commerce actually with excessive redundant tax, penalties, preparation and compliance costs. These guys wanted oversight but they instead gave us over-kill on the economy.
Some people, yes, but those in leadership have more sinister goals, IMHO.
Liberalism is a lie. It always has been. liberals are misinformed and misguided and indoctrinated, mostly in colleges and by liberal professors. However, it is dangerous to think they don’t know what they are doing..they’ve read Cloward and Piven and agree with Mao…thats not ignorance. Its brainwashing the naive masses.
Conservatism is a lie. Conservatives have tried to block the American Revolution; freeing slaves; women’s suffrage; allowing “free persons of color” to own property, vote, have the right to sue or to testify in court, and to buy and sell; the formation of labor unions; laws against child labor; and are trying to prevent “loophole patients” from receiving medical treatment. If we were all conservatives, we would still be a British colony, have no factories on our soil, subject to the will of large landowners, and be subject to permanent or judicially-enforced enslavement for our color or debts. Every freedom we have was won by Progressives or Liberals. We need a balance of all philosophies to make a sane world.
You’re kidding, right? Liberalism always leads to tyranny because it depends on dependence on government. When you turn to government for the answers and allow it to pay for your needs, it wants something back (and it definitely gets paid). Your arguments are so ill-informed they hardly warrant response, but since some silly people might agree with them (who don’t check into much of anyone, obviously), I will state a few things. The abolition of slavery was led largely by Christian church-goers, who are by and large conservative. The civil rights movement was addressed and passed laws in Congress by a majority of Republicans (Democrats largely opposed it). All true advances for “colored people” have been at the behest of conservatism, and all dependence-living and enslaving entitlement laws have been led by Democrats wanting a demographic to vote for them (not to truly help anyone). Ever notice how most large, urban areas (with large poor populations) are usually headed up by Democrat majors for decades, and that things never really change in those areas. Ever wonder why? You should.
“FROM EACH ACCORDING TO HIS ABILITY, TO EACH ACCORDING TO HIS NEED”.. You’ve heard this? Yes, that’s the core principle of Socialism/Communism.
“Looks good on paper.” ~ ‘charity’ and all that. What’s the flaw??
Well, WHO or WHAT exactly would MAKE THE DECISION? WHOSE ability? WHOSE need? Of course, the people who get themselves into power would make the decision, and so here we are, both the “socialist” and the “capitalist” worlds.
There is validity to the objection to the “level playing field”; When these have existed, those interests which were “ahead of the game” simply gobbled everything up. You can look at history and find this – “Robber Barons”..
But ‘pure ‘socialism as an answer to this [if there actually was such a thing] has never worked either, really.
We did have the right idea with the New Deal – The WPA, the CCC, etc. – you had to WORK for your “handout”, and the country got on the road to recovery!
A few suggested reads and films, “CRISIS BY DESIGN” [book] and ‘INSIDE JOB” [film] about the meltdown of 2008. I. O. U. S. A [film] about the FED and the ‘permanent’ repressive system of economics installed in the US, and other countries..
Good reading.. Then organize and vote and demonstrate and canvass and…. and…
We don’t even have to reinvent the Wheel, just get back to fundamentals of Quality and value creation- Good Re-reading; http://www.amazon.com/Out-Crisis-W-Edwards-Deming/dp/0911379010
The difference between Capitalism and Socialism is the same as between the American Revolution and the French Revolution.
No, but I could make some metaphoric analogies to; guillotines, hanging, or our lives in debtors prison without parole.
Amen, Socialism will never work and never has worked. That is why I am so confused on why people covet it so much. Must be laziness and/or Power hungry.
For modern corporations and politicians to co-opt this translation of a French quote to justify the bleeding of resources from the lower classes is pretty low.
How are the lower classes bled from that quote, exactly? I, myself, make very little, but take pride in what I can accomplish. I don’t expect anyone else to support me, and would more greatly appreciate kind people reaching out personally (which they’ve done) than an impersonal government bureaucracy cutting a check it neither earned nor cared about giving. Businesses are evil by making money. Businesses or government is evil when it presumes that people should support it regardless of its words or services. The free market checks businesses into place. Only elections check government, and not quickly enough. You are presuming that government usually knows better and means well. How can you be sure of either thing?
I don’t believe Jefferson ever invisioned taking money from middle-class tax payers and giving it to the very rich bankers.
Antoine Louis Claude Destutt, comte de Tracy (20 July 1754 – 9 March 1836) was a French Enlightenment aristocrat and philosopher who coined the term “ideology”. You can find the entire document of Jefferson Translation of Treatise on Political Economy by de Tracy…and with the PDF do a search for the words. It is not in that document. In fact Mr. deTracy is know to be a liberal during the French Revolution.
Somthing is amiss.