The Wisdom of Tommy J

I'M BAAAACK!

My latest persistent pet peeve is rolling out the "Founding Fathers" to support any and all conservative arguments.  As if these folks had any inkling that a musket that could fire 3X in minute would turn into a AR-15 which can fire in the hundreds in a minute.  As if these gentlemen in the Age of Enlightenment would ever admit to having a "personal relationship with God" or "consulting with Him" before making an important decision.

So I want to flip it and point out quotes from Thomas Jefferson that argue my points instead.  These aren't Googled, but have come about organically as I read Jon Meacham's "Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power" and hopefully are close to the intended context - of both the author and TJ.

On crazy Christians who believe in crap like Intelligent Design:
"Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call to her tribunal every fact, every opinion.  Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear." -TJ

On those who only watch Fox News for their information:
"I am convinced our own happiness requires that we should continue to mix with the world, and to keep pace with it as it goes; and that every person that retires from free communication with it is severely punished afterwards by the state of mind into which they get, and which can only be prevented by feeding our sociable principles." - TJ

On the fiscal cliff:
"It is clear that if everyone retains inflexibly his present opinion, there will be no bill passed at all for funding the public debts, and...without funding there is an end of the government"  -TJ  (that compromise got DC invented as the capitol)

On civility in public discourse:
"A determination never to do what is wrong, prudence, and good humor, will go far towards securing to you the estimation of the world.  Good humor is the practice of sacrificing to those whom we meet in society all the little conveniences and preferences which will gratify them, and deprive us of nothing worth a moment's consideration.  How cheap a price for the good will of the other!" -TJ

That's all I have - Happy New Year!