Thomas Jefferson Quote - Liberty Quotes Blog

"Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone.
The people themselves, therefore, are its only safe depositories."

by:	Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), US Founding Father, drafted the Declaration of Independence, 3rd US President
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Categories:	Constitution, Government, Independence, Individual Rights, Law, Power, Republic, Trust, Tyranny, President
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Reader comments about this quote:

Now that We The People no longer vote for persons to represent us, but rather, we vote for individuals to represent the despotic ethos, government has degenerated into a tyrannical oligarchy. -- Mike, Norwalk 4
-- Donald Champagne, Houma,la.
And so it has continued for 232 years. Since we have no "rulers of the people" just a revoving door where 100% of congress, 1/3 of the senate is "changed" every two years, and the White House every 4 all we have is the "people". May all power to the people continue for the next 231 years. Many on this site are against rule by the people, they want a rule by what they call "natural" law or "God" instead both concepts are anothe form of despotic rule or at least have been used that way in the past. -- Waffler, Smith, Arkansas 1 3
-- jim k, austin
Waffler forgets about the 1000's of professional bureaucrats, unelected and hired for life that enforce, write procedures, codes, and in effect decide which laws to enforce and how. What do we do with them? -- Chris, Durham 3
Those folks report to the President who is elected by the people and who administer rules and regulations put into place by the people. Bureaus were established to circumvent the political grab bag that existed in the 1800's where politicians rip everything and everybody off. Professional bureaus are a good thing by comparision. If the pols like Candi Rice and John Ashcroft had listened to the pros like Richard Clarke and the Acting Director of the FBI terrorism would have been handled a lot differently. Let support our prof servants that are working for us. -- Waffler, Smith, Arkansas 1 3
'The People' are all of us, the government is a corporation. Jefferson is talking about the People in their individual capacity, not the people in government. A government employee has no more rights than an individual -- once an individual has signed on with the government, their powers are strictly limited, and the punishments for over-stepping their legal bounds are severe, as they should be when an individual uses collective power for private gain. Most government employees know nothing about the laws, just like most bank tellers know nothing about how banks create money, not lend it. These ignorant armies are what the politicians fight to control -- obedient drones that can intimidate and overwhelm any individual without due process. Organizations like the CIA operate under practically no supervision -- they have their own revenue streams, and their covert operations allow them blanket immunity from scrutiny and oversight. Most government bureauracies operate in similar manners. They spend like crazy, spend every dollar of their budgets just so they will get them again next year. Millions depend on these government agencies for their livelyhood. One more reason to stop worshipping government and bending one's knee to their every act. -- E Archer, NYC 3
I only said that we have the right of freedom granted to us by God. We are free moral agents. This was stated by and believed by our founding fathers, and I believe it too. I dread the thought of some one saying that he is appointed by God to rule over us, or that he knows what God wants for us to do better then we know ourselves. Our founding fathers feared and dreaded that and so do I. I believe that my words are clear, I do not need them clarified, changed, misquoted or misrepresented. I'm a bad enough speller all on my own. -- Ken, Milford Pa. 1
Right on the mark, and Archer too - when are the American People going to wake up and take back our country? The government uses more resources than us all put together - the DOD alone is our biggest consumer burning nearly 400,000 barrels a day. Steve Iseal (who formed a defense Energy Working Group) said. "We are borrowing money money from China to fund our defense budgets to buy oil from the Persian Gulf to fund our military to protect us from China and the Persian Gulf. It is an insidious vulnerability" When will we admit we have goons running our lives. The government just voted not to stop the oil speculators - I wonder why... -- RobertSRQ 2
Ms. Gonzales, of Castle Rock v. Gonzales, believed her State of domicile had given her an enforceable right to protection by instructing the police, on a court order, that "you shall arrest or issue a warrant for the arrest" of her husband who had violated a protective order. The husband subsequently forcibly kidnapped their 3 children and killed them. The Supreme Court once again reiterated that no individual, under any circumstance has a right to police protection. All policing agencies' sole duty is to protect State property. There are more than just a few cases stating the same. All policing agencies, along with the rest of the current de facto alien ethos is not a government of, by, or for the people. The current government(s) as exists, no matter how often changed, does not represent or protect We The People. All those that are elected and/or selected otherwise represent the de facto alien ethos. Government's actions are not for the benefit of its/their electors but rather, for its/their supposed sovereign bosses. -- Mike, Norwalk 2
Archer is correct. Government employees are doing the same job that the individual has commissioned him to do in his place while the indiviudal is out taking care of his other business. An individual cannot ward off the enemy, collect the taxes, provide for his self defense, etcetera while still trying to earn his own living thus he employs public servants. The public servant employee is working for the individuals. Public employees know respect and honor this relationship just as do our brave troops who die for this relationship borne of loyaty to the public. -- Waffler, Smith, Arkansas 1
Waffler, you're almost there son -- I would only add that the "individual" who "cannot ward off the enemy, collect the taxes, provide for his self defense, etcetera" cannot delegate to another person to act in his stead in a duty that he does not have the power to delegate. I do not personally have the power to garnish my neighbor's wages in the form of an income or property tax -- although government, if the principle is ignored, can bully and strong arm and enforce such de facto legislation; such an action, when assuming a power that the individual does not have the right to delegate, is usurpation and tyranny. -- Logan, Memphis, TN 2
How is your friend Mr. Bruton, Logan? Yes you do have that power Logan but you express it funny like everything else. You and your neighbors have the power to agree to a compact that each will pay into the common good. As you well know it happens all of the time. -- Waffler, Smith, Arkansas
PS: When your neighbor or you reneges on the compact you or they have a right to nail you or them for breach. This compact is what drives all taxation. -- Waffler, Smith, Arkansas
Waffler, just because it happens does not mean it still isn't usurpation or tyranny -- yes, it happens all of the time, in every government in history -- but that isn't the point. You think just because tyranny and usurpation happen, that makes it okay? Are you serious?! You blatantly admit that there is NO inalienable right, and therefore reject the foundational philosophy of our founding fathers for the sophistry of modern day despots and tyrants who realize that tyranny can be justified simply because of the "majority's consent". You ignorant fool! Even more ignorant to bring up John Bruton; you have no idea the foundational ideas wherein states, nations, federalisms, or unions are made. Bruton blatantly says that while the EU is a "Democracy" (which it is), the United States, as purposed by our founders, bears only small resemblance to Democracy -- but was structured to be protected against being a Democracy. Why? The answer completely cuts your ignorant response -- that the only way to protect the individual in a Democracy is to do things by unanimous vote (like the Democratic EU); whereas, as he stated, our government does NOT do things by unanimous vote, but by a simple majority's consent, and protects the individual by adhering to an outside codex of ideas, laws, and philosophy wherein the majority does not have right to tamper ("inalienable rights" such a few as what are dictated as within the Bill of Rights -- Rights that you claim ARE ALIENABLE based on the majority's consent). Does this mean that our government has not infringed upon these rights? Absolutely not! Our government has chipped and eroded away at the very foundational philosophy behind what we were created in the expression of these inalienable rights! Yes, as Bruton says, the United States is transitioning into Democracy, and will most likely change its laws to be in line with true Democracy within the next few decades, but this is NOT the foundational premise upon which we were created... Waffler, your lies, ignorance, stupidity, and meandering and convoluted ideas and beliefs are disgusting and traitorous to the foundational principles of our country -- you are a coward who hides behind the majority, and who refuses to use or understand logic as it is given to you in plainness. I have no ability of "giving up" my rights, even if I agree to so do so with my neighbor! Why? BECAUSE MY RIGHTS ARE INALIENABLE! Even if I was in solitary confinement, I still have my inalienable rights; although, my liberty to act in them has been restricted. If I committed an acting that justified incarceration, then just restriction is legitimate in any form of government; however, if I have committed no crime, my incarceration is usurpation and tyranny against the liberty of expression of my life and property. As Samuel Adams said, "Nothing is our, which another may deprive us of" -- even ourselves -- why? As Adams further stated, "If men, through fear, fraud, or mistake, should in terms renounce or give up any natural right, the eternal law of reason and the grand end of society would absolutely vacate such renunciation. The right to freedom being the gift of Almighty God, it is not in the power of man to alienate this gift and voluntarily become a slave." Waffler, until you become read in the words of our founders, stop posting. I hate writing these "books" (as you call them), but I hate even more your stupidity going un-addressed. -- Logan, Memphis, TN 2
Second of all, as per the last Adams quote I gave, the premise of your analogy of a compact between oneself and a neighbor is wrong. Just as today there can be no illegal contracts in law, so we are not able to make compacts between us and others that violate basic inalienable rights... Government may, and has, usurped power TO do this; however, such de facto laws, while enforceable, are not legitimate -- regardless of whether such de facto laws have the majority's consent or not. There are legitimate taxes, and there are illegitimate taxes. Yes, I make an agreement with my neighbor in certain things, but, as per the understanding of our founders, I do not have the right to vote away my rights and maintain legitimacy. Don't be a fool. -- Logan, Memphis, TN 2
It seems many Americans either never learned this principle or have simply been totally unaware of it all along, henceforth, Mr. Obama is our president. It will be interesting to watch the independent thinkers' reactions when they see the consequences of ignoring this valuable quote; party idealogues, however, will just blame whatever group or party that their favorite party leaders tell them to blame, rather than place the blame and responsiblity squarely where it belongs, on the shoulders of our leadership. -- Nancy, OH 1
Mike from Norwalk, Unfortunately, I think you may be correct re oligarchy; scary when you realize the next, and final, step is totalinarianism. Are we now the United Socialist States of America? Simply heartbreaking. Alas, many of us continue to fight for the USA and her Constitution and will probably do so to the end. -- Nancy, OH 2
Right on, Logan! -- E Archer, NYC 1
Foundational Doctrines Always will, cut to the Core. do not play with the guard or toy with Article 9 on the front line of commonsense and our cause of individual liberty. If not for the Patriots the fire would be lost. That is from grass roots to the top of command. Current opps. Wafflers be ware where you tread. one has to know who your friends are in any restoration project. We the People bind ourselves by a common cause, our sacred liberties, Chophshiy, Eleutheria, and Apeleutheros liberty. God grants it, we claim it, as Individuals, you do not demand, but ask, as in a Freewill association. Liberty against tyranny of the mob. Saad Al Melik, Saad Al Sund. No Failure ! -- Ronw13, OR

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