At the time of publishing T. Joe Eggebrecht's, essay, "Whom Do You Trust?", the following thoughts of former President Thomas Jefferson had been sent to me and it is fitting to follow up Joe's ssay with those Jefferson comments. Someone has accurately stated, "The only constant is change." America has changed, or haven't you noticed? THE WORDWRIGHT

Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States (1801-1809) is described by the Wikipedia Free Encyclopedia as a polygraph or, so most of us could understand it better, "A person knowing much; or a person of great and diversified learning." Specifically, Jefferson achieved distinction as a horticulturist, political leader, architect, archaeologist, paleontologist, inventor and founder of the University of Virginia. When President John F. Kennedy welcomed 49 Nobel Prize winners to the White House in 1962 he said, "I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talent and of human knowledge that has ever been gathered together at the White House - with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone." To date, Jefferson is the only president to serve two full terms in office without vetoing a single bill of congress. Jefferson has been consistently ranked by scholars as one of the greatest of U. S. presidents. (Attribution hereby given to Wikipedia free encyclopedia for the above description of Thomas Jefferson.)

The sales slogan of the tobacco industry, "You have come a long way baby" seems a fitting expression about the condition of our country compared to the principles laid down in our constitution and other papers in the chronicles of our country. As a citizen of the United States I cannot but yearn for the principles and concepts of Thomas Jefferson. Consider each of the following quotes and mentally review the principles and concepts that are being pandered (like "the gospel") by our country's leaders today.

The following are quotes from the writings of Thomas Jefferson:

"When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, we shall become as corrupt as Europe.

The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.

It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world.

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.

My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government.

No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms. The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.

To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical."

And finally, in light of the present financial crisis, it's interesting to read just one more comment from Thomas Jefferson in 1802:

"I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered."

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THE WORDWRIGHT asks, "Do you see anything in Jefferson's quotes that give you second thoughts about the direction our country is going or has gone?" In the 201 years that have passed since Thomas Jefferson was our president it is obvious some virtues and principles have been compromised.