the current US government? The Debt? Gun laws? Tax Code? Changes in general? Are we what he had in mind over two hundred years ago?

"over two hundred years ago"

Nuff said

"How can a people who have struggled long years under oppression throw off their oppressors and establish a free society? The problems are immense, but their solution lies in the education and enlightenment of the people and the emergence of a spirit that will serve as a foundation for independence and self-government."

Two hundred years does not change truth.

He might be a very different person 200 years later, considering the population size, the changes in society over time, science, technology.

But to compare now to then and wonder what he would have thought? He might be completely overwhelmed and have a completely different outlook on now as compared to then.

if those that were then were living through all the changes

a lot of those changes would have been changed or stopped

or another revolution would have been attempted

but hey what do i know

No, but circumstances change

TJ on taxes. "An hereditary chief, strictly limited, the right of war vested in the legislative body, a rigid economy of the public contributions and absolute interdiction of all useless expenses will go far towards keeping the government honest and unoppressive." --Thomas Jefferson to Lafayette, 1823. ME 15:491

Educate and inform the whole mass of the people... They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty.
Thomas Jefferson

Enlighten the people generally, and tyranny and oppressions of body and mind will vanish like evil spirits at the dawn of day.
Thomas Jefferson

Errors of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left free to combat it.
Thomas Jefferson


A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned - this is the sum of good government.
Thomas Jefferson


All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.
Thomas Jefferson

Every citizen should be a soldier. This was the case with the Greeks and Romans, and must be that of every free state.
Thomas Jefferson (so much for the gun ban idea)

Every generation needs a new revolution.
Thomas Jefferson

Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves are its only safe depositories.
Thomas Jefferson

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like i previously posted

I think he would be upset and discouraged.

and what happened when he went through being

"""I think he would be upset and discouraged."""

with england

Jefferson would be overwhelmed with joy and filled with awe at this nation that he helped found, that has been even more succesful than the people of his time could even dream.

You may be right. I wish I could chat with him.

Well, just think about it. Our country is a utopia compared to what they lived in back in his time. He would be amazed and overwhelmed by our achievements of the last 200 years.We are beyond their wildest dreams

I have no doubt that he would be overjoyed that we were the last superpower, copied and envied by many, and all of that. But after he had time to get over the cultural shock, what would he think about the debt, the gun laws, the intrusion into personal freedoms? Is the US constitution, which is mostly the same today as then, working the way it was intended by the people who wrote it, or has the intent been twisted?

yes in many ways

some good

some great

some bad

and some evil

is what i bet he would be thinking

Considering he was for the separation of church and state I am sure he would be shocked that the religious are governing who can marry in this country.

If he knew what we know today I am sure he would be a middle liberal.

then again maybe he would just shake his head and move to amsterdam

could be

i would guess slightly left moderate myself

I think he would be so overwhelmed by our achievments that he would be extremly proud of us. Circumstances are vastly different from his times and I am sure that he would realize that immediately.Everything is so vastly different from Jeffersons times.Capabilities,styles,technology,worldviews are all radically different.It would be like some kind of magic fairyland for a person from his time. Even if he disagreed with our policies,what would it matter? He wouldnt even be able to fully comprehend everything around him. Its would be like magic to him.

I dont know if a person from his time would even be able to truly comprehend this post modern world. Im not sure his opinions would even sound rational to us.