As far as the quote, I say Adam Smith is right (*****) because he says "first and principally", he does not say "always" or "only" or "totally". As far as the arguments (also *****). You are all so good at setting forth your arguments that I almost (just almost) forgot which side I am. But I'll stay Jeffersonian. More freedom and competition is the best way to go with Health Care so almost everyone can have access. And too many laws withdraw the precious gift of consciousness from people's minds. But antitrust and anti-cartel laws must exist and be enforced. That's what I think.

Good advice, but better be right in addition to eccentric, otherwise giving your opinion may cost. Logic and good sense ultimately win.

Agree. Absolutely. And Jefferson may forever suffer in the eyes of history, because it's so much easier for critics to throw stones at him now than it would have been for him and the United States to face the consequences of the emancipation then.

Cute serious philosophy!

Wow!

It's true. One first blow is enough to cause one barrel of censorship after another one and another one to barrel ahead. But we're not talking about all media networks, are we?

I would give minus all stars of the sky to a leader - either political or industrial - seeking absolute power and killing so many civilians to fix the economy. No trophy is to be bestowed upon him for saying it openly, either, in my opinion. All the stars of the sky go to Thomas Jefferson. To Hitler: Zeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrooooooooooooooooo! By the way, he was a capitalist. Either the word Socialism had a different connotation back then or he used it to add to his popularity. He understood how the economy works, but lost all the stars anyway.

The quote is an irony. The author means: "to preclude us from enjoying the benefits of thinking." The quote also seems to be about conventional views in general, not only in schools. After doing some research on the author's economic and political views, I must say I do not share many of them, but he is right in this particular quote, which is an alert against conventional views. As far as teaching, one of the things I have noticed and appreciate in the U.S. schools is that kids are taught at an early age to distinguish between a fact and and an opinion, even here in Astoria. That should help them have their own opinion on conventional views down the road, as long as they are exposed to arguments and counter-arguments.

I agree that we can learn much more and better by ourselves, mainly since the advent of the Internet. But I'll leave one star, at least one, for the schools. They help you expand your world of connections and give you credentials, which are a plus - although not a proof - when it comes to the credibility of your qualifications.

I can only look up to someone who could perform such a hard job in such a light manner.

Great Ronald Reagan. He played with the words a little bit, but said something that is true and very serious. Governments have ways to help people thrive and governments have ways to curb their prosperity.

Agree with Jim k. Thomas Jefferson wouldn't fall asleep.

Ah!Ah! Funny, Man! I know the political meaning of the statement is very important, but I ask my colleagues to allow me to confine my comments to his form of expressing himself. His statement was magnificently spontaneous and circumspect at the same time!

Making the United States just like the socialist countries of this world is subtracting uniqueness, prosperity and freedom of it and its people. The gist of this country is precisely the uniqueness with which the Founding Fathers saw the people of a nation: self-motivated to prosper when free.

Can't the Great Man who believes in and respects everyone's right to express their opinion express his own?! He hated cities, that's all. The quote is not about slavery, but I endorse totally Anon's words to Waffler.

This country needs another Thomas Jefferson.

I agree with Waffler. Everything very well said. As far as understand, the Constitution of the United States - or of any nation - is never designed to include "withdrawn". Lincoln knew that it was in the young nation's people's best interest that the Union should be preserved so that a larger number of people of be able to enjoy the benefits of a stronger united nation. That assured, rights must be preserved and protected and differences must be worked out. Note: The three stars were in consideration to Monsieur de Tocqueville's conjectures on rights and freedom of choice, which are incorrect when it is about the constitution of a nation and The Constitution of a country.

I have the same opinion as Jim Reynolds. Great poets - and Robert Frost is great! - love to play with words. We can see that Frost made a generalization here. A generalization, in logic, according to the dictionary is: Logic. a. a proposition asserting something to be true either of all members of a certain class or of an indefinite part of that class.

That may be the very aim and end of our institutions, but filtering our thoughts - instead of just thinking what we like gives us more chances to be right and honest when we say what we want.

Agree with Ken's comments.

The intent of the quote may not be bad, but the quote lacks that Jeffersonian style that made The United States of America - and of the Americans'.

I'm glad there's a RBESRQ around to fight against censorship!

Zero stars for Weishaupt's statement, but * * * * * * * * * * for all the discussion and argumentation over it. While the former is about controlling opinions, the latter is about freedom of opinions.

That is Reagan's point of view, to which I agree. Individual representation means individual liability, unless representation is otherwise proven. Election alone is not enough. Participation of the people on a major new issue decision, for instance, is a must before a Representative can say "We" this or "we" that.

...Great, wise George Washington. Control of our action and speeches are as important as freedom.