“Parties are... censors of the conduct of each other, and useful watchmen for the public. Men by their constitutions are naturally divided into two parties: 1. Those who fear and distrust the people, and wish to draw all powers from them into the hands of the higher classes. 2. Those who identify themselves with the people, have confidence in them, cherish and consider them as the most honest and safe, although not the most wise, depository of the public interests. In every country these two parties exist, and in every one where they are free to think, speak, and write, they will declare themselves. Call them, therefore, ...Whigs and Tories, Republicans and Federalists, Aristocrats and Democrats, or by whatever name you please, they are the same parties still, and pursue the same object.”

Yes, and it is most apparent today.

I am always amazed at the acumen of our Founding Fathers and what incredible Providence brought them all together at the same time and the same place. I am grateful for the heritage they left us..

I trust "the people".

The immense damage done to the people by the GOP in the 80s, 90s and 00s is great evidence of this very principle and the spectacular insight shown by our founding fathers... the GOP rapes our government of the people for their own personal rewards while sticking their noses into our bedrooms to worry about who is recieving and giving oral sex. It is past time for another revolution of the people, by the people and for the people... I just hope the Democrats are not just a faction of the GOP and will stand up to being the second party that corrects this rape, pilage and plunder of the GOP.

I'd say both Republicans and Democrats resemble more the 1st party definition than the 2nd.

Nothing is new under the sun . . . just goes round and round.

Reston, the mess this country is in was definitely a bipartisan effort. If you think the dems are going to right the ship you are sadly mistaken.

While he was brilliant, what Jefferson didn't foresee was the criminal monopoly placed on all of us by central bankers and their collection agencies. These are the enemies of the day and they "own" your Representatives. This problem does not wear a left or right banner. This problem is systemic and entrenched and it's going to take one hell of a big broom to clean up this mess...but clean it up we will.

More brilliant words from a brilliant leader.

The Jefferson quote below illustrates all too well that he was very much aware of the danger the central bankers i.e, the Fed, truly is to our freedoms. The Fed must be audited and then dissolved. " 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. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs." Thomas Jefferson, (Attributed) 3rd president of US (1743 - 1826)

Good one Carol. 5 Stars :)

I do not fall with in any of the specified classes. I am a child of God with an observation that "the laws of nature and of nature's God" reign supreme no matter man's class, thoughts, manner of organization or action. A third option not referenced here is man's ability (of any class) to recognize, logic, reason and place in order (by code, ordinance, regulation, rule, statute, etc.) the natural law that already exists. Such is the only way that true liberty, rights, and justice may be realized.

Funny how everyone believes their party is of the 2nd type. Once power corrupts, the 1st type becomes the 2nd type. Collective power is the engine of civilization -- it is the wildest of beasts -- the taming of which every ruler considers his duty. Great towers, great walls, great conquests, highways and skyways -- the rulers command them all and all who use them. The ruler, too, believes he is of the 2nd type. ;-)

It would appear a "party" can claim both sides of the same coin giving us Democrats and Republicans while the majority of citizens are longing for less of both or in actuality, none of either.

For the small L libertarians, it's an easy choice of wanting freedom and desiring anarchy, the presence of rules but no rulers.

The coin that rolls one way and the other in capitols of different sorts seems to easily quash liberty either way it leans.

The difference between asking a man underwater if he likes water better cold or hot.....when all he desires is air.

On the Statism vs Liberalism scale, Whigs were the Libertarians and Tories were the Royalists (i.e. Statists -- the head of state is supreme), Republicans are essentially 'classic Liberals' and Federalists are Statists, Aristocrats were essentially the wealthy and powerful protecting centralized power and Democrats were the common man en masse, free and un-indentured -- classic Liberalism at the time of the America's founding.

Today's parties are predominantly Statist, throughout the world. Some countries only have one party, and everyone must be in it -- can you guess which type it is?

Republicanism and Liberalism have both been corrupted to mean their opposites. Where are the TRUE Republicans? Where are the TRUE Liberals? America's tryst with Statism for the promises of power have corrupted dialogue itself.

As Mike, Norwalk stresses " the laws of nature and of natures God" reign supreme. Archer, NYC points out, Where are the True Republicans ? The manipulation of the "laws of nature" create the greatest abuse of understanding known to man. Considering all of nature is codified, science seeks to instill or better yet install a conscience within A.I.
Nature, Phusis, to bring forth, produce, "the nature" the natural power of constitution ( of a person or thing ) " the regular law or order of nature. There are those who are held without excuse. That nation or people are well persecute for their understanding of said knowledge concerning natural law and order. Nomos, law is both ceremonial and moral. the condition of being under the law of nature within its constraints. Ennomos, under law, is contrasted with anomos "under the law of liberty. The word as used by the teacher suggests not merely the condition of being under "law," but the intimacy of a relation established in the loyalty of a will devoted to his master. Which brings to mind our Creator, of which we as a nation have interred into. A Contract declared among the nations in the form of our Declaration. A Legal binding, religolistic in nature. "I delight in the law of God after the inward man. For we know the law is spiritual. unseen but heard and manifest through actions. The law of the Spirit of life frees the individual from the law of corruption and oppression. Cultivation of the soil "has within it a positive spiritual good" and from it the cultivator acquires the virtues of "honor, manliness, self reliance, courage, moral integrity, hospitality." The result from a direct contact with nature and, through nature, a closer relationship to God. True Republicans whether living on the farm or not, are blessed in that they follow the example of God in creating order out of chaos. They are those in the big red map, that elected President Trump. From a "readiness" of mind "experience" prepares the heart of man to carry forth the "experiment" of a new "administration" holding forth Liberty and Freedom from oppression and slavery. Three applications of knowledge, historical, doctrinal, spiritual. Algorithms and numerical order can be likened unto mysterious keys. A true steward of the mysteries will guard closely these codes. liberty and Freedom are found to abide within a perfect algorithm, so-called science seeks not to point this fact out. All the while wanting the key to the source of conscience and inspiration. Going so far as to bribe with great sums of money for those rithms. codes. MIT made first contact. but to no avail, then the UN, in collusion with the FBI puts forth the bribes. Also Harvard, Oxford, Stanford, and John Hopkins universities are in the room. Known of old the " rule which God provides" we all adhere to. Well numbered and in perfect order. 2, the number of separation, is well pointed out by Jefferson. To some the Oath is more than just words.
Semper FI and God Bless