“Above all things I hope the education of the common people will be attended to, convinced that on their good sense we may rely with the most security for the preservation of a due degree of liberty.”

The dumming down by government schools, government media complex, and otherwise, slave masters is only part of the proof that shows this statement to be so accurate. The good sense of people has been bought, subdued, and proselyted against sufficiently that very little of it is left. It does appear that people are being educated to the statist theocracy's abuse by their common state of recession / depression and, some are coming back to their good senses.,

Thomas Jefferson said nothing of relying on HOMELAND SECURITY, TSA, CIA, NSA, FBI, etc. for our security and, hence, our continued preservation of liberty. He said we should rely on the education and common sense of the PEOPLE for our security and freedom. Our present government has completely reversed this policy, as they create more agencies to monitor and invade our securities and our liberties. Wake up American people!

He should have been more specific such as not with tax monies or government control of the educatiuon system.

If not with tax money, Cal, then what with?

America needs more people like Thomas Jefferson to speak out against the American hypocrisy.

The Founders knew in their hearts the troubles the future would bring. They understood well how history repeats itself. They tried to build checks and balances into our system of government, but they also knew that greed and immorality would be the death of our liberties. Since you can't legislate against greed and immorality, you can only hope that the people would have the common sense to elect those who will best serve the people, not themselves. Well, that isn't working so well today. Perhaps the upcoming elections will rectify the problem of self-serving politicians and greedy power -grabbers at all levels of government.

Jefferson's ideas about popular education was that schools would be distributed throughout the counties of each state, supported by excise taxes within the state. He was never for centralized federal control of education. Plus, back then, someone who was schooled for eight years was ready to work and raise a family or, if so inspired, could further his education at university for which he would pay or be sponsored. There was plenty of public charity for those that showed their worth. I have my great-grandmother's notebooks from 6th grade -- her penmanship was impeccable, and the topics were collegiate by today's standards. Believe it: the American education system has been dumbing us down for a century.

Starting with the extreme basics of “the law of nature and of nature’s God” (Declaration of Independence). Liberty is: “The power of acting as one thinks fit, without any restraint or control, except from the laws of nature.” (Bouvier’s Law Dictionary) Liberty is the “exemption from extraneous control. The power of the will, in its moral freedom, to follow the dictates of its unrestricted choice, and to direct the external acts of the individual without restraint, coercion, or control from other persons. Liberty is the right which nature gives to all mankind of disposing of their persons and property after the manner they judge most consistent with their happiness, on condition of their acting within the limits of the law of nature, and so as not to interfere with an equal exercise of the same rights by other men.” (Black’s Law Dictionary 1st ed.). Clarifying original fact, natural law intent, and de jure jurisprudence: “Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add 'within the limits of the law,' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual.” (Thomas Jefferson) “Personal liberty, or the Right to enjoyment of life and liberty, is one of the fundamental or natural Rights, which has been protected by its inclusion as a guarantee in the various constitutions, which is not derived from, or dependent on, the U.S. Constitution, which may not be submitted to a vote and may not depend on the outcome of an election. It is one of the most sacred and valuable Rights, as sacred as the Right to private property ⋯ and is regarded as inalienable.” (16 C.J.S., Constitutional Law, Sect.202, p.987).

Government licenses are diametrically opposed to the “laws of nature and of nature’s God”; and, a criminal defilement against the individual sovereign with inalienable rights. A license is: “A right given by some competent authority to do an act, which without such authority would be illegal” (Bouvier’s Law Dictionary) “A personal privilege to do some particular act or series of acts ⋯ The permission by competent authority to do an act which, without such permission would be illegal, a trespass, a tort, or otherwise not allowable.” (Black’s Law Dictionary, 6th Edition) “The permission, by competent authority to do an act which without permission, would be illegal, a trespass, or a tort.” (People vs. Henderson, 218 NW.2d 2, 4).

A government license does NOT make an issue “legal”. A government license is a purchased privilege to perform criminal acts without immediate threat of prosecution. Thus, the god/government license(s) creates a society of criminals. A god/government declares its self to be the competent authority over its chattel and declares such acts as the religious sacrament of marriage, acting in commerce, transporting one’s self, etc. to be illegal. One may only participate in such criminal activity if an appropriate government privilege (license) is purchased.

If the common people’s inalienable rights were attended to by the servants hired to do so, the laws of nature and of nature’s God would be taught, securing a preservation of liberty.