“Agriculture, manufacturers, commerce, and navigation, the four pillars of our prosperity, are then most thriving when left most free to individual enterprise.”

The alien theocratic statism that infests the US is a huge example of the quote's accuracy.

Theocratic Statism? Where in the world are you talking about Mike? Iran maybe, US no. Forsaking God, the 10 bill of rights and individual freedom for Athiesm, the 10 planks of the communist manifesto, and economic slavery is what ails America

Alien statism is exactly what the underlying problem is. The aliens being European based bankers, The statism manifesting itself as economic fascism, combined with laws of control (not justice), crippling taxation and a beakdown of all things moral. The new America stands for nothing more than sheep like consumerism by people who's education is marginal at best. A huge change is required.

Mike and J Carlton, full agreement from me.

Howard, applied Atheism is a religion. Hitler, Lenin, Mao, etc. etc. caused more death, pain and destruction in the 20th Century in pursuit of their atheistic utopia than any other religious pursuit in history. As there are theistic religions many, so the divisions in anti-theistic (atheism) sects are many. The cannons of the current atheistic horde that is killing the U.S. / world embellishes your referenced 10 planks, have a faith based belief in how life started, how man came to be, a definite caste system, etc. Religion is "Real piety in practice, consisting in the performance of all known duties to . . . our fellow men: (Bouvier's Law Dictionary) The atheistic (as declared: "this is not a Christian, etc. nation) fellowship now infesting this nation fully believes in enslaving the masses for the betterment of the elite clergy (bankers, and certain elite others) as a duty to humanity. Atheists have used well Article 6, Section 3, of the Constitution that declares that "no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office, or public trust under the United States". Thus, now, the beyond laws of nature and nature's God and/or positive law, canonized ordinances, rules and regulations define the extra Constitutional theocracy. Statism was made certain when the Warren court declared the new U.S. had inherent rights - ultimately saying that the government was no longer a representative of the people but a stand alone organic person. Multiple court decisions (I have here stated 10s if not more) have declared that the occupying government has no responsibility or liability to We The People. Many traditions continue to fool the people, such as voting, as We The People now only vote for our slave masters, not our representatives.

I believe that this quote means that when the government interferes with the free market, the economy goes straight downhill, like it is doing now.

I always felt that Jefferson was our greatest president. "The government that rules the least, rules the best!"

To me, the key word here is "individual". He does not state "corporate", which perhaps wasn't a concern at the time. We now have corporate control of all those areas, including agriculture while they play genetic manufacturing with our food supply. Most everything is under the control of (what? four main mega-corporations) a very few. That has removed competition and true choice away from the consumers. Manufacturing is for the most part gone from this country because corporations have moved where they get cheaper labor, and fewer controls. (No cost for polluting other countries in making profits.) If we could re-establish real manufacturing in our United States to provide jobs it will be done by individuals or small groups of individuals. Do not depend on corporations and manufacturers overall to give back the job base. We learned to depend on corporations to provide jobs, not individuals and the quote to me references. We didn't listen, but let corporations get control.

This country needs another Thomas Jefferson.

Agriculture, manufacturing, commerce, and navigation are all absolutely under the thumb of federal agencies that have used their powers to corner the market for the most powerful corporations. The individual cannot compete with the billions corporations can spend. Recent bills through Congress will make gardening a regulated 'business' requiring permission and approval from bureaucrats and taxes for simply growing one's own food. Manufacturing has all but left the country because of unions, taxes and trade restrictions. In other words, control farming, manufacturing, trade, and transportation and you have taken control of the nation and everyone in it.

Beautiful quote and beautiful comments! Tell our senate to vote NO on S510!

This individual enterprise that this fellow refers becomes quite competitive leading to very aggressive strategies leaving this quote not well coordinated or examined. There must be an industry coordinating individual balancing factor incorporated into the environmental equation for appropriate development formulation to advance.