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The following stories have received the most reader comments during the last 7 days.
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- President Obama's first year (67)
- Lodi Unified School District president issues warning to speakers over cuts (64)
- Local business leaders say tourism, Costco, Home Depot may play roles in city's future (60)
- Islamic symbol in mosaic — what is all the fuss? (49)
- Writer comments on Neely column (42)
- Many reject the politics of 'no' (42)
- The Home Depot hopes to join Costco at Reynolds Ranch (41)
- Police: Train victim was a Lodi teen (31)
- Time to shed the convenient sham of 'Don't ask, don't tell' policy (31)
Writer ponders words of Thomas Jefferson
I just received a copy of a series of quotes from one of our Founding Fathers. It hits home so accurately about our present times that I felt most of you would find it interesting and thought-provoking.
These quotes were made by Thomas Jefferson in 1802 and are still pretty true today.
"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not." (One of Obama's strongest beliefs.)
"It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes." (I could add, "and not expect your children to pay if for the rest of their lives." Sound like someone you know?)
"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them."
"My reading of History convinces me that most bad government results from too much government." (Meaning, government not owning most of the industry in the nation.)
"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms."
"The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government."
"To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyranny."
Thomas Jefferson further said in 1802: "I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation and them by deflation, the banks and the 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 ... "
This sounds like the tremendous number of foreclosures that are still going on in America today.
Sam West
Acampo

Reader Feedback
uncle stinky wrote on Sep 14, 2009 8:15 PM:
Gator wrote on Sep 14, 2009 6:51 PM:
Lodian wrote on Sep 14, 2009 1:33 PM:
So, conservatives never want their cake and eat it too? lol!
Oh boy... where to start! "
Gator wrote on Sep 13, 2009 7:34 PM:
Bob Hussein Loblaw wrote on Sep 13, 2009 11:24 AM:
Brian wrote on Sep 13, 2009 9:22 AM:
" wait, brian, is has he "made no bones" or has he lied and not been upfront? you can't have it both ways, especially in the same paragraph. "
Yes Jeff,
Conservatives are far more likely
to admit that they shouldn't want their cake and eat it too than liberals. "
Gator wrote on Sep 12, 2009 4:16 PM:
the Government into a tyranny. What I see is the Republican party said
the Democrats screwed over Bush Now it’s our turn.. We give it back in
spades…You know it’s to bad they don’t Tar and feather anymore.. There
are a lot on both sides that need a good long dip. Just might remind them
they work for us not the other way around…. "
jeff wrote on Sep 12, 2009 2:42 PM:
jeff wrote on Sep 12, 2009 2:39 PM:
Brian wrote on Sep 12, 2009 10:07 AM:
" Sparky, you and your ultra right nut job friends would have been using these labels regardless of what Democrat won the election.
-Not so fast. I may not agree with many of Hillary's policies. But one thing is for sure. She's almost always been very up front about her agenda. Unlike Obama.
Now, is any politician never a tyrant?
Perhaps not. And, has Obama made no bones about transforming this government into a tyranny? Indeed. "
Brian wrote on Sep 12, 2009 9:54 AM:
When did you come to the realization that it was inevitable that a dictator
would be elected President here? "
Brian wrote on Sep 12, 2009 9:51 AM:
You are just sore losers who can't stand the democratic process.
-This isn't the first time a democratic process has lead to the election of a dictator. It's just the first it has happened in the U.S. "
Brian wrote on Sep 12, 2009 9:47 AM:
I am just a concerned American that believes in the constitution.
-But this won't keep Lodian and Leonard from implying
that anyone who didn't vote for Obama couldn't possibly be a concerned American that believes in the constitution. "
Brian wrote on Sep 12, 2009 9:33 AM:
You can't convince Lodian and others like her that Obama lies. Perhaps there may be a rare moment they might admit he lies. But they will just blame Bush
for Obama's lies. "
sparky595 wrote on Sep 12, 2009 6:43 AM:
Lodian wrote on Sep 11, 2009 11:42 PM:
It sounds like you need a dose of an opposing view more often. You seem so entrenched in your Fox news and radio entertainers that you freak out here at anyone that disagrees with you, just like those radio entertainers. Take a breath of fresh air. Maybe you should try to tune in to another station and listen to other viewpoints. Then, think for yourself. "
sparky595 wrote on Sep 11, 2009 2:42 PM:
sparky595 wrote on Sep 11, 2009 2:40 PM:
Lodian wrote on Sep 11, 2009 10:43 AM:
sparky595 wrote on Sep 8, 2009 10:27 PM:
People that consider themselves to be:
conservative: 40%
liberal: 21% "
sparky595 wrote on Sep 8, 2009 4:10 PM:
Gator wrote on Sep 7, 2009 10:16 PM:
Is Centrist. I don’t need an entertainer to tell me how to think. I do fine
On my own. I can read and I can use my brain…Conventional Wisdom
Says Limbaugh cost Bush #1 his second term and he hurt McCain big time.
Look at it this way, this is the only Job he’s never failed at. He’s a rotund womanizer and an ex oxycotin junkie ?? And people want to put him on
an Ivory tower. Go figure… "
Gator wrote on Sep 7, 2009 10:01 PM:
Specified that by using the site, consumers agreed that their computers would be considered US Government Property…. Absolutely False
Snopes.com, Monday, 07 September 2009 11:17:02 GMT. "
sparky595 wrote on Sep 7, 2009 1:23 PM:
If you take away the Limbaugh, Beck, Hannity, and Mark Levin, you are left with a liberal based media that does not report ANY opposition to this government. Is that what you want? A government run media that only tells you what THEY want you to know? Liberal or conservative, don't you want the ability to see both sides of every issue, especially ones that affect the entire country?
Gator, you call Beck an idiot. Can you tell me one thing that he has reported that is false or a lie? I don't want you to say what you disagree with (we do all have the right to disagree). But tell me a lie or non-fact that he has said. "
Gator wrote on Sep 7, 2009 7:55 AM:
administration and tossed it out, simple.. Now times are hard and will stay
that way for the near future. People are watching Obama and the bloom
Is off the Rose. The mid-term elections will be very telling. The Republicans had best get some leadership going if they ever hope to get
back in power. First and foremost they need to listen to the American people
and not Idiots like Limbaugh and Glen Beck…They have really done some
Damage to the Party. Sure they have their audience but their blathering
Doesn’t sit well with mainstream America…Time will tell… "
Leonard wrote on Sep 6, 2009 8:40 PM:
You are just sore losers who can't stand the democratic process. "
sparky595 wrote on Sep 6, 2009 7:02 PM:
Leonard wrote on Sep 6, 2009 5:37 AM:
" Those who believe in the politics of Marxism have gained control in the United States of America.
Gee, and just five years ago it looked like those who believe in the politics off fascism had it all tied up. "
anthropis wrote on Sep 5, 2009 9:01 PM:
anthropis wrote on Sep 5, 2009 9:00 PM:
Gator wrote on Sep 5, 2009 5:05 PM:
Warrior4Life wrote on Sep 5, 2009 8:39 AM:
and the pendulum will rest finally in the middle." --Thomas
Jefferson to Samuel Smith, 1788.
"It will be said that great societies cannot exist without
government." --Thomas Jefferson: Notes on Virginia, 1782.
Sound confusing or political and definitely from the time and era from which he spoke?
Focus, focus. Everyone look down; if you see two feet; Start thinking on them. "
kota wrote on Sep 5, 2009 8:19 AM:
kota wrote on Sep 5, 2009 8:03 AM:
voter wrote on Sep 5, 2009 7:44 AM:
http://www.snopes.com/quotes/jefferson/banks.asp
Wikipedia is created by posters. There is no one fact checking what is posted. "
16925 wrote on Sep 5, 2009 7:30 AM:
16925 wrote on Sep 5, 2009 7:28 AM:
Thomas Jefferson, Letter to the Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin (1802)
3rd president of US (1743 – 1826)
These are the words from one of the most influential presidents to ever serve “our country” in the White House and one of the authors of the declaration of independence.
From wikipedia; "
voter wrote on Sep 5, 2009 7:13 AM:
Warrior4Life wrote on Sep 5, 2009 5:51 AM:
I'd like to Thank you Sam. For a minute there I had to check my calendar. Yep, it's 2009 alright. First thought came to mind was to question exactly what was going on in 1802 in order for Jefferson to say such things?? I was waiting for the quote that says, "All that I have just said will occur in 2009-12." Whew, you had me scared for a minute there. Eerie is using quotes from someone in 1802; comparing them to current events and believing them as though Jefferson was some sort of prophet who would predict the times we live in now. We can barely stay up on what's going on in the here and now w/o bustin a blood vessel; Let's try to focus here. It is 2009. Really it is. "
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