Why would Jefferson be a Democrat?

Question

I was troubled when people, in another question, thought Jefferson would be a democrat. Are people really that clueless when it comes to American politics and history? Let's examine some of Jefferson's more famous ideas -

He said the following in his first inaugural address

"With all these blessings, what more is necessary to make us a happy and prosperous people? Still one thing more, fellow citizens -- a wise and frugal government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, which shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government, and this is necessary to close the circle of our felicities."

In short, Jefferson believed Government's job is to prevent people from harming one another. Can you tell me where social programs and welfare fit into that? Where he says Gov't should not take bread from the mouth of labor the bread it h

Answer 1

Jefferson believed that the USA should be an agrarian society.   How on earth could you call the current administration a wise or frugal government?   The major tax cuts were for the most wealthy of the population and did little for the common working family.   We are in a war based on lies that has almost depleted the country.   We are in an economic crisis because of the Bush policies.   I definately believe that Jefferson,  being the wise man that he was would be a Democrat.   The Republican policies of the last 8 years would be a travesty to him or any of the founding fathers.   Besides that,  we have a president that calls our constitution,   the one that soldiers die to uphold and defend,  a God dmmmmed piece of paper.    

As far as social programs go,  the administration showed what it thought of the regular citzens when it let the people in New Orleans wait for help for days as Bush played his air guitar and partied and Condi shopped for shoes.   It reminds me of Nero fiddling while Rome burned.   Jefferson is turning over in his grave at the antics of Bush and the Republican party.

Answer 2

This question, like many others, needs to be considered in light of the times. When Jefferson lived, more than 90% of people lived on their own small farm, raising animals, growing crops and a house garden. There simply was not way for any of the social programs advocated by FDR!

But, to answer your question re Jefferson being a Democrat, those who historically trace such things claimed he was of the political party from which the Democrat party stemmed.

But, consider: while the Constitution, the Preamble, the Declaration of Independence ALL invoke God, Jefferson was an atheist and advocated "separation of church and state", which is the Democrats mantra.

He held slaves, advocated slavery as "states' rights" (another Democrats viewpoint) AND had children by a black woman (hypocrisy, another Democrats widely held view).

For more proof, remember that Jefferson was an Extreme Left-Wing Liberal.

Answer 3

oddly enough Jefferson was one of the first to speak out against political parties, and warned us not to be controlled by a 2 party system

they, of course, he formed the first political party ... called the Federalist party

Answer 4

Four things to consider on this issue:

1. What it meant to be a "Democrat" between 1780 and 1860 and what it means today is completely different. In that sense, you are right on.

2. The same argument you are making can easily be turned around on Conservatives as well. For example, Thomas Jefferson strongly opposed executive privilege, something that Bush has used effectively to wage an otherwise illegal war. Hmm...

3. There is a little thing called context that both you AND Democrats seem to forget about when whipping out history for your propaganda. A good example? Gun "rights." The second amendment was clearly written in a certain context. Within that context we needed a militia to protect us from foreign invasion. Within that context automatic weapons and hand guns that are easily used to murder and steal did not exist. Considering that in the present we have a strong army and law enforcement to protect us, one does not need Jefferson to defend gun control, just a little common sense.

4. 99% of people who whip out the founding fathers, Republican and Democrat alike, have never even read their writings. Their letters, the Federalist debate, Congressional records, etc. were all published and are available to the public even today. I am willing to bet you're not in the 1% who has actually studied these writings. Otherwise you could answer your own rant, I mean question.

I'm no Democrat. But the only thing I can think of that is worse than them are self-righteous Republicans.

Answer 5

Jefferson was the founder of the Democrat Party (at the time, they were called the Republican Party, but Jackson renamed them).

Obviously, Jefferson would not be a Republican as he was strongly in favor of Separation of Church and State.  He successfully fought with Madison to disestablish the Church of Virginia and to stop Patrick Henry's Church Tax.  He also was not a Christian in any conventional sense (he did not believe in the trinity, virgin birth, resurrection, or in the accuracy of any parts of the Bible other than the portions of the gospels that he included in the Jefferson Bible)

Jefferson was a left-libertarian.  He was anti-slavery, opposed big business (which he understood could only come about through government intervention; obviously Jefferson and the Jeffersonians were pro-free market), and was in favor of free market environmentalism (which is what Ron Paul advocates for environmental policy).  However, Jefferson was also pro-open borders (as was Ron Paul in 1988).

Obviously, in Jefferson's day, the Bill of Rights was not yet incorporated to the states (unfortunately, some right-libertarians still pretend that the 14th Amendment doesn't exist), but Jefferson mainly advocated states' rights in defense of the Bill of Rights (the Kentucky and Virginia resolutions which flip-flopping hypocrite Patrick Henry condemned were resolutions nullifying the anti-free speech Sedition Act and anti-immigration Alien Act).

Obviously, Jefferson and other Founders supported the 2nd Amendment not solely because guns are good for self-defense or for defense against an invader, but because firearms ownership protected the right to revolution (that is, the right to overthrow the government).  This is not something that today's Democrats or Republicans want to talk about.

Answer 6

I'd say that from the quotes and writings that I know of, he'd be closest to a Libertarian.  By no means would he agree with  democratic economic policy, though some would question if he'd have the religious conviction of Today's republicans--given his views on religion.  His view on a small government puts him much closer to a conservatism that seems absent from either of today's large parties--the only current contender that seems to echo a fraction of Jefferson's ideology would be Ron Paul, in my opinion.