March 17, 2005 -- Thomas Jefferson considered it self-evident that when the people are denied voice and the right to control their own government, the result is despotism, "a society of wolves ruling over sheep." This belief made Jefferson especially disgusted with Kings named George and he shared his views with several of his friends. Any applicability of these comments to George W. Bush and his neoconservative ministers is coincidentally intentional.

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"The lunacy of the King of England is a decided fact" (to Washington, 1788). He "is rather remarkable for doing exactly what he ought not to do" (to Dr. Ramsey, 1787).

"The totality of his education was the learning a little Latin" [e.g., "Mexican"]. "He has not a single element of mathematics, of natural or moral philosophy, or any other science on earth, nor has the society he has kept been such as to supply the void of education."

"He never associated with a man of sense. He has not a single idea of justice, morality, ... or the rights of men, or any anxiety for the opinion of the world. He has a fine person, but it is becoming coarse. He is affable, polite and very good humored" (to J. Jay, 1789).

Accordingly, "He is only stupid; and his ministers, however weak and profligate in morals, are ephemeral. But his nation is permanent, and it is that which is the tyrant of the ocean. The principle that force is right, is become the principle of the nation itself" (to Rodney, 1820).

"So much for the blessings of having Kings, and magistrates who would be Kings. From these events our young Republic may learn useful lessons ... to prevent their citizens from becoming so established in wealth and power" and "to besiege the throne of heaven with eternal prayers, to extirpate from creation this class of human lions, tigers, and mammoths called Kings; from whom, let him perish who does not say, 'Good Lord deliver us'" (to Humphries, 1787).

"And so endeth the Book of Kings."

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Saul K. Padover (ed), Thomas Jefferson on Democracy Thomas Jefferson on Democracy, D. Appleton-Century, Inc., NY, 1939.

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Dr. Lower can be reached at: tisland@blackhills.com.

Biography and more articles by Dr. Gerry Lower