Comments on: The Fairness Doctrine or Freedom for Some http://morewhat.com/wordpress/the-fairness-doctrine-or-freedom-for-some/ To build consensus on issues Thu, 24 May 2012 10:44:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.3 by: Stanford Matthews http://morewhat.com/wordpress/the-fairness-doctrine-or-freedom-for-some/#comment-19544 Wed, 19 Nov 2008 05:01:16 +0000 http://morewhat.com/wordpress/the-fairness-doctrine-or-freedom-for-some/#comment-19544 I have always longed for time to read serious literature. While I'm not sure if reading about the founders and other historical figures should be included, it certainly is serious literature to me. So between classic authors and the ones who allow me the freedom to read, etc., I have a big list and no time to get to it. But these discussions and a little more luck in the personal life and I will make time for it. After all, I don't want any more regrets from procrastination then I aready have. Ya, Jefferson seems to have had some quirks. I think that is attraction for me beyond his obvious contributions and personal drive. I have always longed for time to read serious literature. While I’m not sure if reading about the founders and other historical figures should be included, it certainly is serious literature to me. So between classic authors and the ones who allow me the freedom to read, etc., I have a big list and no time to get to it.

But these discussions and a little more luck in the personal life and I will make time for it. After all, I don’t want any more regrets from procrastination then I aready have.

Ya, Jefferson seems to have had some quirks. I think that is attraction for me beyond his obvious contributions and personal drive.

]]> by: Perri Nelson http://morewhat.com/wordpress/the-fairness-doctrine-or-freedom-for-some/#comment-19528 Tue, 18 Nov 2008 21:45:58 +0000 http://morewhat.com/wordpress/the-fairness-doctrine-or-freedom-for-some/#comment-19528 Well, I would think that he was viewed in a similar way by his contemporaries to those in public life today. The Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans were as ideologically opposed to one another as Democrats and Republicans are today. Jefferson, and all of the founders are deserving of high praise because of the system they put in place, and for securing our liberties. At the same time, every one of them had their flaws, just as every man today does. I find that I like the philosophies of John Adams better than those of Thomas Jefferson. I also prefer the accomplishments of Alexander Hamilton during the revolution and the constitutional convention to his actions following the ratification of the Constitution. I think that Thomas Jefferson would actually be quite comfortable as a modern day Democrat more than he would a modern day Republican. On the other hand, I think he was a lot more balanced in his outlook than modern Democrats. He particularly believed in the notion of individual liberty, but his life was full of contradictions more than that of most of the other founders. At least that's the impression I get from what little reading about him that I've done. I plan to rectify that sometime in the near future. Most likely after a thorough reading of Locke, Burke and Rousseau (the last for a more "socialist" take on rights). Well, I would think that he was viewed in a similar way by his contemporaries to those in public life today. The Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans were as ideologically opposed to one another as Democrats and Republicans are today.

Jefferson, and all of the founders are deserving of high praise because of the system they put in place, and for securing our liberties. At the same time, every one of them had their flaws, just as every man today does. I find that I like the philosophies of John Adams better than those of Thomas Jefferson. I also prefer the accomplishments of Alexander Hamilton during the revolution and the constitutional convention to his actions following the ratification of the Constitution.

I think that Thomas Jefferson would actually be quite comfortable as a modern day Democrat more than he would a modern day Republican. On the other hand, I think he was a lot more balanced in his outlook than modern Democrats. He particularly believed in the notion of individual liberty, but his life was full of contradictions more than that of most of the other founders. At least that’s the impression I get from what little reading about him that I’ve done.

I plan to rectify that sometime in the near future. Most likely after a thorough reading of Locke, Burke and Rousseau (the last for a more “socialist” take on rights).

]]> by: Stanford Matthews http://morewhat.com/wordpress/the-fairness-doctrine-or-freedom-for-some/#comment-19526 Tue, 18 Nov 2008 20:23:42 +0000 http://morewhat.com/wordpress/the-fairness-doctrine-or-freedom-for-some/#comment-19526 I reviewed a list of his quotes which of course included the one about a revolution every generation or so. I found that a little troubling only because revolutions seem a risky proposition even for those with good intentions. Maybe he was feeling a bit lucky with the way the last one worked out. It is true for all the high praise bestowed upon Jefferson he did like most of us possess certain attributes not typically viewed favorably. I can only hope that this is part of the reason for his popularity in that his characteristics were quite human. All that and a successful founder too. Could it be he was viewed no differently by his contemporaries than those in public life today? I reviewed a list of his quotes which of course included the one about a revolution every generation or so. I found that a little troubling only because revolutions seem a risky proposition even for those with good intentions. Maybe he was feeling a bit lucky with the way the last one worked out.

It is true for all the high praise bestowed upon Jefferson he did like most of us possess certain attributes not typically viewed favorably. I can only hope that this is part of the reason for his popularity in that his characteristics were quite human.

All that and a successful founder too. Could it be he was viewed no differently by his contemporaries than those in public life today?

]]> by: Perri Nelson http://morewhat.com/wordpress/the-fairness-doctrine-or-freedom-for-some/#comment-19522 Tue, 18 Nov 2008 18:49:34 +0000 http://morewhat.com/wordpress/the-fairness-doctrine-or-freedom-for-some/#comment-19522 The master at manipulating the press and introducing the "malignity of party spirit" that Jefferson despised as well as one of the originators of "The Politics of Personal Destruction" was Alexander Hamilton. He fought to undermine Jefferson, and most notably Adams (from his own party) as well. But Thomas Jefferson was hardly innocent of using the press to incite the "malignity of party spirit." He also used the press and his relationships with several editors maliciously against John Adams throughout Adams' presidency. He actively worked (through surrogates) against the Presidency of George Washington (largely due to Hamilton's presence in the Cabinet) and John Adams. His "discovery" of their malign, vulgar, and mendacious spirit might have had something to do with turnabout, especially when the Sally Hemmings affair made the news (published by one of his former allies in the press against John Adams). Thomas Jefferson probably would have been comfortable with today's political schisms. He was a strong believer in the principles underlying the French Revolution and actually looked forward to a new American revolution every generation. He would be among the first to oppose the Fairness (censorship) Doctrine. He certainly opposed the Alien and Sedition acts signed into law by Adams, under which some of his friends in the press were arrested. I also imagine that Jefferson's understanding of how easily the press could be manipulated even without resorting to government coercion might have had something to do with his not reading newspapers. The master at manipulating the press and introducing the “malignity of party spirit” that Jefferson despised as well as one of the originators of “The Politics of Personal Destruction” was Alexander Hamilton. He fought to undermine Jefferson, and most notably Adams (from his own party) as well. But Thomas Jefferson was hardly innocent of using the press to incite the “malignity of party spirit.” He also used the press and his relationships with several editors maliciously against John Adams throughout Adams’ presidency.

He actively worked (through surrogates) against the Presidency of George Washington (largely due to Hamilton’s presence in the Cabinet) and John Adams. His “discovery” of their malign, vulgar, and mendacious spirit might have had something to do with turnabout, especially when the Sally Hemmings affair made the news (published by one of his former allies in the press against John Adams).

Thomas Jefferson probably would have been comfortable with today’s political schisms. He was a strong believer in the principles underlying the French Revolution and actually looked forward to a new American revolution every generation. He would be among the first to oppose the Fairness (censorship) Doctrine. He certainly opposed the Alien and Sedition acts signed into law by Adams, under which some of his friends in the press were arrested.

I also imagine that Jefferson’s understanding of how easily the press could be manipulated even without resorting to government coercion might have had something to do with his not reading newspapers.

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