[Ibon]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Cog', 'J')efferson would be of two minds if we brought him into the 21st century. He would be amazed, and I believe well-pleased, at the access to food and technology that even the least of the citizenry has access to. That was not the case in his time. He would also be appalled at the cost, in the terms of governmental interference in our lives, that permitted that to happen.

[onlooker]

thomas_jefferson_quote.jpg

Above all Jefferson would have noticed , what he warned about. The corrupting power of money and Banks

[Cog]

Jefferson was not anti-profit so he would have appreciated how corporations work to return profits to its investors through dividends and stock appreciation. And he would have appreciated the sheer size of corporations and how many people are employed by them. Jefferson really did not like power residing in a federalist type of governance and railed against it constantly.

[Ibon]

Just had two Texans here at Totumas, very interesting folks, quite well off, looking to move and retire down here to Panama, they were ranting about America being over regulated and insane culturally. I found them interesting because I could not put them in a box. We had some lively conversations and they echoed some of the things being said here on this site. Among their opinions they shared:

1) They voted for Trump
2) They despise religious people in Texas who they say are all hypocrites.
3) They are pro abortion and contraception and against closing down Planned Parenthood. They believe people of color are having kids just to get on the public dole and collect welfare.
4) They are without children and in their early 50"s
5) They believe both parties are rigged with lobbyists.
6) They believe that Clinton is the most corrupt politician of their lifetimes and viscerally despise her.
7) They sincerely believe that Trump will drain the swamp and dismantle all the lobbyists.
8 ) Their neighbors who they hardly know think they are freaks for wanting to leave the USA
9) They believe the health care industry is a big fraud that wants to keep people permanently sick and on long term medication and that doctors are bought off by the pharmaceutical industry.
10) They believe corporations have much to much power and represent the 4th branch of government.
11) They believe Americans are deadened by non stop advertisements.
12) They want the wall built along the mexican border and support Trump in not allowing muslims in the country.

They had views that did not fit fully in either of the polarized parties. I thought they were kind of fascinating frankly even though I did not share in some of their views.