Hello Good People, if you're just tuning in, our guest today is an original "framer of the Constitution", and Founding Father, Thomas Jefferson.  I would like to thank you for giving us a little time from your busy schedule, so let's just jump right in and start the questions...

So, I know you watched the recent Presidential Elections, I'm sure you have heard the debate about all of Obama's records, not just his Birth Certificate, being sealed, what are you thoughts on that?

When a man assumes a public trust he should consider himself a public property

Right, right, the old 'Seek public office, lead a public life' thing.  You know, there is so much talk about the Second Amendment and exactly what you and the other Founding Fathers meant by it.  Can you just clarify the actual meaning for us?

For people who are free and mean to remain so, a well-organized and armed militia is their best security

No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms

The strongest reason for people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government

Wow, that is certainly a radical view-point in today's world.  I can see that you have some strong convictions when it comes to the people's Right to Power.

Every government degenerates when entrusted to the rulers of the people alone.  The people themselves are its only safe depositories

I can see from history, just how correct that statement is.  Let's change direction a little and talk about the recent Financial Crises in America, what are your thoughts on that?

Merchants have no country.  The mere spot they stand on does not constitute so strong an attachment as from which they draw their gains

So, what do you wish to see happen in the 'Big Business' sector?

I hope we shall crush in its birth, the aristocracy of monied Corporations which dare already to challenge our government to a trial of strength, and bid defiance to the laws of our country

You certainly don't hear that coming out of the modern politician's mouth.  Talking about modern Politics, what is your take on the new Health Care Reform Bill?

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

This wasn't an issue in your day, but what about the debate on funding Abortion, both in the Health care Bill and International aide?

To compel a man to furnish funds for the propagation of ideas he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical

Your take on the present Congress isn't a positive one then?

If the present Congress errs in too much talking, how can it be otherwise in a body to which the people send 150 lawyers whose trade it is to question everything, yield nothing, and talk by the hour

Yes, it would seem that 'We the People" have done it to ourselves.  I guess that is just one of the inherent problems with Democracy.

Experience has shown that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny

Okay, let's just go over some 'Hot Button' topics, real quick.  Give me a short and sweet answer to each one as I throw them out.

First, a lot of countries have mandatory military service.

Every citizen should be a soldier.  This was the case with the Greeks and Romans, and must be of every free state

What about the recent trend of religious oppression of Christianity?

I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that his justice cannot sleep forever

Education?

If a nation expects to be ignorant and free in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never shall be

I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them but to inform their discretion

Educate and inform the whole mass of people...they are the only sure reliance for the preservation of Liberty

Definitely food-for-thought, so where do you see America heading?

Our country is now taking so steady a course as to show by what road it will pass to destruction, to wit: by consolidation of power first, and then corruption, its necessary consequence

And, what would you do about that?

I have sworn on the Altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man

Well, thank God that we still have people of conviction, like you, still around today.  Any final thoughts you would like to leave Americans?

It behooves every man who values liberty of conscience for himself, to resist invasions of it in the case of others; or their case may, by change of circumstance, become his own

Leave no authority existing not responsible to the people

Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within the limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others.  I do not add "within the limits of the law" because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual"

I want to thank you once again for taking the time to chat with us today.  I'm sure you have given many Americans a lot of things to consider.  We have been talking with one of our Founding Fathers, Thomas Jefferson, make sure to check him out on the Web or in any Public Library.

Well that's all the time we have, we'll see you next week for our interview with Mahatma Ghandi.  Yall have a good day and take care!