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July 25, 2003
i found an interesting quote
by one of our founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson:
Every constitution…, and every law, naturally expires at the end of 19 years [a generation]. If it be enforced longer, it is an act of force, and not of right.
Posted by crystallyn at July 25, 2003 08:16 AM
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Comments
I love T.J. The man was brilliant, just.. brilliant. His house is a work of true art- mixing usefulness and goofy scientific experiment with beauty and everyday household-ness.
Where are the T.J.s and Ben Franklins and John Adams' of our era?????
Posted by: Shanna at July 25, 2003 07:24 PM
Taken in the context of his other writings, it would be a stretch, IMHO, to think he meant this applied to the Bill of Rights. I have a tough time imagining he felt there should be a sunset clause on free speech.
Posted by: chriz at July 26, 2003 12:26 AM
Jefferson was also the President who passed the Alien & Sedition Acts.
Almost as ironic as liberating the Iraqis while Ashcroft is our Attorney General.
Posted by: boondogle at July 26, 2003 12:51 AM
The Alien & Sedition Act only made it illegal to knowingly publish falsehoods about the government in an attempt to bring it down, and made it illegal to violently riot. If you have to have laws at all, aren't those the sensible kind?
Oh, and he also explicitly said it should be in effect for only 3 years, which jives with the spirit of this post.
(http://www.law.ou.edu/hist/sedact.html)
Posted by: chriz at July 26, 2003 11:04 AM