Comments on: Onwards, Jeffersonian Jacobites! http://larison.org/2006/07/19/onwards-jeffersonian-jacobites/ n. the principle of good order "Observe the strange inversion of all order and sense! Dignity debased; how vilely is the function of a consul prostituted!" ~The Craftsman Fri, 19 Mar 2010 05:23:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: Daniel Larison http://larison.org/2006/07/19/onwards-jeffersonian-jacobites/#comment-4317 Sun, 23 Jul 2006 18:55:55 +0000 http://larison.org/2006/07/19/onwards-jeffersonian-jacobites/#comment-4317 We can learn from both sides, though I think the general vision of the Federalists cannot hold much appeal for many traditional conservatives and libertarians, especially considering the consequences of consolidating as much power in Washington as they were able to do. There is a wise skepticism of popular government and an important concern for virtue in the polity among the Federalists that do make them conservatives of a kind, but their answer for how to ward off the dangers of popular rule is hardly one that we should want to embrace if we want to avoid centralised government. Adams' love of virtue is admirable, but it comports rather badly with Hamilton's system of built-in corruption, so the Jeffersonian alternative usually looks more desirable. In fact, Dr. Fleming spoke on Jefferson's views on education at the summer school and made a point of dismissing this claim that Jefferson was an apostle of public education, especially of the bureaucratised, state-run variety. Except for UVA, a state university, he envisioned a network of schools controlled and run at the local community level, which makes his vision rather different from the consolidated school districts and vested political interests of a public education establishment and bureaucracy. However, that being said, Jefferson in government was a libertarian's nightmare in his second term. His enforcement of the Embargo led him to abuse his powers in ways that Adams never considered trying. We can learn from both sides, though I think the general vision of the Federalists cannot hold much appeal for many traditional conservatives and libertarians, especially considering the consequences of consolidating as much power in Washington as they were able to do. There is a wise skepticism of popular government and an important concern for virtue in the polity among the Federalists that do make them conservatives of a kind, but their answer for how to ward off the dangers of popular rule is hardly one that we should want to embrace if we want to avoid centralised government. Adams’ love of virtue is admirable, but it comports rather badly with Hamilton’s system of built-in corruption, so the Jeffersonian alternative usually looks more desirable.

In fact, Dr. Fleming spoke on Jefferson’s views on education at the summer school and made a point of dismissing this claim that Jefferson was an apostle of public education, especially of the bureaucratised, state-run variety. Except for UVA, a state university, he envisioned a network of schools controlled and run at the local community level, which makes his vision rather different from the consolidated school districts and vested political interests of a public education establishment and bureaucracy. However, that being said, Jefferson in government was a libertarian’s nightmare in his second term. His enforcement of the Embargo led him to abuse his powers in ways that Adams never considered trying.

]]> by: Casey Khan http://larison.org/2006/07/19/onwards-jeffersonian-jacobites/#comment-4312 Fri, 21 Jul 2006 05:06:58 +0000 http://larison.org/2006/07/19/onwards-jeffersonian-jacobites/#comment-4312 I never liked the notion that Jefferson represents 'libertarianism' and the Federalists represented 'conservatism.' I think we can learn a tremendous amount from both sides of the early republic's debates. Likewise, I never understood the libertarian worship of Jefferson. Yes he was pretty good, but didn't he support public education as a means for lifting the masses out of squalor? In contrast, didn't Adams argue against public education in his Discourses on Davila (I wish I could find a cheap copy), saying it would turn science into some sort of religious orthodoxy? I always like to think that Adams's prophecy has come true in the current orthodoxy of evolutionism. Great blog you have. I never liked the notion that Jefferson represents ‘libertarianism’ and the Federalists represented ‘conservatism.’ I think we can learn a tremendous amount from both sides of the early republic’s debates.

Likewise, I never understood the libertarian worship of Jefferson. Yes he was pretty good, but didn’t he support public education as a means for lifting the masses out of squalor? In contrast, didn’t Adams argue against public education in his Discourses on Davila (I wish I could find a cheap copy), saying it would turn science into some sort of religious orthodoxy?

I always like to think that Adams’s prophecy has come true in the current orthodoxy of evolutionism.

Great blog you have.

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