Thomas Jefferson and The Idea of Responsibility.

In 1956, the United States Congress decided to change the motto on the Great Seal of the United States from e pluribus unum (out of many, one) to In God We Trust. Standing from where we are fifty-six years later that seemed like a catastrophic mistake.

The idea that as a whole, this nation, is greater than any one of its inhabitants is a platform with which one of the greatest societies this world has ever seen was founded. The motto which replaced it resonates profoundly within me. The idea that responsibility shall be removed from the masses and placed in the hands of an "omniscient being" thus removing any obligation from the people of the nation to steer its course is troubling.

Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves are its only safe depositories. - Thomas Jefferson

Of course, it is only a motto but if you begin to dissect the problems that have recently plagued the nation it becomes apparent one thing has been missing; responsibility. Responsibility to do what has been best for those after us, for those before us, and for us.

Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny. - Thomas Jefferson

It seems Thomas Jefferson understood at the onset of the Republic in this country that history shall always repeat itself. If anything has happened, that is ever apparent, is that a certain sense of patriotism is lacking from the current generation of not only the rule-makers but also the masses. Fortunately, the last two generations was not forced to earn their liberty with guns. The Revolution, the Civil War, The Spanish-American War, World War I and World War II were all explosively decisive wars that allowed a nation to rally behind a flag, an ideal, and a purpose. Since no single war America has taken place in had an evident affect on American people (with the late exception of the 9/11 attack). Therefore, I feel the current lack of apparent concern for America, as it was, is simply related to the fact that we have not earned this nation as those before us have and are then simply less attached to its overall success.

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

Change. Is Our Responsibility.

For those of you that try to remain current, like I try to do, on the happenings of the United States we are probably all too familiar with the the current laundry list of ailments that plague this nation. An outdated infrastructure, a trillion dollar deficit on top of our calamitous debt, a poorly regulated health care system, an elite that is growing wealthier, a middle-class that is growing poorer, an ongoing war in the graveyard of empires, a global climate issue which is approaching irreversible, a sensationalist media (and public), and a democratic system that I believe does not allow for our elected representatives to address these long-term issues.
I, probably like you, understand the enormous undertaking our generation is going to have to take to resolve at least a handful of these problems, but I, probably like you, have done very little, if anything to address them. We live in a generation of bloggers, talking heads, inter-connectivity to the highest extent, and in short, brevity (Twitter forces us to summarize our actions in 140 characters or less.) We can analyze and discuss until we are blue in the face but what does that change? I don't have the answers to any of these great questions but I'm positive that we do. I don't have any of the solutions to these great problems, but I"m sure one of us will.
Last November I drove to the Obamapalooza rally in Grant Park. Grown men hugged, elderly women cried, college students sang and danced, and we were excited. I think we realized, far too quickly, that one person, one name, one hope cannot change a system two centuries old, but we can. This great nation is ours to inherit, but so are the problems.