A Nation in Debate: Thomas Jefferson vs. Alexander Hamilton

[OAOTV]

Fianancial bonds enduced by premature factors in the economy cause flauxes of revenue to be pushed threw the lower class, this causes an imbalance to the teytrotannicall diagram by robert s. ednoir, from this point, our economys contraction of debt in the "banker plan" format encourage more bonds by the federal government with forign liabilitys, this is not decay, as stated, repealing acts of centrallized power, and fractional reserve allow taxes to overpopulate the state = world peace -OAOTV-

[augustuslxiii]

Trash cans as podiums? Our national debt is even worse than we feared.

[phantomsuccour]

I'm with Hamilton!

[tonyteb]

im with jefferson

[bishop679]

all the comments are replies...

[ToxicOdiousOne]

Alexander Hamilton wanted a centralized bank, i.e. the Federal Reserve. Ever since we've had recessions and depressions. It has caused all major economic woes.

[JeffreyMLicano11]

@ToxicOdiousOne So true so true, they were both to far on 1 side.

[TylerHinds]

@ToxicOdiousOne Hamilton's was government owned and accountable to the people though. It was a much better system than the Federal Reserve is.

[TylerHinds]

@TylerHinds At least I think that is how it is diferent. I know it was much different from the Federal Reserve though.

[bonfirejovi]

@TylerHinds The Federal Reserve would have made the exact same decisions, had it been owned by congress. Congress would have shifted the Tech bubble to the Housing bubble.

[TylerHinds]

@bonfirejovi I can't take anyone who doesn't believe in the need for a central bank seriously, sorry bud, but you are an extremist.

[TylerHinds]

@bonfirejovi Read Friedman, he explains monetary policy better than I do. We need a Fed, but it needs to be monetarist in its approach.

[bolognamof]

@TylerHinds Friedman was not even a real libertarian. He had relatively good fiscal policy but his monetary policy is atrocious. You need to read Rothbard or Hayek! Those are men who understand monetary policy. You said in an earlier comment that you can't take anyone who doesn't believe in the need for a central bank seriously and that it is extreme. This proves your lack of understanding that it is really your position that is the extreme one. Central Banks are the ultimate economy destroyer!

[TylerHinds]

@ToxicOdiousOne We wouldn't have had those with out a central bank? That sounds like scapegoating, I think it is more complex than that.

[Austamala]

@ToxicOdiousOne that's not his fault. We people need to realize that we can't use views that don't fit the time. Hamilton's ideas were good ones back then but an awful idea today. we need different plans for different times in government.

[bretw]

@ToxicOdiousOne Really, buddy? It literally erased our war debts, gave us lasting economic prosperity and gave us international recognition. Under Hamilton's influence the Federal Reserve was perfectly managed (as any economic historian will tell you). Thanks for the knee-jerk reaction, though. That's clearly what we need.

[Willredd94]

@ToxicOdiousOne The Federal Reserve was actually originally decentralized and we've had a central bank for almost all of American history with the major exception of the late 1830s, when, as a result, the banking system collapsed and a panic immediately followed. The fed certainly needs to be reformed and and the banking system should return to Hamilton's version as it was for the first 30 years of american history.

[heatherxheather]

I would now like each of you to make a brief concluding statement explaining why a canidate from your party should be elected president in 1800.

Hamilton:[Makes concluding statement in which he outlines the reasons that a Federalist should be elected president in 1800.]

Jefferson:[Makes concluding statement in which he outlines the reasons that a Republican should be elected president in 1800.]

[Sakamachi25]

audio fail

[drudge20]

Bush is a Hamilton man. Controlled by the currpt Federal reserve bankers. Taking away all freedom to the people,war and nation building and finacially running the country into the ground. Jefferson believe in the constitution that protect all men from a fed gov.

[dailyshowfan1]

i love how the use garbage cans

[Big1984Brother]

Haha! That was the first thing I noticed.

[BottleCapsound]

lol

[aswightman]

Pussy chika - it sounds like you are getting your education from CNN university. The Federal Reserve has only contributed to major financial collpases - especially the great depression - since it was created. The mess you are seeing now the the global markets isn't the result of this "unfettered capitalism, which doesn't exist, it is created from teh manipulation of interest rates, and the Federal reserve giving huge subsides to fannie mae and freedie mac thus insulating them from the market

[aswightman]

actually - federalism means that the states and federal governmenta are both equal - none being subordinate to the other. It was called dual federalism. Don't federalism for the failures of American politicians.

[aswightman]

Anyone who correlates Hamilton with freedom simply doesn't understand American history - he was against free speech, state rights, and was for creating a monarchy with a King in America. He wanted to create a basic military aristocracy with George Washington as the king. Tsk Tsk Americans, do you not know your history - because if you are for your Constitution and democracy, Hamilton would be like the devil

[Pussychka]

Well, neither of them are (were) wrong, really; but they wanted diffent things. The central bank, the professional army, (and today the CIA, FBI, etc) are things that strengthen the state. The state becomes more powerfull, and is better able to deal with outside threats. Look how the FED managed to prevent a larger economic crisis after 9/11. However, Jefferson was more concerned about the internal threats to liberty; he feared the future would destroy the liberty of the U.S. citizens, and well.

[TMuney32]

look at the desk things they are trash cans

[Wizjkahna]

Hamilton is the man!!! Hey Jefferson, go back home to your slave plantation at Monticello! "All men are created equal"...my ass.

[burnjericho]

Actually, Jefferson was very conflicted about slavery. He fought for bills stopping the importation of slaves and actually condemned slavery in the original draft of the Declaration of Independence. He did, however, hold the belief - common at the time - that blacks were inferior to whites. He kept slaves because he was afraid of what would happen were they freed. Later in his life, in 1809, he retracted that belief and actually recommended emancipation.

[chetansingh2006]

Ideal of Thomas Jafferson for true democracy to succeed in America seems light years away as America is still reeling under Hamiltonian ugly head ( Bush and Chaney and Neo con)

[HapaLife]

@chetansingh2006

and now Obama

[Saraiiwuzhere]

Mmm...I actually agree with Hamilton more, based on what I know from history. Jefferson was idealistic, however many of his ideas just wouldn't have worked. Hamilton, prick or not (no matter how much I love the guy, I have to admit that much), was a financial genius. Plus, the Articles of Confederation that Jefferson wanted to keep in effect kept the national government paralyzed and unable to raise revenue or deal with crises. Hamilton recognized the need for a stronger national government.

[ghahandi]

@Saraiiwuzhere Jefferson saw clearly the danger of a central bank. He predicted the abuse & power we now witness in the Federal Reserve. Jefferson abhored debt. (He died in debt) You argue for a strong central government? You have one. Patriot Act and all. Jefferson would recoil in horror if he were alive today.

[Glenn666]

@Saraiiwuzhere The national government is necessary in times of war and for money, that's it. Hamilton killed us from the start.

[bonfirejovi]

@Saraiiwuzhere There is no "need" for a stronger central government. Decentralization is the best way to govern. Look at history's strongest central government such as Nazi Germany, the USSR, Communist China and you will find tyranny. There is no reason that a state the size of Texas or California cannot govern itself. Hamilton thought wealth depended on the amount of credit you had in the system which is why he would probably be proud of the Zimbabwe.

[Wolfsbane909]

@bonfirejovi show me a system that is free from tyranny? Besides this is all ancient history anyways, there's a reason he was a founding father, also history, which can't really be changed.

[TheMethadoneParty]

@Saraiiwuzhere ha ha you are wrong, anything the government touches it screws up royally. My proof?? We are what 14 trillion in debt today, yeah that's what centralized government gets you!! Jefferson was and is a GENIUS!!! With a Heart!! Hamilton was a greedy, power hungry fool.

[Jononutoob]

@Saraiiwuzhere Only a people unwilling to help each other would need a strong federal government to do the same. Jefferson may have been an idealist but ideals are far more important than survival or prosperity. Today we can see how sacrifices to remove fear and doubt have caused far more of both. Live free or die.... I guess too many Americans dont truly understand that idea. All Americans should be extremists of the constitution and founding morals/ideals.

[peyotero22]

right on jefferson!!! bit my ass hamleton (no affence to the actor)

[biped19]

Hamilton was, to use a technical term, a scumbag.hamilton rode on Washington's coattails and thus was able to secure a prominent position as Secretary of the Treasury after the revolutionary war.Soon after, hamilton wanted to immediately re-establish relation with Britain and adopt may of the monarchy's system of commerce, finance, and centralized power.hamilton was and elitist hobbesian monster.He was also an adulterer and sleep with the wives of many prominent officials, including Aaron Burr's

[ykhanian]

dude clean ur camera lens!!!

[Dumbell99]

Hamilton was a elitists monster! He wanted to limit speech,give us paper instead of gold AND a debt for us to be taxed on.

[halcroves]

Not true. He defended a free press in his last public speech; he defended habeas corpus in the Federalist Papers. As for the debt, it was the debt incurred during the Revolutionary War, and he just wanted all the states to share it, rather than penalizing those that, like Massachusetts, had suffered the most.

[Rustyshackleford08]

Hamilton had some good points but his policies are ruining us today..especially when it comes to banking and the lack of free speech...he said it himself.

[Gettinghitonattheban]

Sounds familiar....

[Rustyshackleford08]

Look what happened with the central government today right? Look at the Dollar. Neither men were perfect but I am liking Jefferson more.

[Nebularnemesis]

All the Anti-Federalists(Democrat-Repu­blicans)do is lie and slant the truth in their favor, that is why the Federalists dissappeared in 1820. They believed in virtue which is why they lost to evil men and a mislead public. When was the last time you heard a Democrat or Republican talk about virtue and mean it? Look at our wonderful police state. Anti-Federalists = Anti-Constitution(Anti-Liberty­).

[Harpakhrad11]

Constitution = Federalism = Central State = Ruling Class = Anti-Freedom

[Ortiz2114]

Jefferson belived in State power so the Federal government was not too powerful. More State power means States can cancel out decisions made by the Federal Government.If the States are as powerful as the Federal government, the states are like mini-countries. Which means we are not UNITED. Take away the united- you get States of America. America is a continent. So if it weren't for Hamilton- We would be -United-States of America-America=States.....We would just be States.

[thegloriousryius]

@Nebularnemesis You are stupid. Period. Strong central government is key to taking away liberties. Anti-Federalists LIKE the Constitution because it LIMITS federal power. The Democrats are more likely federalists and Republicans are more likely anti-federalists, but that isn't always true. There are some that switch roles. When you have less of a central government, you have cultures ruling cultures instead of cultures dominating cultures. Federal power pushes its morals and will on others.

[Corynorhinus]

Hamilton's policies are the only reason why this country has lasted this long.

[Dumbell99]

Hamilton's policies are destroying America now.

[dbacks933]

Hamilton can suck my balls. Jefferson and republicanism are dominant.

[AgentPun]

Hamilton was awesome and Jefferson was a prick!

FEDERALISTS FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dbacks933]

Federalists... a.k.a monarchists.

There is nothing federal about the Federalists; the name is deliberately misleading.

[AgentPun]

He wasn't a monarchist in fact Hamilton was perhaps one of the most honest men...next to Washington...to have ever served this country. The reason why perhaps he has been branded as an elitist is because his policies called for those with experience and capabilities to encourage competition in the market.

[AgentPun]

Why would you put inexperienced people to run the financial system of a new nation? Even if those individuals had their own interests, their success would secure the financial growth for everyone.

[AgentPun]

Jefferson basically rode the nice boat that the federalists set up for the nation...and ironically increased the power of the executive branch to buy the louisiana purchase--lol.

You know maybe the federalists did screw up in the end with the Alien and Sedition acts(if you picked up a book you would know the underlying causes for these policies as well), but it was because of their policies and Hamilton's push for a bank that this country was able to survive.

[AgentPun]

I could write a whole book on this stuff...you're probably getting all this monarchist stuff from your High School history teacher...you know, not everything they say is gospel.

They lie to you quite often. You'll never get to the truth unless you take the initiative to discover things for yourself.

[dbacks933]

Early in the Convention Hamilton made a speech proposing what was considered a very monarchical government for the United States; though regarded as one of his most eloquent speeches, it had little effect, and deliberations continued largely ignoring his suggestions. Based on his interpretation of history, he concluded the ideal form of government had represented all the interest groups, but maintained a hereditary monarch to decide policy.

[dbacks933]

In Hamilton's opinion, this was impractical in the United States; nevertheless, the country should mimic this form of government as closely as possible. He proposed, therefore, to have a President and elected Senators for life. He was also for the abolition of the state governments.

[dbacks933]

HOW does abolishing state governments make you a federalist????? It doesn't! Look up the meanings of the words FEDERAL and NATIONAL. Hamilton believed in a NATIONAL government. The term FEDERALIST is a complete misnomer when referring to the beliefs of the Federalist Party. The Anti-Federalists were the true federalists.

[AgentPun]

im done because you sir... are full of shit