Ford UFO Files

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economy and liberty or profusion and servitude." Unquote.
''But times have changed" is the excuse the big spenders use to ;ustify their tax increases
and their big Federal budgets. I agree that times have changed, but I do not agree that the fund-
amentals of sound and honest government have changed. I do not believe that the times have
transmuted debt from a burden into a panacea for every human ill. I honor Jefferson for expound-
ing some of the soundest views on public policy ever set forth by a public figure. I especic;lly
honor him for these two forthright and courageous statements•-quote-- 11When all government1 do-
mestic and foreign, in little as in great things, shall be drawn to Washington as the center of all
power, it will ••• become as venal and oppressive as the government from which we separated."
• And for thts one--quote--"1 think we have more machinery of government than is
necessary 1 too many parasites living on the labor of the industrious."
Jefferson's belief in what he called "The Holy Cause of Freeclom" was deep and sincere.
He brought all his wisdom and political experience to the cause of maintaining freedom and to
expounding the dangers that freedom faced. The author of our Declaration of Independence had
!ived under tyranny. He knew that unless the gr.eat American experiment of democracy succeeded
tha cause of freedom aro.!..w:;::. the world woutd suffer a death blow. Again and again, he warned
ogainst excessive central government. Again and again, y,1 warned against debt. Changing
times cannot affect the basic political truths that Jefferson laid down.
Debts, at certain times end certain financial crises, are unavoidable. Out living in
debt as a national way of life, os though debt were a "public blessing," is like building a house
on the banks of a river noted for its floods. It is courting the danger of complete collapse.
Whife the President's party may claim Thomas Jefferson, there are many today who
would find Jefferson's membership in such free-wheeling company hard to believe. In fact, I
feel that the party of the Great Society has left Thomas Jefferson and the principles for which he
~'~..J.. And I would like to welcome him into the ranks of the GOP.
Thi~ i~ Congf'essmon reporting to you from. '//ashington.
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(A. copy of -this.sc.-tpt is ovoilob.f<1 on Teleprompter in the House TV Studio)
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