Should we dramatically cut the size of government, or are we asking the wrong question? I return to Thomas Jefferson’s first inauguration and his commitment to a frugal government, lower taxes, and less public debt. His spending cuts and the Louisiana Purchase reveal the tension between limiting federal power and using it to create opportunity.
America’s responsibilities have changed since 1801. Roads, education, public systems, and the stability on which families depend must still be maintained. This March 2025 essay asks what it means to apply Jefferson’s principles rather than simply borrow his name. Cutting jobs or taxes is not an end in itself. Would a proposed change strengthen the economic footing of Americans and reduce the debt passed to those who follow?
Read the essay and sources: https://joelkdouglas.com/2025/03/11/should-we-dramatically-cut-the-size/
