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Letter: There’s a foul history behind Jefferson’s view on wasting labor

(Kamil Zihnioglu | Associated Press file photo)  A tear gas canister fired by riot police flies behind the statue of Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, during a protest in Paris on Jan. 5, 2019.

(Kamil Zihnioglu | Associated Press file photo) A tear gas canister fired by riot police flies behind the statue of Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, during a protest in Paris on Jan. 5, 2019.

Dear Jim Dublinski:

Thank you for reminding Bernie Sanders of his follies by invoking the sage philosophy of Thomas Jefferson: “I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.” Clever man, that Mr Jefferson!

Having once toured his stately mansion in Monticello, I know that he saw to it that the labors of his slaves were never wasted either.

Michael J. McAinsh, Salt Lake City

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