We are often told by those who are historically inclined that “if we fail to learn from the mistakes of the past we're doomed to repeat them. But one is inclined to ask what lesson and how closely the lesson parallels current context. Surely the point of historical analysis on sites like this should be focus on contextual relevance to the here and now. As an academic historical analysis it is fine but in this context one is inclined to ask so what?

If there is any lesson to be learned from politics is that Dogma is a dangerous mongrel. To most of us a good idea is a good idea which to use a cliché “has many parents”. The problem with categorising an action as Jeffersonian tends to then seek answers from the same source which while consistent in a Dogma sense for all pragmatic current contextual reasons may not be advisable.
Keep in mind the context of Jefferson's circumstances and influences specifically that limited liability entities companies didn't exist. Likewise not all he did would be acceptable today.
The article is interesting but it seems to lack clear pragmatic contextual purpose.

Jeffersonianism for Obama.

Yes, Brendan from what I have learnt from a Philosophy of History, Obama would do well to peruse the character of Jefferson at least for a start, possibly finishing up with Abraham Lincoln, especially as Jefferson though kind to his slaves, no doubt had no thoughts about ending slavery.

Certainly Jefferson was a true product of the Enlightenment, following the Reasoning of John Locke - whose treatise on the Rights of Man, gave even Christian humanity the chance to think with their feet on the ground rather than in shame because they were not yet in heaven.

Jefferson, of course, no doubt new that the English who had landed in America much earlier, were, though Christian, were of the old Cromwellian Brigade, far more faithfull to the Love of the Lord than the love of the land.

Even right up to this day, America has truly expounded an old Faith Revival, even the young, anxiously waiting like stormtroopers to give Hail to the Second Coming.

Thought you might have given them a mention, Brendan.

Regards, BB, WA.

Would this be the same Thomas Jefferson who had about 7 children to his slave mistress and only "emancipated" two of them?

Yes, Wobbles, at least history has proven that Jefferson did not break the marital code in secret, not like some Christian preachers recently found out.

Further, we might ask who you would prefer in place of Jefferson, who in spite of his naughtiness, did prove by following the thoughts of John Locke, how much Christianity needed Hellenistic earthly reasoning to make way for the future.

It is so interesting historically that it was St Thomas Aquinas who first saw the need for Christians to accept the above reasoning, even though it was given to him by early Islamic scholars.

Cheers, BB, WA.