Becoming Jefferson’s People: Re-inventing the American Republic in the Twenty-first Century urges change within the American
political system. The author believes that the current political system, including both democrats and republicans, has become focused on keeping the status quo no despite the ultimate costs to the country. In this way, right to free speech and potentially new ideas have been restricted while cynicism and apathy have flourished. This book looks to Thomas Jefferson for guidance.
Thomas Jefferson, as a man and as third president of the United States (1801-1809), was not a perfect man. He was a slave owner, a racist, and an apartheidist. Conversely, however, Jefferson was also an idealist, a free thinker, and a radical that believed that change was
beneficial in keeping the nation strong. It is these more positive qualities and other like ideals that the author believes that
politicians should adopt in rebuilding a stronger nation.
To this end, this book examines the ideal qualities of a Jeffersonian politician. Each of these qualities is examined in detail and then examined for potential adaptation to present concerns. Though this book focuses on founding and traditional political ideals, many of these ideals would also be beneficial if adopted in our daily life and the way we as individuals look at the world.