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“The rich alone use imported articles, and on these alone the whole taxes of the general government are levied,” Jefferson wrote in 1811. “The poor man, who uses nothing but what is made in his own farm or family, will pay nothing. (With) our revenues applied to canals, roads, schools, etc., the farmer will see his government supported, his children educated and the face of his country made a paradise by the contributions of the rich alone, without his being called on to spend a cent from his earnings."
It is apparent that our forefathers expected a certain amount of industry, with reference to a man living off what he makes himself and later on without being called on to a spend a cent from his earnings which implies a certain amount of personal responsibility to provide for yourself and your family.
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