Jefferson and Occupy Wall Street.

I have always regarded Thomas Jefferson-- author of the Declaration of Independence and third US President (1801-1809)-- as one of America's greatest leaders and statesmen. This view is of course shared by many millions of people around the world.

While most of his writings and beliefs always struck me as well deserving to be carved in stone and displayed as hallmarks of American liberty and democracy, there was one quotation that never ceased to trouble me. The remark I am referring to was his comment that Americans should revolt against their government every 20 years. Here is what he wrote: "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. Periodic revolution, at least once every 20 years, was a medicine necessary for the sound health of government. What country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms."

As a government major in college and for all the years since then, I chalked up this remark to showing that no one, even someone as great as Jefferson, can be right all the time. I belatedly recognize how right he was after all and how his comments should be an inspiration to the Occupy Wall Street movement.

I am delighted to see that Occupy Wall Street is back, hopefully in large numbers and force. It is clear that the disparity between the extremely wealthy in this country and the vast majority of the people is becoming greater all the time. There are no outstanding champions of the people to turn this situation around. So it is up to movements like Occupy Wall Street, which may constitute one of the people's last chances to restore balance in our economy and society.

Predictably, instead of being encouraged and supported, Occupy Wall Street is systematically beaten down by the power elite. It is imperative, however, that the movement succeed entirely by peaceful means. This is precisely how Occupy Wall Street operates, which makes their movement admirable as well as necessary. Occupy Wall Street can gather strength from Jefferson's vision and understanding that even a democratic country like ours can lose its way and needs a popular revolt to restore the right balance. With all due respect to Mr. Jefferson, I still take issue with his belief that armed rebellion and bloodshed are necessary. Recent leaders like Gandhi and Martin Luther King have shown that profound change can be brought about without violence.

People should recognize that Occupy Wall Street, like the Suffragettes and Civil Rights movements, lies within the mainstream spirit and traditions of America.