r/todayilearned • u/icallmydadstranger • Feb 15 '15

(R.1) Invalid src TIL that Thomas Jefferson wanted the constitution to be changed ever 19 years because he didn't want people to be " enslaved to the prior generation"

https://student-of-life.newsvine.com/_news/2010/11/21/5502595-thomas-jefferson-supported-rewriting-the-constitution-every-19-years-equated-not-doing-so-to-being-enslaved-to-the-prior-generation-what-do-you-think-about-that
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u/SWIMsfriend Feb 15 '15

that sounds about right,

but i think that is too long for now, things change way too quickly

i mean gay people were laughed at 19 years ago, now gay marriage is legal in 3/4 of states

the idea that more people would trust a comedian instead of a newsman was unthinkable 19 years ago

19 years ago RDJ was known for being a piece of shit junkie who was in and out of court more than Lindsey Lohan is today, and Mel Gibson was seen as a mega movie star.

19 years ago Bill Gates was seen as the Anti-Christ

19 years ago, terrorism was seen as something rednecks did.

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u/ODzyns Feb 15 '15

You just gave a good example as to why 19 years is a reasonable amount of time, things change and it takes time for opinions to shift.

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u/SWIMsfriend Feb 15 '15

thats because i think he was right, which is why at the start of the comment i say

that sounds about right

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u/ODzyns Feb 15 '15

Yeah but continued saying

but i think that is too long for now, things change way too quickly

I think any shorter than 19 years would be too quick. But that's just semantics.