meritocrat

What does that mean exactly?

Did Jefferson ever define what he meant by pursuing happiness?

In reality, virtually any action can make one happy. So should feel happy in taking my neighobur's property, even though it violates his right to property?

lunachick

I dunno, but they're a great band. Canadian, I think.

Kinross

Locke orignally wrote Life, Liberty, Property. Jefferson removed property and used the "pusuit of happiness" found in the Virginia declaration of rights.

The reason being that while owning property is a right, it isn't an inalienable right. When you are born you are not given a peice of land. Property ownership can be means to happiness but isn't an end in itself.

When Jefferson spoke of "pusuit of happiness" he meant the happiness that is aquired through self government.