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I am posting above the original, which isn't marked with > in front of
each line, since it came in HTML, which I turned off.


I think Frank has a good case here. I am in no way a genius like
Jefferson, but I often find myself thinking something is obvious when
it isn't. He might well have believed anyone could do what was needed.

On Wed, 21 Apr 2004 17:43:36 EDT, Frank Reed wrote:

--Original Message Text---

Kieran K wrote:
"I would however ask our American colleagues why Jefferson did not send
a trained expert like Ellicott out on the expedition. If Jefferson's
intent was to map the West this would have seemed a logical thing to
do, particularly as he had the earlier exemplary work of M & D as a
guide."

This is a really interesting question. I suspect it has something to do
with Jefferson's over-confidence. Thomas Jefferson was a brilliant man
with wide-ranging interests including extensive knowledge of the
sciences, much of it self-taught. But sometimes a little knowledge can
be a dangerous thing. A great leader has to know when to seek expert
advice and make decisions based on that advice rather than on his own
personal base of knowledge. I don't think Jefferson was a "great
leader" in this sense, despite (or even because of) his intellect. If
he had asked experts in exploration, navigation, and surveying, they
probably would have told him that a few weeks of training might not be
sufficient for this task. But Jefferson would have made his decision
based on his own approach to science. A self-taught genius may assume
that things are easier than they really are.

This is my personal speculation based on my recollection of Jefferson's
biography. Nothing more.

Frank E. Reed
[ ] Mystic, Connecticut
[X] Chicago, Illinois

Rodney Myrvaagnes    Opinionated old geezer          J36 Gjo/a

Bush declares independence from GOP!
Advocates separation of church and state, and protection of rights of all citizens

Oh, sorry. That was only for Iraq

   

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