Thanks for your comments. I also recently toured Monticello. While he did lend money to friends, he also rebuilt and re-designed his house multiple times, drank lots of fine wine, and had many slaves as well as household staff. As admirable as Jefferson may be in other regards, he seems to have also had a bit of a spending problem, given his high debt loads.
Kimberly Palmer
of DC
@
Aug 27, 2009 10:00:53 AM
Jefferson Wasn't a Spendaholic
I recently toured at Monticello and the tour guide with the private foundation that maintains Jefferson's estate told our group that one of the reasons why the President died so deeply in debt was that he regularly lent money to friends, who didn't repay him. The keepers of his flame don't consider Jefferson to have been profligate, just a poor judge of character.
Monica Roman Gagnier
of NY
@
Aug 26, 2009 22:03:22 PM
I'm sure there are some celebrities
who do practice frugality. You're likely to not hear about it unless the "story" is of so-and-so being an alleged cheapskate.
The passion and sense of "abandon" that drive some people's great accomplishments also, unfortunately, can lead to excesses of other kinds.
As for Michael Jackson, I think we're going to see another situation where the value of the body of work grows even more after death than during life. We never saw an elderly Elvis, so his old music and image keeps on selling as it WAS. Same with Michael, I imagine.
Kimberly Palmer, senior editor for U.S. News & World Report, writes about how to save money, avoid scams, manage debt, and be a savvy shopper. Send your personal finance questions to her for expert money advice.
Kimberly Palmer of DC @ Aug 27, 2009 10:00:53 AM
Monica Roman Gagnier of NY @ Aug 26, 2009 22:03:22 PM
Muser of NM @ Aug 25, 2009 14:28:42 PM
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