Where you live, your day-to-day experience gained through interacting with your physical environment, influences your political viewpoint. The Founders realized this. When the Electoral College was born through compromise in 1787, each former-colony-turned-state had a unique history and perspective giving rise to significant political differences between it and its neighbors. The Founders had to resolve […]
What’s Wrong With the Electoral College?
Interest in our system for electing the President of the United States is high. I actually understand why voters feel disenfranchised by the Electoral College as it is presently constituted within 48 states, but the media and political party “powerful” aren’t explaining how the system works, why it was designed as it was. Instead, many people are working to circumvent or abolish it altogether. Read full articleWhat’s Wrong With the Electoral College?
Fourth of July, 1776: America’s Own Brexit
My son was gaming online with a number of what I call his “virtual friends” shortly after it was announced that Britons had voted to leave the European Union (EU). Unbeknowst to my son, many of the players in his RP were British. Upon learning of the outcome of the election, the gamers began to […]
We Can Be Thankful for George Washington’s Example
Whether you’re staying close to home or traveling far this Thanksgiving, hopefully you’ll have some time for family fun and a bit of relaxation. At a convenient point during our family’s festivities, I’m going to pass around a copy of George Washington’s Thanksgiving Proclamation of 1789. I would like my children, who are all now […]
America’s Distrust: The Only Darkness is (Constitutional) Ignorance
The sun has set again on another September 17th. Seemingly just another day in September gone by, one would think. Two hundred twenty-seven years ago on that date, thirty-eight men1The Constitution bears thirty-nine signatures; George Read signed the name of fellow Delaware delegate, John Dickinson, at Dickinson’s request. , representing twelve of the thirteen states, […]
People Don’t Walk Away From a Fool and His Money
Editor’s Note: This article is part of a series, see the bottom for a complete list. * * * * * * * * * * You’re probably familiar with the old adage “a fool and his money are soon parted.” Paul McCartney put a twist on this proverb in his lyrics for the song […]
Arbor Day’s J. Sterling Morton: We Don’t Know Him
Some men, long dead, are famous for what they DIDN’T do. For example, George Washington almost certainly didn’t chop down a cherry tree and later confess because, as he is reputed to have told his father, he “could not tell a lie.”1 This myth was popularized in a fable written by Mason Locke Weems about […]
Tea Party Turned Three
I publish this as April 15th has only a couple of hours left. I know that in most people’s minds, this date marks the third anniversary of what has come to be known as the tea party movement. I know why people think that, of course. The majority of people first heard about modern day […]
Individual Mandate Penalty a Tax? If YES – Then What?
Editor’s Note: For an overview of the health care case oral arguments at the Supreme Court, click HERE. “Nothing is certain but death and taxes,” they say. Unfortunately, there’s some UNcertainty about what is, and is not, a tax at the U.S. Supreme Court, and Monday we all got a chance to listen in on […]
Supreme Court Oral Arguments on Health Care: From Outside the Chamber
I’ve been fascinated in listening to the oral arguments at the Supreme Court (click HERE for basic information about the argument schedule and subjects to be covered). But, I’ve also been frustrated. It’s as if I am a child, out in a corridor, listening to a conversation coming from inside a room. It’s a strange […]
