Republicanism and The Trial of Christ

constitutionI know it’s a little bit early yet, but Easter is fast approaching. I have sometimes been asked why I have written my books on totally different subjects. Well, the short answer is my background is in law, therefore the Trial of Jesus Christ became a very real matter of interest to me.

I lived outside of the country for a while which imbued in me a spirit of patriotism. Then when I attended a conference in Philadelphia, in 1976, the Bicentennial of the Declaration of Independence my interest in the Founding Fathers grew by leaps and bounds. I gave many presentations about my heroes, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, John Adams, and James Madison, to the point where people in my audiences began to ask for me to write a book. So I did. read more

John Adams and the U. S. Constitution

JohnAdamsJohn Adams doesn’t get the honor and acclaim he deserves! Even in his lifetime he saw this coming. He said:

“The History of our Revolution will be one continued Lye from one end to the other. . . . The essence of the whole will be that Dr. Franklin’s electrical Rod, smote the Earth and out sprung General Washington. . . .That Franklin electrified him with his rod—and thence forward these two conducted all the Policy, Negotiations, Legislatures and War . . . . Mausoleums, Statues, Monuments will never be erected for me, . . . .nor flattering orations spoken to transmit me to Posterity in brilliant Colours.” read more

Justice Antonin Scalia Dies

Ronald ReaganThe longest serving Justice on the Supreme Court died today. He had been appointed by President Ronald Reagan. By all accounts he was not only wise and scholarly, he was friendly and had a good sense of humor. He caused the Court to consider carefully what they were deciding, and to look closely at the issues and the deciding factors. Not always apparent in Judges minds.

I suppose he liked this story about why you actually need a lawyer at times: “A businessman who had consulted his attorney for some legal advice ran into a friend to whom he recounted his experience. read more

“And to the Republic . . .”

Ben FranklinThe Founding Fathers must have believed a democracy was the way to go, if what they gave us with the United States of America is really a democracy. No on both counts.

We actually live in a Republic. You know: “and to the Republic for which it stands.” Those great minds who gave us the Constitution disagreed on a lot of things, but they stood united on one thing—a democracy was the worst possible form of government.

Even the idea that our nation is built on “majority rules” is not near the truth. Yes, the Founding Fathers knew that a government if it became a democracy would soon lead to mob rule. And they expressed themselves that way. read more

How Much Was the Bill of Rights, and Who Paid for it?

JamesMadison

I still didn’t know, even after my senior year at High School, that the Bill of Rights was what they called the first ten amendments to our U.S. Constitution. I guess it just didn’t appear to me to be that important back then. What do high schoolers think about it today?

Now when I hear a person that doesn’t know that, I shudder. Today many people argue that protecting the freedoms of “religion, speech, assembly, press and petition, were the most important issues to the first Americans and that’s why they’re in the first amendment. read more

Founding Fathers and Leadership

Speaking-2My wife has been asking me what I want to do now that I’m retired. The other night I woke up at about 2 or 2:30 with a thought on my mind. It seemed important to me at that time in my groggy condition. So what did I do? I got out of bed, went into my office, found a scrap of paper and a pencil and wrote down my thought.

Then, the next day, I couldn’t find the paper on which I had written my thought. Yes, in between I guess I had cleaned off my desk. But that night, I had that same thought again. This time I wrote in down on the white board in my study. That would get misplaced! read more

Books about America

Steven Allen 2 on stageOK, I didn’t want to read Dinesh D’Souza’s new book “Stealing America.” It sounded too hardboiled a perspective even for me! I admit I did see his documentary about “America, Imagine a World Be Without Her?” And I enjoyed it—especially from the point of view of the Founding Fathers. And then I read the book, too. But wouldn’t “Stealing America” just be too much?

Then my wife gave it to me as a gift. Yeah, she saw it on sale. So I figured I had to read it. And I found that it explains the prison experience correctly, and what you can learn there! I should know. I’m now writing “A Patriot in Prison” about my own personal experience. Unjustly accused and sent to prison camp. read more

Mount Vernon Love Story

GeorgeWashingtonMany of you are fans of Mary Higgins Clark and her murder mystery novels. What you may not know is that Ms. Clark wrote an interesting book about George and Martha Washington. It’s titled “Mount Vernon Love Story, A Novel of George and Martha Washington.”

Sure, it’s a novel, much like her many other books, but it is based on extensive research, and on her love for Martha Washington. It’s charming, insightful, and very entertaining. I highly recommend it. Not only for the Story of the First President of the United States, but also for the background story about his dear, and beloved wife. read more

Free to Be

Give Me LIberty coverA life lived in liberty
Is one I’m proud to live.
And shout alliance to the men
Whose lives they did so give.

I see the blessings it brings to those
Who live in this great land,
And name each one as men of grace:
Who brought freedom with their hand.

I see our flag wave bold and bright
And shine for all to see,
We pledge allegiance to the flag
That says we’re “Free to Be.”

–Steven W. Allen, JD

The U. S. Constitution and Judges

constitutionI have read the U.S. Constitution many times. I have never read anything in it that claims to have any jurisdiction over the civil condition or authority of marriage. And the Constitution does clearly state that what ever is not directly, by the words of that document, given authority to control or decide, is left to the States or to the People.

“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the People.” (Amendment X, The Constitution of the United States). read more