Politics and Presidents

Steven Allen 2 on stageAs a member of the National Speakers Association, I was pleased to make a personal acquaintance with Charlie “Tremendous” Jones at one of our meetings. He was a large speaking presence. During his presentation he actually picked on me!

Charlie has written several quote books as he has come up with many of his own pithy sayings. This one about politics made me laugh: “Politics defined: poly is a Greek word meaning ‘many’ and tics are little bloodsuckers.”

Johann Von Goethe, a German writer (I studied him as I majored in German in college) described it thus: “In politics as on the sick bed people toss from one side to the other, thinking they will be more comfortable.” 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

Politics and Founding Fathers

JohnAdamsI always think it’s interesting that George Washington solemnly stated that it would be unwise to have political parties. He thought we should all be Americans and want what’s best for America. Little did he know that Americans disagreed on that score more than on the weather.

John Adams and Thomas Jefferson soon split the country into political parties by their adherence to certain policies. But now . . .

“We expect to find a doctor practicing medicine, a lawyer practicing law, an engineer engaged in engineering, school teachers teaching school; but when it comes to politics, we think there is something reprehensible in the fact that those engaged in politics are politicians!” read more

Freedom, Liberty, and the Founding Fathers

PatrickHenryIt’s interesting how much emphasis and importance all of the Founders put in the idea of Freedom and Liberty. They even warned us to take good care of the things they left for us.

“Is life so dear, or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the chains of slavery . . .?” Patrick Henry.

“It is my full intention to devote my life and fortune in the cause we are engaged in (the Revolution), if need be.” George Washington.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Thomas Jefferson, in the Declaration of Independence. read more

Ben Franklin said: “Go Ahead, Do It!”

Founding Fathers coverOne thing about Benjamin Franklin is that he finished much better than he had started out. If you’ve read his Autobiography, which I hope by now you have, you know that Ben left his family, his brother’s printing business, and his city of Boston, at the early age of 17. And that with only a few pennies to his name.

He certainly made something of himself. He built his own business in Philadelphia, made the city better, help others build their own business, performed experiments, taught himself, learned music, wrote the most widely read volume in Europe about electricity, became involved in Philanthropic endeavors, and helped build a new nation. And much more. Whew! read more

It’s the Luck of the Draw and Thomas Jefferson

ThomasJeffersonSome of the Democrats are complaining that too many in America get ahead just because of luck. Therefore, the abundance they receive should be subject to division around the citizenry. The lucky didn’t really deserve it. The unlucky should take part in the good luck by forcing the government to take such lucky proceeds and dividing them up among the less fortunate. Wow, how do they come to that conclusion?

Thomas Jefferson had a wonderful quote about his luck:

“I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it!” (As quoted in “Give Me Liberty!” by Steven W. Allen, #22) 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

Political Cartoons

colorful-calendar-2016-template-free-vectorI used to love to read the newspaper. The daily, home delivery newspaper.I especially liked the comic section. Now my grandkids ask “what’s a newspaper?”

One thing I especially miss is looking at the editorial cartoon, which was usually on the editorial section, and by the letters to the editor. I haven’t seen one for a while. Oh well, such is progress.

Jeff MacNelly, who was a political cartoonist once wrote: “Political cartoonists violate every rule of ethical journalism—they misquote, trifle with the truth, make science fiction out of politics. . . . But when the smoke clears, the political cartoonist has been getting closer to the truth than the guy who writes political opinions.” read more

Washington’s Reminder

GeorgeWashingtonGeorge Washington, in his First Inaugural Address reminded us, as citizens of America, and as voters:

“The preservation of the sacred fire of liberty and the destiny of the republican model of government are . . . staked on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people.”

And so it truly is.

The Declaration of Independence You Didn’t Know

Thomas Jefferson worked on his draft for 17 days during his time at the Continental Congress. The draft was to be ready in case enough of the representatives ultimately agreed on the need for such a document.

Jefferson’s original draft was just a little different than the one finally adopted. This paragraph is interesting and better than my first draft would have been.

”We hold these truths to be sacred and undeniable; that all men are created equal and independent, that from equal creation they derive rights inherent and inalienable, among which are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” read more