Category Archives: Government

Mount Vernon Love Story

Posted on by January 14, 2016

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

Posted on by January 13, 2016

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 1801 Election—Thomas Jefferson Wins!

Posted on by January 12, 2016

ThomasJeffersonToday he probably wouldn’t win, but in 1801 Jefferson carried the day. We wonder why we don’t have candidates like him any more. It’s because of the advances in technology, especially TV. Tom wouldn’t be very good, he wouldn’t come across very well on television. He had a high kind of squeaky voice, a funny looking complexion, and red hair. He was a wise man and an outstanding writer, but . . . .

Jefferson was the first President to reside in the new capitol at Washington, D.C. He was a widower in the White House, but was very well received by the people. And they approved his policies: read more

More Founding Fathers Myths

Posted on by January 11, 2016

Ben Franklin thumb pictureSeveral scandalous stories about Benjamin Franklin have also been promulgated by pseudo-historians and others over the years. William was treated by Ben as a legitimate son, although some historians now believe that Ben married Deborah when she was pregnant with William, to save her reputation.

There is not good evidence of any other illegitimate children, but rumors have sprung up anyway. One of Ben’s rules in his Project for Moral Perfection, which he observed all his life, was the character trait of chastity. It’s hard to believe any violation of this trait given Ben’s drive for self-improvement. read more

Snoopy and Worries

Posted on by January 8, 2016

I watched the news report about Cologne, Germany, and the women who were accosted (that’s my polite term) by groups of migrant men in the city square. It happened right in front of the Kolner Dom (Which is the Cologne Cathedral—a beautiful large Church building which was used by the Air Force in World War II as a marker of where the planes were!) It’s a gorgeous building in a beautiful city. I’ve been there.

Then, that same morning, I happened to open a book of Peanuts cartoons which I received as a gift from my kids this past Christmas. I turned to this one particular page which had this cartoon: read more

The U. S. Constitution and Judges

Posted on by January 7, 2016

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

It’s Global Warming. . .I Mean Climate Change!

Posted on by January 6, 2016

ForgivenessListening to our President today with all the turmoil in the world, telling us how climate change is our most serious problem facing us today, reminds me of a Peanuts cartoon.

In the first frame Lucy is making a face while Linus, with his arms outstretched says: “All right, if you want me to worry about over-population I’ll worry about it!”

In the next frame Linus has a big frowny face and says to Lucy: “Look—I’m worrying . . .see? I’m worrying . . .”

Then Linus looks at Lucy and asks: “How was that?” Lucy looks bewildered. read more

Congress Under the Constitution

Posted on by January 5, 2016

constitutionHere we are thinking about how we will elect our next President and members of Congress of the United States of America. But imagine that first Constitutional Convention where the original Constitution was still being debated and the method of electing the both houses of Congress was under consideration and debate.

There was very heated debate about this process. A constitution of this nature had never been debated, much less created. The members of the Convention did not agree on the method to ascertain who would be the new leaders of the new nation. read more

John Adams and the Law

Posted on by January 3, 2016

JohnAdamsAs you may recall, John Adams accepted the representation of the British soldiers who were charged in the Boston Massacre. No other colonist lawyer was willing to accept their representation for fear of losing standing with friends and countrymen.

Adams felt it was his duty as a lawyer, and representative of the judicial system to step in where they needed someone to speak for them; to see that justice was done and not miscarried because of the emotions of the Bostonians at the time.

John did not only an admirable job, he succeeded in have most of the soldiers acquitted under the law. During his argument in December, 1770, he said: read more

Founding Fathers and Bad Press

Posted on by January 2, 2016

ThomasJeffersonWith all the politicking going on in the nation today, many think it has actually gotten worse over the years. I’m not sure that’s really the case. When you look at some of the bad press John Adams, Alexander Hamilton, and especially Thomas Jefferson received by the newspapers in their runs for elections, you have to hold your breath.

Most of them tried to make nothing of it—for the most part they ignored it. Thomas Jefferson has an interesting quote regarding what he thought about bad news: read more