Category Archives: Politics

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

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

Thomas Jefferson as A Speaker

Posted on by December 30, 2015

ThomasJeffersonSpeaking of professional speakers, one of the Founding Fathers who wouldn’t be one would be Thomas Jefferson! Although he was very intellectual, wise, and erudite, he was not a good speaker. He could write better than the best of them. But speak he could not, and he knew it. For that reason alone, he probably couldn’t be elected President today.

His voice was high and “squeaky”. He wrote the initial draft of the Declaration of Independence without book or pamphlet as references. Only his background and training as a lawyer guided him through his writing. But he didn’t speak up on behalf of his draft at the Continental Congress. He allowed John Adams to represent him and the committee in advocating adoption of the Declaration. read more

Give Me Liberty

Posted on by December 29, 2015

PatrickHenryI received my monthly “Speaker” magazine today. I am a professional speaker and have been a member of this fine Association for many years. Of course, my interest has been speaking about the Founding Fathers and the way they taught character and leadership.

But today as I looked at my new magazine, I couldn’t help but think that there was no National Speakers Association in the 1700’s. And indeed, there were no professional speakers in that day either. There were, however some very great speakers. John Adams, with his persuasive ability comes to mind. read more

For Winter and Christmas

Posted on by December 21, 2015

Header5.jpgOne Christmas, Phil and Will decided to build a skating rink in the middle of a pasture. A shepherd leading his flock decides to take a shortcut across the rink. The sheep, however, were afraid of the ice and wouldn’t cross it. Despearate, the shepherd begins tugging the sheep to the other side.

“Look at that,” remarks Phil to Will, “that guy is trying to pull the wool over our ice!”

Winston Churchill and Human Rights

Posted on by December 20, 2015

800px-Sir_Winston_S_ChurchillLarry P. Arn, President of Hillsdale College, in Michigan, has written a book about Winston Churchill. He give us some glimpses into Churchill’s thinking about liberty and war.

In 1940 Churchill had become the leader of Great Britain. At this time his country’s Parliament had proposed to him a peace conference which had been arranged by Mussolini, Italy’s leader who had joined with the German Nazi’s to try to conquer the world.

At that period of time Britain stood alone in the West as the only country to specifically oppose Nazi Germany. The German forces vastly outnumbered those of Great Britain. Germany had conquered France and was threatening to cross the English Channel and likewise conquer England. read more

James Madison and the Choice of Liberty

Posted on by December 19, 2015

JamesMadisonJust as Patrick Henry proclaimed “Give me liberty or give me death”, James Madison did likewise. His statement was worded just a little differently.

Madison defined “property rights” to be the same as all human rights. Such rights are specifically protected in our Bill of Rights, the first 10 Amendments, proposed by Madison and adopted by the States.

James refers to property to include such human rights at freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and freedom of the press. He wrote that property “included everything to which a man may attach a value and have a right, and which leaves to every one else the like advantage”(emphasis in the original writing). read more

The Daughters of the American Revolution

Posted on by December 11, 2015

constitutionToday I was honored as the special guest speaker at the monthly meeting of The Daughters of the American Revolution. It was real privilege to present to them a little about our Founding Father Benjamin Franklin.

The ladies were invited to bring their husbands, and so we were happy so have some gentlemen there as well. I found the group to be well educated about our country’s revolution, and to be a most attentive and riveted audience.

In the discussion there seemed to be some confusion about the difference between the Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention. It was soon cleared up. read more