Civics & Citizenship

Recapture Our American Civil Discourse

Candace teaches the fundamentals of liberty that inspired the American system of government.
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Citizenship, Character, and Political Violence

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What about the discipline and character of Americans who assassinate or attempt to assassinate high-profile people? It’s a citizenship issue, so let’s examine it together. The first thing I notice, and maybe you do, too, is how much attention these murderers or attempted murderers get. The false, yet often repeated, saying, “negative attention is better than no attention at all,” seems to apply here. How much attention do we pay to their story without examining our own behaviors, grievances, and anger at circumstances beyond our control? Wouldn’t examining your own thoughts and behaviors be a better choice than consuming the same media coverage of these deranged people on repeat? Psychological Traits of High‑Profile Assailants Next, I researched the psychological traits of assassins and wannabe assassins of high-profile people. Here are a few: Loners-They have little support and a lot of unhealthy coping skills. Deep-seated grievance holders-They obsess over high-profile …

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Teaching the Declaration Still Matters Today

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As the school year winds down, I am preparing a Jr. High civics lesson on the reasons to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary.  Why the Declaration Still Matters Today, many in our country don’t seem to understand the brilliance of the Declaration of Independence. Instead of embracing that our rights come from God, they place their offense at the word “God” and the supremacy it represents. They prefer to yield unimpeded power to the government, that is, people they elect as superiors over them.  Teaching the Founders’ Intent and Courage These same people deny their inherent right to liberty, supposing they can keep it because their elected officials will give it to them. As one of our Supreme Court Justices noted (1), “liberty no longer preceded the government as a gift from God but was to be enjoyed at the grace of the government.” The truth is, if the government gives you liberty, the government can take it away at will. President Calvin Coolidge, on the …

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I educate Americans on who we are, what we stand for, and how to communicate with one another!
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Candace has a variety of teaching experiences and is a certified instructor for adults and homeschoolers through the Institute on the Constitution. Her hobbies include walking, world travel, Pilates, writing, and spending time with her grandsons. …

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Recent Articles

Citizenship, Character, and Political Violence

What about the discipline and character of Americans who assassinate or attempt to assassinate high-profile people? It’s a citizenship issue, so let’s examine it together. The first thing I notice, and maybe you do, too, is how much attention these murderers or attempted murderers get. The false, yet often repeated, saying, “negative attention is better […]

Teaching the Declaration Still Matters Today

As the school year winds down, I am preparing a Jr. High civics lesson on the reasons to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary.  Why the Declaration Still Matters Today, many in our country don’t seem to understand the brilliance of the Declaration of Independence. Instead of embracing that our rights come from God, they place their […]

Power, Celebrity, and Impulsive Misconduct

I believe people who have been given power and control by We the People sometimes fall into sexual misconduct —not because they think they are so amazing, but because power and celebrity are fuel for impulsive behavior.  It must come as a shock when these highly respected people are removed from power, when the cultural […]

American Courage: Triumphs, Resolve, Innovation

A supreme display of courage and American spirit in the last few weeks has taken the edge off the constant bombardment of negativity in the media. American greatness is a citizenship issue. Let’s discuss it. Artemis II Re-entry: A Nation Inspired The Artemis II crew and their high-stakes re-entry captivated Americans, especially those new to […]

Rediscovering Common Ground: Binding a Nation

What does it actually mean to find common ground in our nation today? Let’s continue our discussion based on the writings of Walter Isaacson in his book “The Greatest Sentence Ever Written” (2025). Isaacson’s “Common Ground” and the Greatest Sentence In his chapter “Common Ground,” Isaacson asserts that the Declaration’s self-evident truths “became the creed […]

Understanding the 25th Amendment and Presidential Succession

Have you heard rumblings about the 25th Amendment in the past few days? I sure have, and from different sources, too.  To be “in the know,” let’s quickly review this section of the Constitution. You may find one or more of the sections to be of great interest. The Twenty-fifth Amendment concerns presidential succession and […]

Timeless Workplace Decorum: Lessons from George Washington

In an age where incivility feels normal, George Washington’s teenage rules offer a surprising guide to workplace and public decorum. Some years ago, followers of Common Sense Civics and Citizenship studied George Washington’s “Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation” (Applewood Books, 1988). We learned about the rules of life that George […]

United by Founding Principles: Restoring Common Ground

Walter Isaacson, in his book “The Greatest Sentence Ever Written” (The Greatest Sentence Ever Written (2025), Simon & Schuster), talks about how the self-evident truths (life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness) in the Declaration of Independence became the foundation of the American government. He writes, “These truths became the creed that bound a diverse […]

Restore Majority Rule: End the Filibuster

Does it bother you that TSA and other federal workers go unpaid during shutdowns?” It does me. Let’s look at this issue. Origins: How the Filibuster Began (1806) At the heart of the matter is the filibuster rule, which was established in 1806 by accident (!) You see, the U.S. Senate unintentionally eliminated a rule […]