Do you think the homeless population with diagnosable severe mental illness (SMI) should be institutionalized the way it used to be 50 or 60 years ago in this country? How to solve the homeless problem is a hot topic of conversation as we head into the colder months and the holidays. It’s also a civics […]
Thanksgiving 2022
Thanksgiving is a genuine American holiday celebrated from our country’s infancy. Many of you are packing or cooking, planning or preparing. Our celebrations are far more expensive this year and, dare I say, relationship-wise. But, we can successfully gather and give thanks if we remember a few simple lessons. I like to use the acronym […]
The Best Post-Election Analysis
The best post-election analysis may be your own, not someone else’s. Why? Because you can think for yourself, make observations, and use deductive reasoning. More on that in a moment. As an illustration, the newspeople you trust give you THEIR thoughts. But you have your own thoughts on the matter, so why not ask yourself […]
Don’t Fear the Election Process
We need not fear the election process because we have two things: our United States Constitution and our vote. Treasure them and use them wisely. https://civicsandcitizenship.org/the-constitution-the-supreme-law-of-the-land/ What Is Your Part in the Election Process? Two years ago, one of our participants at Common Sense Civics and Citizenship commented about her experience as an election judge. […]
Why Are Veterans Important?
Why is the Veteran important? A first reaction might be, “who would ask such a thing? Of course, Veterans are important! But, have you ever given thought to why this is so? It’s a citizenship issue, so let’s talk about it. I first heard of this subject when it became the VFW’s Voice of Democracy […]
Threats to Democracy?
We’re hearing rumblings about “threats to democracy.” Exactly, what does that mean? First, let’s define “democracy.” Founder James Madison called it “mob rule.” It’s a majority vote, no debate. That’s why our Founders adopted a Constitutional Republic where debate occurs, not a revolving door of hot-headed legislation. Recently, democracy has been described as “three wolves […]
Term Limits
There are term limits! We can vote out any Representative after a 2-year term, a Senator after a 6-year term, or a President after a 4-year term. We don’t think of elec-tions as term limits, but our Founders did. The blame for career politicians rests solely on We the People because we vote for the […]
Building a Strong Nation
A strong nation starts with family, then friends, then communities and cities, then regions, then a strong country built on the solid support of ties that bind, not ones that break us down into petty groups with all our differences. Let’s talk about how to build a strong nation. Build Relationships First Do you have […]
North American Union and You
There is a movement afoot that seldom, if ever, makes national news. It’s called the “North American Union.” It is a long-range plan that’s been in the works for years. The goal is to erase the borders between contiguous countries to the north and the south of the U.S., leaving one ginormous nation called the […]
How Do You Select Leaders?
When you cast your ballot, what factors determine who you choose to lead? How do you select leaders? That was the topic in my Jr. High civics class this week. It sounds so simple, but then again, it’s not easy, as my ‘tweens discovered. Maturity I asked the students what “maturity” meant. One child answered, […]
The Doctrine of Separation of Powers
Chess pieces on chess board illustrate the separation of powers.
What Is a Convention of States?
What’s all this talk about a Convention of States? What is it exactly? It is an agreement of at least 2/3 of the state legislatures (34 states) to call a meeting (convention) to discuss SPECIFIC proposals regarding an amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
October Surprises
We hear a lot about anticipated “October Surprises” at this time of the year. These events may change our minds, focus, or direction rather suddenly.
Global, National, and State Issues Affecting Your Life
Let’s apply common sense civics and citizenship to global, national, and state issues affecting your life. These subjects have been rolling around in my brain because they affect my life, country, and my world. A State Issue Affecting Your Life We’ve talked about gerrymandering, the controversial but legal practice of redrawing elec-toral districts to gain […]
How Can You Know a Candidate?
Thank you for returning to Common Sense Civics and Citizenship! We are a month away from elections, so it’s time to be thinking about the candidates, their credentials, but most of all, finding out who they are from reliable sources-namely the candidate’s own actions. Let’s jump right in! How can you know a candidate? You […]
