You have a story. How did you get to where you are today? More specifically, how did you exercise American freedoms to get you to a better place? Some Americans made decisions in their youth to be or not to be like someone else. Instead, you charted your own path to get out of a […]
Freedom and the Importance of Balance of Power
There was a time when our constitutional government was the envy of the world. Many countries attempted to adopt our system of government. Those countries didn’t wholly succeed because a cornerstone of our American government is that our rights do not come from government at all. Our rights come from our Creator. “…that they are […]
Common Sense Applied
Common Sense Applied Do you ever find yourself “connecting the dots?” You know, those times when thoughts are swirling around in your brain? Below are a few of mine as I try to make sense of things. The week’s events caused me to sit down and just let my fingers write and type. I find […]
This Week in Common Sense Civics and Citizenship
Welcome to this week’s edition of the newsletter! Thank you for returning and subscribing. We appreciate your engagement here. Our topics this week included the meaning of peaceable assembly and the questions that arise when lawlessness is tolerated. The idea for that article came from a recent speaking engagement in a civics and government class […]
When Lawlessness Has Free Rein
“The Constitution is not a living organism. It’s a legal document, and it says what it says and doesn’t say what it doesn’t say.”- Justice Antonin Scalia Recently, I was the guest speaker in a high school government class. I taught the Bill of Rights from the late Justice Scalia’s perspective. So, in talking about […]
The Absolute Amendments
Welcome back to Common Sense Civics and Citizenship! I hope that your week is off to a great start, both personally and professionally. This week, we paid attention to what is being said to us and about us as a country. The first article, “The Absolute Amendments,” explores the mistaken idea that our amendments are […]
Delusion or Decision?
“People never give up their liberties but under some delusion.” -Edmund Burke, Irish statesman, economist, philosopher, and a contemporary of our Founders I read this quote, and it stopped me in my tracks. We gave up a lot of our liberties over the past year. If Burke is correct, that begs the question: Are we […]
God, Property, and Politics
Welcome! Thank you for returning to Common Sense Civics and Citizenship. More and more Americans are beginning to speak up on the issues, rather than being blind-sided into silence. It is my hope that our subscribers gain insights that help you as you sort through the issues. In our first article, we look at two […]
Complicit in Child Trafficking?
Is the United States unintentionally complicit in trafficking children internationally? This question was postulated over the weekend by a couple of sources. If someone floats a statement like that about my fellow citizens and me, I want to dig deeper to see what is going on. So I did. Late last week, photos surfaced from […]
Let’s Take a Closer Look
Welcome! Thank you for subscribing to this newsletter and returning this week. By chance, have you noticed there are two diametrically opposing statements about the same issues facing our country lately? Who is telling the truth? Better yet, what are the facts so you and I can come to our own conclusions. We have two […]
United? Or Divided States of America?
Aren’t we focusing on the wrong thing? How is dividing America into factions and groups making us a better nation? Are we not straying farther and farther away from our national motto, “Out of Many, One”? Everywhere I turn, I hear more and more stories of how we seek to honor our differences, not unite […]
Ask.
We the People are beginning to ask probing questions about the direction of our country. In this week’s newsletter, I address the need for us to ask more questions. We need answers. When we ask and keep on asking, one of the benefits is that we keep a free press, not a government controlled press. […]
Pandemic Life in Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia
Wonder what the atmosphere is really like in Washington, DC, and Philadelphia lately? It was an interesting trip I took to those two historically American cities recently. I have a few personal observations for those who might be curious. The usual hustle and bustle of visitors during spring break in Washington was noticeably absent. This […]
How Would You Define Freedom?
What would you guess the definition of the word “freedom” was at the time of America’s founding? What do you think the meaning of freedom is today? Let’s consult the “American Dictionary of the English Language,” aka Webster’s Dictionary 1828. After all, it was the source of definitions de rigueur. The noun had about eight […]
Welcome New Subscribers!
Thank you for subscribing to the weekly updates. Each week I will include the latest articles I have written. An occasional personal note from me will also arrive in the weekly email. Today is one of those days. More and more, people are questioning our viability as a lasting society. This week, I address those […]
