It’s admirable that many of us take on the hard work of preserving our Republic — our Founders warned that eternal vigilance is required to keep liberty. But defeatism (e.g. “We are doomed as a nation!”) won’t protect our rights: victimhood is not a strategy. Responsibility and local action are. Why Victimhood Fails Blaming “others” […]
Understanding the Supremacy Clause and ICE Agents
Can the Supremacy Clause protect ICE agents from prosecution? I have this question, and maybe you do, too. To answer this, let’s explore what the Supremacy Clause means and how it works. What is the U.S. Constitution’s Supremacy Clause? The Supremacy Clause is a part of the U.S. Constitution. It says that the Constitution, all […]
Deeply Divided: Rekindling Civic Virtues and Values
One of our participants in Common Sense Civics and Citizenship expressed concerns that our nation’s divisiveness may be irreparable for these reasons: -He says two, maybe 3 generations have been indoctrinated rather than educated. -This participant believes such indoctrination has negatively altered our country’s core values. -He argues that coping with these […]
Quiz Time! 5 Basic Civics Questions
As many Americans celebrate the beginning of summer, why not test your civics knowledge? It’s a good time to do a brief review. Here are a few civics questions. Answers appear below to help you check your basic knowledge. Answer key: 1. 27 2. Publius (John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison 3. The 13 […]
Rediscovering Civics: How Culture Hides the Declaration’s Claims
What is the most disputed American concept these days? It is found in the Declaration of Independence. “…that we are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights..” Here are three reasons why Americans would dispute this claim as untrue: First, they might be receiving their civics lessons from their favorite t.v. personalities, popular unbelieving […]
Memorial Day: Celebrating Heroes Who Served
Memorial Day is a day to celebrate the lives of our American heroes who have died in service to defend the freedoms we enjoy today. Below, I’ve gathered the names of a few heroes to help inspire us as we remember why we pause to celebrate. Note their deeds of valiant courage as they served […]
Understanding America’s Shift towards Socialism
Why are so many Americans voting for socialists, Marxists, or communists? The common reason given is that people are finding it hard to “make ends meet,” so they are looking to politicians for food and housing. History has been around this block more than once, and it’s been a disappointment, albeit an abject failure, yet […]
The American Dream: Liberty, Responsibility & Limited Government
There are many interpretations of the American Dream. I just read one by author Walter Isaacson (The Greatest Sentence Ever Written (2025), Simon & Schuster). He talks about how the American Dream is brought to us by our government through economic means. I disagree. I believe the American Dream rests on limited government plus personal […]
The Eighth Amendment Preserves Justice and Liberty
Limits on Bail, Fines, and Punishment The Eighth Amendment prohibits excessive bail, fines, and cruel and unusual punishments. Bail intent is to prevent the defendant from fleeing, and it cannot be more than necessary to ensure the defendant’s appearance in court. Keep in mind that in this country, our Constitution presumes our innocence until proven […]
Presumed Innocent: Constitutional Basics Explained
How can an alleged would-be murderer be declared innocent until proven guilty, even with overwhelming evidence? What does the Constitution say about the presumption of innocence? Although you may not find the phrase “innocent until proven guilty” directly quoted in the U.S. Constitution, the principle forms the backbone of our justice system and is affirmed […]
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 […]
