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 […]
Constitution Day, 2022
Thank you for returning to Common Sense Civics and Citizenship, where we’ve been thinking about Constitution Day (September 17). I hope Americans never lose sight of the fact that the Constitution remains the “Supreme Law of the Land.” In all the distractions, we still want to remember that We the People run the U. S. […]
Civic Duty
What qualities of citizenship are we passing on to the next generation? Is it not our civic duty? I hear all sorts of interesting adjectives to describe Queen Elizabeth II as people pay tribute to her following her passing. She was the Queen for about 30% of the time our country has existed, as well […]
Natural Law
Wrong is wrong. Even if someone declares it right, it is still wrong. Bad is bad, even if it is better than ______________. Do you agree? I mean, how do you know if you’re right and the other person is wrong? Our Founders always returned to “the Laws of Nature and Nature’s God.” That was […]
You and Your Government: Liberty Under Law
Welcome back to Common Sense Civics and Citizenship. It’s back to school time, and so we begin with lessons in civics basics. This week, I’m using personal experiences to make my point. I know your time is valuable. I hope you find the articles on this site to add to your knowledge and enhance your […]
Back to School, Back to Civics
It’s back-to-school time. We’re catching up with friends we maybe haven’t seen in a few months. The common question is, “So, what have you been up to lately?” While walking on the local exercise path, I ran into some old friends with whom I hadn’t had a personal conversation in a while. One asked that […]
What Ingredients Make Self-Government Work?
Thank you for returning to Common Sense Civics and Citizenship as we take a look this week at what it takes to be a self-governing people. Let’s dive right in. “Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom.” What do you think of that statement by Benjamin Franklin? I was not aware of the heated […]
We Can’t Do Everything; We Can Do Something
Many fellow citizens have expressed deep concerns, like, “Should I take our country seriously? Or languish in feelings of defeat for the almost 250-year-old American Experiment?” Last night, I met “Ash Bay.” Hear the story of an everyday American that decided to do something small and do it with “all-in” effort. The town board asked […]
Civil War 2.0??
Do you think America is headed for Civil War 2.0? I get comments from readers that don’t simply question the possibility. They assume it. Or fear it. Or both. So, I’ve been thinking this through and doing some research. Looks like the idea of another Civil War is being promoted as an unquestionable event to happen soon. I’m not buying it. Emotion is not an effective strategy to accomplish goals. Thinking things through to logical outcomes is a better way toward a satisfactory result.
World News Stories to Follow
August is an interesting month. The weather is always a topic. So are the bugs in the backyard. (Cicadas, anyone?) Some people are going on vacation or returning from one in August. Others are emptying their pockets to buy school supplies and clothing. Fall tuitions are due. Work goals don’t go away in August. They […]
Did SCOTUS Establish a Religion in Ruling?
Did the Supreme Court just establish a religion by issuing its opinion in the Kennedy v Bremerton School District case? Did the Supreme Court establish Christianity as a religion to exclude all others? What happened to the separation of Church and State? Maybe you see the need for a civics lesson with all the rumors […]
Happy Independence Day!
Welcome back to Common Sense Civics and Citizenship! We are considering our American Independence this week by thinking of all the reasons we have to celebrate it- yes, even now. Following the first article is a piece that addresses our need for more and better civics education. Let’s begin: Happy Independence Day! Well, it is […]
Wanted: Civics Education
Ignorance is not bliss. I am stunned at the lack of American civics knowledge on display. I mean, people in the know don’t know, and children are parroting the mistaken views of law and freedom. The Liberty Bell is ringing loud and clear (figuratively, of course). “Come all who will listen and learn the American […]
