What are your hopes and dreams? We generally fail to realize that how we are governed has more to say about whether we will ever realize our hopes and dreams. When I sat down to think about this question years ago, it led me to study our founding documents and eventually receive certification to teach […]
Authority and Responsibility Must Walk Together
Did you ever stand alone for something you believed against all odds? These men did precisely that: Algernon Sidney was beheaded for it. John Locke wrote about it. Alexander Hamilton declared it. James Madison did something about it. What deep-seated belief caused these men to stand up against all odds to proclaim their message? It […]
Who Were the Framers’ Influencers?
Thank you for returning and subscribing to the Common Sense Civics and Citizenship newsletter. It’s great to have you here. I get a lot of questions about the Constitution.We address two of them this week. Can the Constitution ever be removed from the American people?” and “How did our Constitution come about?” Let’s dive right […]
Which Government Is Best?
A simple scan of today’s headlines reveals the following: A new survey of registered voters claims 53% of respondents think there is an agenda of ‘big government socialism.’ Twelve American cities broke their annual homicide records this year. In Europe, the attempt to restrict words like “Christian” and “Christmas” is described as dictatorship-like. There’s a […]
What In the World Is Going On Here?
Yes, I feel it, too. What is going on in the nation? It’s been hard to discuss the Constitution when our country is grieving and a whirlwind is swirling around us. Frankly, one reader confided in me that they are confused. Since this is Common Sense Civics and Citizenship, let’s emphasize “common sense” as we […]
Americans Argue; Publius To The Rescue
Publius (John Adams, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay) to the rescue again, as they have wisdom we could use in our current national dialogue. Please stick with me as I set the stage. Heard on the street: Americans arguing about each other’s V-status. In one scenario, two boat owners were screaming and cussing at each […]
Learning from Our Forefathers
“It has been often said that the people of this country will decide the important question of whether societies can establish a good government by careful thought and choice. Or whether people are forever destined to be governed only by accident and force.” (Webster, Mary E. The Federalist Papers in Modern Language. 2018. p. 1) […]
Learn from Sherman’s Character and Quirks
Having applied for instructor certification with the Institute on the Constitution, I was observed teaching (and passed with no corrections!) and then asked to complete an essay. One of the questions was this: “What is one of your favorite quotes from our Founders?” I used a favorite quote from founding father Roger Sherman. The founder […]
Who Were Those Other Influencers?
Welcome back to this page! Glad to have you here. What a tumultuous week in our nation! My passion is Founding documents education. It’s a good thing because in my view, if you know the American founding documents, you can’t be tricked into emotional responses. You’re not asleep at the wheel while your liberties slowly […]
Who Are Your Influencers?
Welcome back or for the first time to Common Sense Civics and Citizenship! Always glad to have your participation here. This week, we explore two topics that generated a ton of interest. First, I was observed and critiqued by the Institute on the Constitution to be certified as an instructor. Happy to report that I […]
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 […]
Have We Taken Our Freedoms for Granted?
Have we taken our freedoms for granted? Have we, as a nation, become dependent on others to keep the fires of liberty burning? According to the Declaration of Independence, our government gets its power from you and me by our consent. We agree to place people in our national government that will represent our concerns […]
Personal Note from Candace
What brought us together as a country in the beginning? What helped us overcome our differences and become one nation? This week, I began a series called “The Ties that Bind.” People are asking me what to do. They have also pitched some anger my way. Has that happened to you? Let’s go back to […]
A Road Map for What’s Next
“These are the times that try men’s souls…”- Thomas Paine, author of Common Sense. As Americans, we can relate to Thomas Paine’s pain, if you will. We wonder, what will happen in the next days and weeks to our country? What will be the outcome? Since this is a civics education page, I will summarize […]
Christmas Overnight, 1776
Christmas overnight, December 25-26, 1776. Rain turned to sleet, turned to ice, turned into a biting storm from the northeast. Who would brave a night like that with a poorly clad, hungry, tired army and the need to cross the ice-choked Delaware River? George Washington would. The army was battle-weary and in bad need of […]
