I have a link to an article in Hillsdale College’s newsletter from Dr. Charles Murray on whether we should have a Department of Education. It is an interesting article that I enjoyed:
Archive for the ‘Democracy’ Category
Department of Education Article
Thursday, January 26th, 2012Occupy: What links Occupy and the Tea Party?
Thursday, November 10th, 2011As Emily and I were pulling up to City Hall in Philly, we noticed the Occupy tent village. The first big tent that I saw was bedecked with a very large Ron Paul sign. From what we witnessed concerning the Occupy a few minutes later—chants of curse words and cries for revolution—I was knocked a little sideways concerning how a Ron Paul sign—most Pauline supporters seem quite committed to things like personal responsibility (unlike the Occupiers) even if their libertarianism goes off the rail at times (for more on this see Wilson’s article). What pray tell do these too groups have in common?
Occupy: A Front Row Seat at the Revolution?
Monday, November 7th, 2011During this last weekend, Emily and I slipped away and spent some time in Philadelphia. It was to celebrate the impending end of a decade long project called Omnibus! We planned our weekend to maximize rest, eat a few meals at some nice restaurants, and spend some time talking about what we need to accomplish as Christians, as spouses, as parents, and as members of this community over the next 15 years. It was a blast! It was also very thought provoking. We were on our way to a restaurant Friday evening. When we walked past (almost walked right into) the Occupy march which was coming down Broad Street moving down the Avenue of the Arts in Philadelphia. This caused a few musings for Emily and I that I will share in this and two other posts entitled, Occupy: A Front Row Seat at the Revolution?, Occupy: What links Occupy and the Tea Party, Occupy: Where should our tents be; and what should we be doing!
I have watched this Occupy movement . . . .
Rubicon
Wednesday, July 13th, 2011I just finished Tom Holland’s excellent book on history of the demise of the Roman Republic called Rubicon. Anyone interested in the perils of our imperiled republic would do well to read it also.
What could lead the proudest, most stubbornly democratic and independent group of people in the history of the world to fall in line behind an Emperor effectively surrendering all power to him? This is the difficult question that Holland poses. He artfully works you toward his answer. Characters such as Marius and Sulla, Cicero and Cato, Pompey and Caesar are all explored. (more…)
Planning an Escape from Nixonland
Monday, June 6th, 2011In a previous post I outlined some of the insights in the stunning book Nixonland by Rick Perlstein. In it, Perlstein deftly chronicles the unraveling of the American political center and the building and hardening of America into two mutually exclusive, enthusiastic, groups who now wage a (we must assume never ending) war for power and control of the future of our country. Both of these groups have left off arguing with each other (they just yell) and have left off seeking to persuade the center—except for the two months preceding an election. In Nixonland, politicians are successful not because of wisdom, and honesty. They do not even traffic in those areas. They are brilliant if they are cunning and can craft 15 second sound bites that divide the country into 50% + 1 on their side. During the time chronicled in this must read work (the mid 60s to the early 70s), the spirit of revolution again invaded our country. It is fomenting still on cable news channels as we speak. It keeps leaders from doing what they should (like dealing with long term debt issues in our country) and keeps them focused on using “whatever means necessary” to win the next political battle and gain control if only for a season to work to bring in their kingdom. This is true of both the left and the right.
If we are to survive as a country, we must plan an escape from Nixonland.
Rhetoric, Protest, Persuasion, and the Death of Democracy
Wednesday, May 25th, 2011At the end of the school year, a sense of relief vibrates through many here at Veritas Academy. We look forward to reading, beaches, and yard work. We enjoy all of these things within the context of the Western democracy called America. Presently, I am working on some writing work for Omnibus VI and thinking a lot about the 1960s and early 1970s. Here are some of my thoughts about that time and about the present state of things (post “that time”).
Democracy in the Middle East
Monday, January 31st, 2011The biggest news on the world stage recently is the uprising of the people against the government in Egypt. There is a lot to be hopeful about in this, but there is a deep underlying problem. We, as a nation, find ourselves in the odd position of being friends of the dictators that are about to be (or in the case of Tunisia have been) overthrown. Why do we work with dictators who oppress the people? We do this because we fear Arab democracies.
Right now, it is in vogue to think that if we just get rid of Arab dictators that Jeffersonian Democracy will take root all over the Middle East. This was the second justification for the War in Iraq (when no weapons of mass destruction were found). This assertion is not just dubious—it is most assuredly false. It can only be made by a culture who has no clue about how we arrived at the place of blessing that we inhabit. (more…)
The Politics of Tragedy
Friday, January 14th, 2011The tragic murders in Arizona during the attempted assassination attempt on the life of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords by a deranged man have resounded through our nation for the last week. They have also become a political football kicked and passed (and fumbled) by many. There are some educational and political lessons that we should learn—politics first:
- The political left uses tragedies to take swipes at the right even when—maybe I should say especially when—there is no cause. The left wants gun control. All facts are used to prove that it is necessary. Of course, let me be clear, this fellow should not have had a gun! The idea that somehow mass restriction on guns will keep guns out of the hands of criminals is dubious. I believe that the left has learned (maybe it is just instinctual) that they should toss accusation at the right whenever something like this happens especially if there is no reasonable connection between the action and anyone on the right. They do this because…
- The political right (in the case Governor Palin) does not handle these sorts of swipes well and too often ends up looking petty as they react to these baseless attacks. Governor Palin is not to blame for this event. The fellow was deranged. Communist Manifesto was one of his favorite books—which, of course is not one on the Glenn Beck approved list. Governor Palin, I am sure, got angry because she was unjustly smeared. Sadly, she released her video response at the same time that President Obama was at the bully pulpit. She is justified in her anger. Her response was unwise. Any sort of reaction that rebuts personal concerns looks petty—particularly against Obama’s excellent and uplifting speech. I am not sure why she did it, but, politically, I do not think it was wise.
- Finally, both sides of our political spectrum seem immune to both history and reason. The chant arises that our political rhetoric is over the top. It is. This “over the topness”, however, is not new. It has been a characteristic of American politics (and American life) since the third election (Adams v. Jefferson). We are given to overstatement. In some ways our political dialogue is fruitless today, but not because of its vitriol, but because of our penchant for having hurt feelings. We cannot argue with each other. We preach to the choir and stir them in a froth. Real political gains happen when leaders focus their rhetoric more broadly but still resonate with their base—see Ronald Reagan on this point.
Thankful for our Representation
Wednesday, December 1st, 2010I am so thankful for Gordon Denlinger, State Representative from the 99th district and Veritas Academy Board Advisor. He is returning his automatic cost of living increase in pay this year. I am in favor of a state legislature that meets about 60 days a year and has very part time pay (and cannot do as much pernicious stuff). I know that we have a full time legislature and it can work, but it takes men of a high level of integrity like Gordon to make things work. Here is a link to his official message:
Representative Denlinger’s message
Please pray for Representative Denlinger and our new governor as they seek to stem the tide of government spending.
Reflections on Veterans Day
Friday, November 12th, 2010Today, we celebrated Veterans Day. We held a formal and solemn ceremony at Veritas Academy. I was blessed to be in attendance. Roger St. Germaine, an old friend and a godly example of courage and service, spoke at the event. I was struck by a few things . . .
