9 Comments

Well written, Madison was a true genius. I have yet to figure out how any could support MAGA and claim to be a Christian.

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I’m grateful for your kind words George. I cannot figure it out either. One clue could be found in the religious rhetoric on both sides of the Civil War. Our Narrative Identity or specific identity is tough to alter and can last for several generations, sometimes centuries.

On a related note, I often wonder if your dad’s scholarship on Lincoln was published somewhere that I could read it. My dad always spoke so highly of him and his work.

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Not to my knowledge. He taught a Wittenberg and there may be something there.

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No, my father never published anything except an expanded family tree. That shows our relationship to Abe's brother through my mom. Probably just us and a thousand others.

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Thank you for the answer George. Well, it is still nice to know that you're related to American royalty. ;)

My very best to you and yours, for a most remarkable Christmas and holiday season.

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Sep 13, 2023
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Rogelio,

Thank you for the kind words and sharing this article. Yes, I do agree with the author on a variety of fronts. Most troubling to me and of course all of the working folks in our nation, is the income disparity. I have been turning over an article to yet be written about American Oligarchy that will echo some of the article's sentiments about undue privilege for the so-called 1%. Oligarchy has no place in our constitutional republic, especially due to the wielding of influence that comes with proximity of power and to the law-making that extends those privileges.

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Sep 13, 2023Edited
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Interesting and thoughtful comments Rogelio. The only place I would partially disagree is that Madison in particular, but with support from the overwhelming majority of our delegates at the constitutional convention and that of ratification, were adamant about concentrating power in the Federal Government. The "checks and balances" worked until recent history that sees the current version of the GOP, undermining Madison's brilliance, with full intention. Even SCOTUS is doing this by passing several powers to the states, rather than defending Madison's genius.

As for Flynn and his unholy alliances, which include a variety of private armies, is doing his best to destroy America's constitutional republic. As for defense contracting, it has become precisely what the last "principled conservative" president foresaw, a threat to our nation. The nepotism and willingness to pay any amount for success or failure, is hard cooked into the existing paradigm.

Thank you kindly for the comments and again, we are largely in agreement.

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Sep 14, 2023
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There is some more on Madison at this link that I believe will help to expand knowledge on Madison's contributions, especially in regard to Judicial Review. https://constitutioncenter.org/news-debate/special-projects/a-madisonian-constitution-for-all/essay-series/james-madison-and-the-judicial-power

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I agree with your sentiments here and this goes directly to what is called, the "Federal Negative." Please see the following link from Harvard Business School: https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=50399

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