All Blog Posts (20)

I've been following an interesting discussion on Facebook about  whether to choose this candidate or that as a way to beat an incumbent, or to stick to principles, even if it means losing... all the while, the first primary (the Iowa Caucus) has just happened, and there are still a full slate of choices beyond who the media says will be the nominee for President.

Let's remember that this is still the Primary season. Time to vote for the candidate who aligns best with…

Hi Everyone... just a quick bit of housekeeping.

I'd love for anyone who has extended ideas they'd like to post on to consider doing them here on the 'Blog'.

Some folks like Pam have a Blog already where they can experiment with writing on these ideas, (see her GardinersRight Blog for an idea of what you can create)... but for anyone who'd like to start to use the FOL ideas…

GardinersRight Blog (Pam O'Dell

This debate on the Declaration of Independence is interesting:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-15345511

The Americans got it right when they went back to natural law.  It seemed to me like the British barristers had a flimsy argument.  Americans did not have the same rights at citizens in England, and the King did nothing to address the complaints listed in the Declaration.  You…

The Syracuse Study Group was inspired to read more of Bastiat after reading That Which is Seen....we chose to read The Law.  WOW!  Excellent essay that predicts most of the issues the U.S. is having today.  Bastiat gives a clear understanding of the relationship between the legislator and the people.

There are also some great comparisons between philosophers that we have touched on in FOL - Montesquieu, Solon, etc.  Robespierre said: "The principle of the…

Solyndra: That which is Seen and That which is not Seen

Recently, I've discovered the writings of economist Frederic Bastiat and they are very timely and 

very relevant.One of his better known essays is entitled "That Which is Seen and That Which is Not Seen".  In it, 

he uses stories to illustrate various scenarios in which legislators, bureaucrats and the public 

come to the false conclusion that when government taxes and spends, the results are positive - That 

which…

The Syracuse Study Group just finished That Which is Seen and That Which is Not Seen.  A great read!!  I would highly recommend Bastiat to most people we know.  Its a short, fairly easy read, and will definitely get conversations going.  I have even shared it with some of my co-workers. 

Its inspired a great idea: tweak some of some of Bastiat's examples to fit modern day, and make a short video for…

Thanks for the compliment Ken.

I look forward to being seen as a geek.

As you know, geeks rule the…

I just started reading That Which is Seen and That Which is Not Seen - every American should be reading this!  Well written, common sense, great examples.  This man knew what he was talking about in the 1800s - why are we not learning from the great thinkers of the past??  I would love to see a debate between Frederic Bastiat and Paul Krugman.  Krugman would lose.

https://www.masshist.org/publications/apde/portia.php?mode=p&id=PJA02p233#PJA02d090n5

imperium in imperio: kingdom within a kingdom

nil desperandum: There is no cause for despair; never despair.

Nil admirari: : to be excited by nothing : equanimity.

                        To be stolidly indifferent. Neither to…

Great discussions at book club last night!  Some had done the reading and some had not started, but here were some of the great topics:

-treatment of women in China

-the role of Russia in Hungary and China

-famine in other European countries (Ukraine)

-the downside of Communism

-the tricks used to disguise Communism

-how the fear of Communism has diminished in the US (discussed the decline)

-how do we change the road to American citizenship…

This is a real movement in the state to consider a Constitutional Convention for NY. It is not some small idea that one of our local patriot groups is trying to push. It has backing from current Assembly members, and they are considering putting it up for referendum on the next election ballot.

I've been sent information from NY Assemblymen Bob Oaks and Minority Leader Brian Kolb. They will be holding a town hall meeting on the topic in my county (Wayne…

A Progressive group in Rochester discovered a 'conservative' discussion group I'm part of, and normally, to be frank, I'd off just blow off his weak arguments and not try to discuss the issues, since rebuttal usualy doesn't have an impact... but I though that in light of FOL readings and trying to learn to better engage in these discussion, I'd give it a go. Here's what I said (Hopefully you can tell his originally posted message, and my following comments).

Part of…

Notes:

Summary: Skousen discusses the variations in man’s historical attempts to bring law into the lives of subjects/citizens. He describes how several key historical figures interpreted and implemented laws as a means to rule and/or govern. He contrasts God’s Law with man’s law and says, “The Law of the Covenant was rather simple. It did not attempt to deal with most of the millions of different situations which arise in human relations.”

The main point…

Dr. Brooks has written an excellent article about the "American Order" that we have lost.

America is in crisis.

Some people are immune to the sound of that drum, hearing only a Chicken Little cry of “the sky is falling.”

More, however,…