Purveyors of Fear

In his first inaugural address in 1932, President Franklin D. Roosevelt famously said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” These words were designed as encourage a nation that had been deeply shaken to its roots as a result of the Great Depression. It was an event that was experienced Read more…

Judicial Engagement

When Associate Justice Antonin Scalia sat on the Supreme Court, he advocated for an originalist interpretation of the Constitution based on the words that actually appear in it. He was not a proponent of judicial activism, but rather of judicial constraint. Do the facts of a case comport to the letter Read more…

A Supreme Debate

There are few judicial principles more vital to the freedom and our republican form of government than this: Jus dicere, et non jus dare, that is “to declare the law, not to make it.” The people who founded America debated this concept. The Federalists wanted a strong national government with three branches: Read more…

Testing Truth

Recently, I had a discussion with someone about the nature of truth. I contended objective truth is important to distinguish between right and wrong actions. He countered that deciding what is right or wrong was actually engaging in “subjective” truth; that truth, righteousness, and wisdom, are all subjective. Moreover, he argued that “perception” is Read more…

Blissful Ignorance

Recently I was thinking about how blessed we are in our modern existence. Like many of you, I’ve travelled throughout Europe. In the process I’ve visited museums and castles where images of past kings, queens, dukes, and duchesses graced the walls. There were also images of common people doing common things, frequently in Read more…

Words and Frogs

I’ve spent a good portion of life in the political world, so I am familiar with how words are used in politics and, if the public isn’t adroit in understanding how terms are used to manipulate the truth, they risk being hoodwinked. Some words have been twisted beyond reason and Read more…