Today's Politicos vs The Words and Deeds of The Founders

While, at first blush, The Screwtape Letters might not seem the kind of thing that fits our WWTFT theme, it turns out that there are a few things which are relevant.

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In this week's crossword, there are a few cryptic clues. It should be solvable regardless of how tough they may be, since the source of all the words used, the first few paragraphs of Thomas Paine's, The Crisis, is included for your reading pleasure.

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James Monroe is not a subject easily captured within the confines of a book. Harlow Giles Unger, nevertheless, does a masterful job in this biography of hero, diplomat, statesman, president and man for all seasons, James Monroe.

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Guest blogger, Michael Newton examines the process by which the Founders decided upon the electoral college method of choosing the president. He finds their decision to be an important part of the system of checks and balances they put in place and warns against weakening it.

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The authors challenge popular perceptions of George Washington, drawing upon history to make their case. They also provide a glimpse of what those ignorant of our founding history are missing.

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In Forgotten Patriots, author Edwin G Burrows rights an awful wrong. The patriot prisoners who risked death rather than abandon their honor and their country, suffered horribly, but their sacrifices have gone largely unnoticed because it has not been politically expedient to reveal their treatment at the hands of the British.

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This week's crossword puzzle is based on another one of Franklin's writings. His observations on taxation and charity are just as applicable today as when he wrote them in 1766. Even if you don't do the puzzle, it's worth reading.

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In this essay Madison argues for American exceptionalism. He dismisses the argument that says "the form of government recommended for your adoption is a novelty in the political world." Rather he sees the republic as "the glory of the people of America" for "they accomplished a revolution which has no parallel in the annals of human society."

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Federalist No. 13 is short but surprisingly interesting for a look into Hamilton's brilliant political perceptions. In this essay, Hamilton is again arguing for the efficacy of maintaining the Union. This time his argument revolves around the economies of scale to be realized in one government rather than in several confederacies. Along the way he predicts that should the union be dismembered, it would be split between North and South.

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James Madison was another indispensable man. Every American owes a debt of gratitude to the man called the Father of the Constitution. Madison was instrumental in getting the convention together, hammering out compromises during the convention, in fighting for ratification, and in getting the Bill of Rights through the first Congress. Oh, and he also served as the 4th President of the United States.

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