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

While it's a good thing that we have a government of laws and not of men, the federal government has taken this to extremes with the sheer volume of legislation and enabling regulations passed each session.

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An interesting diplomatic exchange between James Monroe and John Augustus Foster, just prior to the war of 1812.

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The Founding Fathers recognized the burden of large debt and the importance of paying it off. After the American Revolution, the debt equaled 35 to 40 percent of GDP at a time when government spending and taxes were just 2 percent of GDP. Today the debt is more than 80% of GDP, taxes are about 25% of GDP, while spending is higher still.

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One of the "Essential Documents" featured in The Patriot's History Reader, is President Jackson's veto message. Jackson's words are perhaps more applicable to today than for his own time.

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Daniel Solove's book is informative and disturbing in equal measures. He reveals a great deal about the way technology empowers government to gather private information virtually unhampered by the Fourth and Fifth Amendments to the Constitution. It is not a difficult book to read, but readers may find what it says hard to forget.

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The limit of executive power under the Constitution and the prerogatives of the states in a federal system were vexing in 1832 and have continued to be so. John C. Calhoun's arguments regarding nullification resonate today.

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Last week we had a look at a British account of the single ship action between the HMS Shannon and the USN Chesapeake. This week, we'll have a look at the American perspective on the loss of the USN Chesapeake.

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If you enjoy reading adventure fiction seasoned with history and featuring seemingly indestructible heroes and heroines, you’ll like Steve Berry’s The Jefferson Key. There are no spoilers in this review!

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Interesting piece on the doings at the Continental Congress and a great picture of George Washington’s commission.

Dr Benjamin Church Jr: George Washington’s Commission as Commander-in-Chief.

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If you want to understand how the Constitution became a shadow of its former self, The Dirty Dozen is an excellent place to start.

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