Well written sir. The hypocrisy of the left is unlawful at best and dangerous to the republic at worst. The Democrats have proven not to be a worthy counterweight to the Republicans. Time to arrest and convict the scofflaws.
Just became a paid subscriber, Peter. Your clarity on our important issues is outstanding and to the point. (You have talked me off the ledge many times.) 👍🏻👍🏻c
Thank you for this excellent analysis and the refresher course on the Nullification Crisis. You covered a lot of ground and I can't say I disagree with anything!
People do well to understand that our "problems" are not unique to this generation.
This country has been here before. There is a path forward but the Democrats have to pull their collective heads out of their collective asses to get on it.
Yes, we have absolutely been through similar challenges and there is always much to learn from the past -- this is why I call my newsletter "Essential History". One thing I find fascinating (and infuriating) is the tendency of hijacking and simplifying historical narratives for political purposes. Both sides tend to do it but these days it's far more prevalent on the left.
I majored in history as an undergrad for the simple reason that it's not possible to fully understand the present if you don't know how we got here. The problem is that much of what passes for history in our universities is little more than left-wing indoctrination.
Another brilliant essay, Peter! And thank you for teaching a slew of historical details I didn’t know until now.
If you asked Americans what the Civil War was about, probably about 98% of them would respond, “slavery”. But actually, there were, in addition, decades of debate and disagreements over federal vs state powers. In the big picture, the first 250 years or so of our nation’s history could be regarded as the federal government gradually taking more power. Although I have spent most of my life in Minneapolis, I regard myself more of a Reb than a Yankee, because this nation was never supposed to have such a large and overpowering federal government.
A side note about John Calhoun: one of my neighborhood lakes was named Lake Calhoun, in his honor, back when he was VP. But in the early years of Cancel Culture, a small but annoying group of activists in Minneapolis demanded that Calhoun be “cancelled” and the lake renamed. The wussy politicians caved to this political correctness, and the lake was officially renamed the Dakota name, “Lake Bde Maka Ska”. Never mind that there are maybe 100 people left alive in the state who still speak Dakota. And never mind that the Dakota took the lake by force from the Objiwa, who undoubtedly had their own name for it.
It grates on me. Sorry, but I don’t play that game. When I kayak that beautiful lake, I kayak Lake Calhoun.
The reasons for the Civil War are quite complex. By 1860 the Confederate States had sharply diverged from the Union States in the north--socially, politically, and economically.
Saying the Civil War was over "slavery" is like saying the Great Financial Crisis in 2008 was because of interest rates. It conflates catalyst with cause.
Slavery was the catalyst. But what was behind that catalyst would fill several volumes at least.
You are right, and you are Magnificent in your comprehensive knowledge, Peter! If I could have any subject be allotted more time in high school (okay, after the basics of reading, writing, and math) it would be HISTORY. And I would put a big banner in the front of the classroom saying, “ Those who do not learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat it”.
Schools do a piss poor job of teaching history. They make what should be fascinating boring.
George RR Martin drew on the Wars of the Roses and the French dynastic conflicts of the Middle Ages to craft A Song of Ice and Fire.... and he had to tone the history down!
I read Machiavelli’s “The Prince” in high school and was horrified at the mean-spirited, manipulative way they thought “back then”. I was such an innocent that it never once occurred to me that many people still DO think that way - pretty much everyone in the Deep State!
You are not at all naive, and could beat anyone at those manipulations, Peter. But you don’t. Even after decades of seeing fully the disappointing aspects of humanity, you have retained your ability to feel compassion for your fellow man. You have worked to become more honorable, and you still care about humanity and about individuals. This is a real accomplishment, of which you can be proud.
Machiavelli wasn't mean spirited. He was a protean political scientist, and his analysis of how political power is wielded in an autocratic system is pretty accurate.
Representative democracy is a different set of power dynamics.
Yes, yes, yes!
Subscribing now. Amazing piece.
Thanks!
Well written sir. The hypocrisy of the left is unlawful at best and dangerous to the republic at worst. The Democrats have proven not to be a worthy counterweight to the Republicans. Time to arrest and convict the scofflaws.
Yes, at least peaceful!!
Just became a paid subscriber, Peter. Your clarity on our important issues is outstanding and to the point. (You have talked me off the ledge many times.) 👍🏻👍🏻c
Thanks! For the subscription and for the high praise!
Both are greatly appreciated.
Thank you for this excellent analysis and the refresher course on the Nullification Crisis. You covered a lot of ground and I can't say I disagree with anything!
Thank you!
People do well to understand that our "problems" are not unique to this generation.
This country has been here before. There is a path forward but the Democrats have to pull their collective heads out of their collective asses to get on it.
Yes, we have absolutely been through similar challenges and there is always much to learn from the past -- this is why I call my newsletter "Essential History". One thing I find fascinating (and infuriating) is the tendency of hijacking and simplifying historical narratives for political purposes. Both sides tend to do it but these days it's far more prevalent on the left.
These days I wonder if the left can even spell "history". I swear some of them act like the world began in 2008 when Obama was elected.
Much of my writing is on economic topics and lately politics. Both require a thorough knowledge of history to even begin to understand the present.
I majored in history as an undergrad for the simple reason that it's not possible to fully understand the present if you don't know how we got here. The problem is that much of what passes for history in our universities is little more than left-wing indoctrination.
Another brilliant essay, Peter! And thank you for teaching a slew of historical details I didn’t know until now.
If you asked Americans what the Civil War was about, probably about 98% of them would respond, “slavery”. But actually, there were, in addition, decades of debate and disagreements over federal vs state powers. In the big picture, the first 250 years or so of our nation’s history could be regarded as the federal government gradually taking more power. Although I have spent most of my life in Minneapolis, I regard myself more of a Reb than a Yankee, because this nation was never supposed to have such a large and overpowering federal government.
A side note about John Calhoun: one of my neighborhood lakes was named Lake Calhoun, in his honor, back when he was VP. But in the early years of Cancel Culture, a small but annoying group of activists in Minneapolis demanded that Calhoun be “cancelled” and the lake renamed. The wussy politicians caved to this political correctness, and the lake was officially renamed the Dakota name, “Lake Bde Maka Ska”. Never mind that there are maybe 100 people left alive in the state who still speak Dakota. And never mind that the Dakota took the lake by force from the Objiwa, who undoubtedly had their own name for it.
It grates on me. Sorry, but I don’t play that game. When I kayak that beautiful lake, I kayak Lake Calhoun.
The reasons for the Civil War are quite complex. By 1860 the Confederate States had sharply diverged from the Union States in the north--socially, politically, and economically.
Saying the Civil War was over "slavery" is like saying the Great Financial Crisis in 2008 was because of interest rates. It conflates catalyst with cause.
Slavery was the catalyst. But what was behind that catalyst would fill several volumes at least.
You are right, and you are Magnificent in your comprehensive knowledge, Peter! If I could have any subject be allotted more time in high school (okay, after the basics of reading, writing, and math) it would be HISTORY. And I would put a big banner in the front of the classroom saying, “ Those who do not learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat it”.
Schools do a piss poor job of teaching history. They make what should be fascinating boring.
George RR Martin drew on the Wars of the Roses and the French dynastic conflicts of the Middle Ages to craft A Song of Ice and Fire.... and he had to tone the history down!
I read Machiavelli’s “The Prince” in high school and was horrified at the mean-spirited, manipulative way they thought “back then”. I was such an innocent that it never once occurred to me that many people still DO think that way - pretty much everyone in the Deep State!
You are not at all naive, and could beat anyone at those manipulations, Peter. But you don’t. Even after decades of seeing fully the disappointing aspects of humanity, you have retained your ability to feel compassion for your fellow man. You have worked to become more honorable, and you still care about humanity and about individuals. This is a real accomplishment, of which you can be proud.
Machiavelli wasn't mean spirited. He was a protean political scientist, and his analysis of how political power is wielded in an autocratic system is pretty accurate.
Representative democracy is a different set of power dynamics.
.....states rights. (my seventh grade social studies class)
I’m glad you learned that! I fear there is no American school that still teaches anything about the issue.
Agreed😣😓
American 🇺🇲 by birth,
Southern by the Grace of God....
No thing knew under the sun.....
Thanks!