Federalist I and II
The Federalist Papers were written under the pseudonym “Publius,” whose authors had him acting the part of a founder of the Roman Republic. I do not think that was an accident.
History
Hard Times, Soft People, and the Lie We Tell Ourselves
The now-famous line popularized by G. Michael Hopf—“Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. Weak men create hard times”—isn’t just internet wisdom wrapped in a motivational poster. It’s a stripped-down field manual for understanding why civilizations rise, peak, wobble, and then fall flat on their face.
Why We Call It Political Science
Let us dive a bit deeper into Aristotle’s view of politics and how it differed from his teacher Plato. Previously we saw how Aristotle disagreed with his teacher Plato that only a philosopher king could properly rule. Aristotle believed that humans were inherently flawed and that reality required just laws to be supreme in order to …
A Letter of Concern and Foreboding to the Society of Professional Journalists
Several months ago, I sent a note to Caroline Hendrie, Executive Director of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), the 117-year-old organization that focuses on journalism ethics, defending the First Amendment, and providing professional development for both legacy and independent journalists. I have been a member of SPJ for more than 50 years, since I …
Aristotle and the Types of Constitutions
Aristotle believed that the guiding principle of a constitution should be “justice”. He would have defined that word as meaning the common good and the “happiness” of the community at large.
Three Knots, No Excuses: The Lost Skill That Still Saves Lives
There was a time—not that long ago—when a man who couldn’t tie a knot was considered about as useful as a screen door on a submarine. Today, we’ve got people carrying $1,200 smartphones, satellite GPS, and enough titanium gadgets clipped to their belt to look like a walking REI catalog… and they can’t tie a loop that won’t slip under load.
Aristotle
One of Plato’s students was Aristotle. After spending time as the tutor to Alexander the Great (before he was “the Great”) Aristotle formed his own school called the Lyceum.
Plato on Democracy
We generally think of Athens as the birthplace of modern democracy. It was in fact, far more directly democratic than the United States is today.
Boss Newsom’s Empire of Waste, Fraud & Mismanagement
Those of us who live in this mismanaged, Democrat-ruled dung-show are keenly aware that Gov. “Hair Gel” has already relentlessly trashed the “Golden State.”
The Modern Plato
As I was responsible yesterday for your overconsumption of wine, perhaps I can offer amends today. Remember that in the discussion of the nature of a chair, Plato hypothesized that the form of a chair existed separately from the existence of any particular chair or of the craftsman who make them. That form did not depend on space or …
History of China and the People’s Democratic Dictatorship: Successive Leaders and China’s Future Vision, Part 3
Following Mao’s death in 1976, China entered a new phase of development under Deng Xiaoping’s leadership. Deng’s reforms, known as “Socialism with Chinese Characteristics,” emphasized economic liberalization, market-oriented policies, and opening up to the global economy. The era of reform and opening unleashed rapid economic growth, modernization, and urbanization, transforming China into an economic powerhouse.
History of China and the People’s Democratic Dictatorship: Mao Zedong’s Era, Part 2
Mao Zedong’s leadership from 1949 until his death in 1976 reshaped China’s political, social, and economic landscape in profound ways. Central to Mao’s vision was the concept of the People’s Democratic Dictatorship, a term he used to describe a communist political system based on Marxist-Leninist principles adapted to Chinese conditions. Mao believed that a dictatorship of the proletariat, led by the Communist Party, was necessary to combat capitalist forces, achieve social equality, and transition to socialism.
History of China and the People’s Democratic Dictatorship: Pre-Mao Era, Part I
China’s history before Mao Zedong’s leadership was characterized by centuries of imperial rule, followed by attempts at modernization and political transformation. The Qing Dynasty, ruling from the mid-17th century until 1912, faced internal rebellions, foreign invasions, and economic challenges that weakened its authority. By the early 20th century, calls for reform and revolution grew louder, culminating in the Xinhai Revolution of 1911 and the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty.
Night Witches and the Art of Terror: How Improvised Bombers Haunted the Wehrmacht After Dark
In 1941, the Soviet Union was being dismantled at industrial speed. Entire armies vanished. Cities fell. Aircraft factories were evacuated east while German armor drove forward. There was no time for elegance. The Red Army needed pilots, aircraft, and pressure on the enemy—immediately. So they did something profoundly unromantic and brutally practical: they took civilians who could fly and turned them into combat airmen.
The Infamous Zapruder Film And The Issue Of Its Veracity: Why Did The Government Employ Intelligence Resources In A Secret Squirrel Operation To Evaluate The Film? Part 6
By the summer of 1963 Vice President Johnson-LBJ-was carrying a lot of baggage and was somewhat on the outs with the administration. Open rumors abounded that were not being denied by the JFK administration that alternatives were being considered for LBJ on the JFK ticket, should he be investigated by congress for either the Billy Sol Estes or Bobby Baker investigations, or both.
The Prophet of the Publix Parking Lot
“Yeah, I got a story for you,” said the old woman in the nursing home.
She had midnight skin, dandelion-fuzz hair, and she smoked Newports. Each day she liked to park her wheelchair in the parking lot where she could face the supermarket, and watch all the happy customers walk in and out of Publix.
From Freedom Convoy to Financial Control: The Rise of Instant Compliance
If you want a glimpse of how modern pressure can scale fast, look north to the winter of 2022 and the protests known as the Freedom Convoy. What began as a cross-country movement of truckers opposing cross-border vaccine requirements turned into a broader protest against mandates and restrictions. The response from the Canadian government under Justin Trudeau was decisive: emergency powers were invoked, certain financial accounts connected to the protests were frozen, and law enforcement moved to clear blockades. Supporters called it necessary to restore order; critics saw it as a warning shot—how quickly financial access and mobility can be restricted in a modern, digitally connected system.
The Real Virus: How Fear, Stress, and Certainty Changed Us
You didn’t need a history degree to recognize what was happening during the pandemic—you just needed to pay attention to how quickly ordinary people changed under pressure. Not all at once, not everywhere, but enough to notice a pattern. Stress, fear, and anxiety didn’t just shape policy; they reshaped behavior. And in many cases, they …
Smoke, Steel, and 1,000 Yards: The Great International Rifle Match at Dollymount
The year was 1875, and long before ESPN, endorsement deals, or even organized leagues as we know them, one of the most electric sporting events on earth unfolded on a windswept stretch of Irish coastline at Dollymount, just outside Dublin. This was the Great International Rifle Match—a transatlantic clash that, for a brief window in history, made precision rifle shooting a premier spectator sport.
Business with Iran: Intelligence Report by George Mcclellan
The Islamic Republic of Iran launched a religious war against us almost fifty years ago (1979), and we still don’t believe it. Before his overthrow, the Shah of oil-rich Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, was implementing modernization, Western ideals, and industrialization policies. A revolution occurred because the strict Islamists called the Shah’s government too restrictive, like Democrats are doing here today, causing the Shah’s government to quickly fall into the hands of the strict Islamic ideologues. It is regretted today!