Notes from around the Human Experience…
QUOTE THAT SUCKER: It might not be the most famous line from the Declaration of Independence, but it’s up there:
…to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…
Our favorite words are last six: from the consent of the governed.
Could You Repeat That, Please?: From the consent of the governed. We like them because they are so true. Very little in this country happens without our consent. We like to blame incumbents, but we’re the ones who made them incumbents. We like to blame the media, but we’re the ones who watch their shows and visit their websites. We like to blame lobbyists, but we’re the ones who elected the leaders who cater to them.
It always comes back to you and me, we the people, because our government is in our hands.
Gaylon For Congress…Vote Early, Vote Often: We said this every hour on the hour during our campaigns as the Libertarian nominee for both the United States Senate (2014) and the United States House of Representatives (2016):
We will always get the government we elect. Every single time.
“Let Facts Be Submitted To A Candid World”: It is difficult to argue with this. We have a president whose only real talent is drawing attention to himself? We elected him.
We are fighting wars not declared by Congress? Our bad. We continue re-elect the leaders who allow this to happen.
Boy, Are You On The Rag Today: We allow our country to continue to be saddled with a debt that is as unfathomable as it will be destructive? Let’s all look in the mirror, because we elected every one responsible for it and every Election Day we let everyone know we are going to continue to tolerate it. All of these things, and more, are happening with the consent of us, you and me, we the people, the governed.
Fly In The Ointment: Our government long ago stopped caring about their just powers because we stopped holding them accountable. They are only in it for themselves now. You know it, I know it and they know it, too. We have substandard government – and have had for a while now – because every election we consent to it yet again.
Dry, Technical Matter: Actually, up until the United States blossomed, governments had not been so much instituted among men as they were forced upon them. Those with money and power ruled those who had neither and the masses generally had little say in who governed them. The American Experiment was just that: an experiment with no guarantee of, or precedence for, success.
The Bottom Line: Just because we’ve been around for 240 years doesn’t mean America will be around for another 240 years. All of us have a collective responsibility to pay attention.
Yeah, Yeah, Whatever: We know, the habit, and comfort, of the familiar is difficult to overcome, but collectively we have to. Each of us must pay attention because if we don’t, our country will collapse, tossed aside the scrap heap of history, probably before this half-century is out.
WOW! THIS IS EXCITING!: Cy Seymour of the Cincinnati Reds establishes a major league record with four thrilling sacrifice bunts in a game against the Chicago Orphans – now known as the Cubs – on this date in 1902.
The Post Game Show Is Brought To You By Old Style Beer: The Reds beat the Orphans 6-1 and with the win the Reds pick up a half-game on idle Pittsburgh and are a mere 25.5 games behind the Pirates. With the loss the Orphans are 17.5 games back.
FunFact: Seymour’s record still stands, though it was tied by Jake Daubert of the Brooklyn Robins in 1914.
Great Moments In Dictator Overthrowing: Italy’s Prime Minister Benito Mussolini, leader of Fascist Party, is overthrown on this date in 1943, after receiving a no confidence vote from the Grand Council of Fascism. Mussolini would be arrested a few days later and rescued by the Nazis in August. He would nominally return to power in September, governing a Nazi puppet state in northern Italy, serving until April 1945 when he was captured and executed.
This Is Definitely A Violation Of Regulations: On a foggy night, the SS Andrea Doria collides with the MS Stockholm south of Nantucket Island on this date in 1956. It would sink the next day, killing 51 people.
LOL: After assisting with rescue efforts, the Stockholm as able to sail back to New York under its own power and after repairs returned to service. She has had many owners and names since, and currently sails as the Astoria, a passenger ship for the British line Cruise and Maritime Voyages.
Quote Book: Lincoln found principles and ideas more attractive than party pigeonholes. – Fred Kaplan, Lincoln: The Biography of a Writer
Answer To The Last Trivia Question: The Chicago White Sox have been involved in the most perfect games, four. Three of their pitchers (Charlie Robertson, Mark Buehrle, Philip Humber) have pitched perfect games, and they lost one to Addie Joss of Cleveland.
Today’s Stumper: From “In Congress, July 4, 1776” through “…our sacred honor” how many words long is Declaration of Independence? – Answer next time!
Gaylon was the Colorado Libertarian Party’s nominee for the United States Senate in 2014 and the United States House of Representatives in 2016. All told, he was able to con just under 70,000 to vote for him.
