The Daily Dose/June 11, 2019
By Gaylon Kent
America’s Funniest Guy
Leading Off
As noted below, today is the 243rd anniversary of the Continental Congress appointing a committee to write what would become the Declaration of Independence. All five are certified Founding Fathers and while two are generally remembered only by the most persistent history buffs, the other three are living down the ages. As we have before here, we found ourselves wondering what the members of the Committee of Five might think of the country they helped found.
Roger Sherman, who favored allowing the federal government to raise money and regulate commerce, would probably be shell shocked at exactly how much money the government raises and how much they regulate business in our country.
Robert Livingston, respectfully known as the Chancellor, was the minister to France who negotiated the Louisiana Purchase and it is probably not a stretch to say he might well be appalled at how much his country now interferes in the affairs of other countries.
Benjamin Franklin would marvel at the airplane and, immediately upon arrival in first class, would order champagne and flirt with your wives and, as likely as not, your daughters. It is unlikely he would be surprised at our technological advancements and he would be impressed with every one of them.
Thomas Jefferson would be glad, relieved, to see the slavery he abhorred but did absolutely nothing to eliminate – either on his plantation or in his country – abolished. Always a fan of exploration, Jefferson would delight at the pictures his fellow humans took on the moon.
John Adams, who once said democracies eventually “exhaust” and “murder” themselves, would in no way, shape or form be surprised to see America within a generation or two of self-destruction.
All would wonder at, but perhaps not be surprised by, the inept, partisan and bickering government we have now. They would wonder because they had the courage to shed a government they found intolerable and would wonder why you and I – we the people – didn’t have similar courage. Smart men with insights into human nature, they wouldn’t be particularly surprised, though, because they knew us humans have a tough time shedding the familiar, even when the familiar is not serving us particularly well. All five would also tell us that a better government is there for the taking and would encourage, and probably demand, we take advantage of the regular elections they provided for us. They would tell us the solution to our country’s problems looks us in the mirror every morning: concerned and conscientious citizens wanting better for their country, just like they did.
They would realize, like we should, that America cannot continue with perpetual war and mindless spending with impunity. Eventually, perhaps before this half-century is out, it will destroy us.
The solution is you and me – we the people – demanding better government on Election Day. It starts with you and starts with me and it starts in 2020. America’s next Founding Fathers – you and me, we the people – look us in the mirror every morning.
Today At The Site
The Diary of a Nobody: Sparrow deals with a guest whose credit card was declined at check-in. Today’s Diary.
…he came in about 0030 and he was surprised the card was declined because it was a company card and he works for a pretty big company, too, one you would think pays its bills…I swiped the actual card, on the off chance an incorrect number was entered when the reservation was made, but no go, it was still declined…He offered a personal card for the first night, until he could talk to the bastards at corporate…
It’s Sparrow, an average man passing an average life.
The drivel simply does not stop: please click on the button to read The Diary of a Nobody. $5.99 includes all entries, past, present, and future.
On This Date
In 1776 – The Second Continental Congress, meeting in Philadelphia, appoints five members to a committee to draft a document announcing they were separating from Great Britain. The members of the committee were Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston and Thomas Jefferson. Known to History as the Committee of Five, everyone but Jefferson was content to leave the writing of what would become the Declaration of Independence to Jefferson, who had a first draft ready by June 28.
In 1919 – Sir Barton, ridden by Johnny Loftus, becomes the first horse to win what is now known as the Triple Crown, winning the Belmont Stakes in 2 minutes, 17.4 seconds for what was then a 1⅜ mile race. On May 10 Sir Barton won the Kentucky Derby and four days later won the Preakness. In between the Preakness and the Belmont stakes he won the Withers Stakes at Aqueduct in New York City. The term Triple Crown would not come into general usage until the 1920s and since Sir Barton, twelve other horses have won the Triple Crown, most recently by Justify in 2018.
In 1966 – The Rolling Stones are at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 for the first of two consecutive weeks with Paint It Black. The song also went to #1 in Great Britain, Canada and the Netherlands, where it also went to #1 again in 1990. It was the third #1 song for the Stones in the US and their sixth #1 in their native Britain. It was also the first #1 song to feature the sitar, played by Brian Jones. The Stones were followed at #1 by the Beatles and Frank Sinatra, marking the only time chart history three of the biggest acts in chart history appeared at #1 consecutively.
Quotebook
Every man is free to do that which he wills, provided he infringes not on the equal freedom of any other man.
Herbert Spencer
Answer To The Last Trivia Question
James Earl Ray was arrested for the murder of Martin Luther King, Jr at Heathrow Airport in London.
Today’s Stumper
Who was the second horse to win the Triple Crown? – Answer next time!
