The American Tory

The decaying carcass known as Detroit appears to be spawning inflections in other areas now. For example, it appears the criminal elements so rampant in Detroit needs new markets for their business so they have set up shop in Washington PA, a town about 25 miles from where I live.

It becomes clearer everyday that Detroit is a national problem because its decay is not just infecting its general area, but its spreading to surrounding states.

The immigration debate always drove me nuts. I never understood the right on the issue and the left always seems to make a pathetic case for the reasonable position.

 Are both parties devoid of reason at this point?

Researchers have found evidence of a trend that many have noticed through human history: The oldest child tends to be the smartest and most successful.

I have noticed this among my family and friends. I consistently got better grades in school when compared to by younger brother. I have seen similar trends among several of my best friends, who are the oldest in their families.

I think that the reason the oldest tends to have a higher IQ is because they are generally given greater responsibilities and are setting a standard for themselves. Younger siblings tend to live in the shadow of their older siblings if they are involved in the same activities. My brother has had to deal with this in high school where the teachers would compare his performance to mine and expect the same out of him. Parents are partially responsible for this also. I have seen this with my parents and with the parents of my friends. The oldest is always expected to be the most successful.

It appears the Reagan Diaries beat Al Gore’s Assault on Reason for the most books sold by five. What is with Al losing by small margins?

History 308 – US and the World since 1945 – A

History 316 – Europe in the 20th Century – A

Political Science 304 – Constitutional Law – A

Political Science 413 – German Political Philosophy – B+

Political Science 597 – Strategic Assessment – A (I got the grade last year, but I audited it this year)

Semester GPA – 3.875

Overall GPA – 3.54

I swear every time I go to Walmart, which is fewer and fewer now, the service gets worse.

Tonight

Carts sticking 10 feet out of the car bins into the travel lanes.

4 checkouts open out of 27.

Lines 5 to 10 people deep.

Only one express lane.

The place looked like a dump.

This is a question I have been asking myself recently. Over the years, I have heard that I keep people in check from some. Others say I expect too much out of people. 

I have always operated by the following doctrine:

I expect a lot out of myself. Most would say too much, but life is not fun without some challenges.

While I expect a lot out of myself, I do not hold others to a standard above me. In fact, I hold myself to a standard substantially above others.

This is not out of some egotistical sense of superiority, but a realization that I cannot expect others to have the same exact standards as myself. That said, I do not accept any behavior out of people when I am judging their character. I have done this in the past and it has caused slight problems. Being a decent human being and trying your best should be base standards in my opinion.

In reflection, I am not hard on people per se. The problem is that society has lowered the bar so far that petty and what I would argue to be pathetic passions are accepted as normal. There is nothing such as self-control anymore.

Liberal leader Stephane Dion…

Being an observer of politics, I can not believe what I am seeing. In a major Western democracy, Canada, the party that has historically formed more governments than any other is killing itself.

The Liberal Party leader, Stephane Dion, who speaks English worse than Borat, has made a deal with the devil, the Greens.

I am big about the environment and everything, but this is insane. Read the Green Party of Canada platform to see what I mean.

The Liberals claim to be the part of the center, but how can be a party of the center when you work with these people.

Seeing it is the week of President George Washington’s birthday and there is such discussion about religious faith and politics in the air, I thought it was a good time to post one of my favorite letters of all time, President Washington’s letter to the Hebrew Congregation at Newport, RI. Enjoy…

Letter to the Hebrew Congregation at Newport

George Washington
August 1790

Gentlemen:

While I received with much satisfaction your address replete with expressions of esteem, I rejoice in the opportunity of assuring you that I shall always retain grateful remembrance of the cordial welcome I experienced on my visit to Newport from all classes of citizens.

The reflection on the days of difficulty and danger which are past is rendered the more sweet from a consciousness that they are succeeded by days of uncommon prosperity and security.

If we have wisdom to make the best use of the advantages with which we are now favored, we cannot fail, under the just administration of a good government, to become a great and happy people.

The citizens of the United States of America have a right to applaud themselves for having given to mankind examples of an enlarged and liberal policy—a policy worthy of imitation. All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship.

It is now no more that toleration is spoken of as if it were the indulgence of one class of people that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights, for, happily, the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens in giving it on all occasions their effectual support.

It would be inconsistent with the frankness of my character not to avow that I am pleased with your favorable opinion of my administration and fervent wishes for my felicity.

May the children of the stock of Abraham who dwell in this land continue to merit and enjoy the good will of the other inhabitants—while every one shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree and there shall be none to make him afraid.

May the father of all mercies scatter light, and not darkness, upon our paths, and make us all in our several vocations useful here, and in His own due time and way everlastingly happy.

G. Washington

Letter from TeachingAmericanHistory.org