Some wonder where I came up with my screen name. Among other sports I grew up playing baseball from childhood into college and have followed the game all of my life, which is where the name originates. Professional baseball has been all about teams trading players for over a century. Some of those players have been called trade bait to attract other teams to do deals with them. The players they offer, the trade bait, are usually good or have upside that might fit another team’s needs. However, they are not considered key players on their current rosters. So the clubs use them to attract the talent they believe they need from rosters of other clubs.

Such was also life in my business career. Hence, TradeBait.

Today’s scripture is from Matthew 16:13-18;

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.”

All of life hinges upon your response to these questions of Jesus, “But what about you? Who do you say I am?” If you answer as Simon, God the Father has informed you. Be thankful, have peace in your soul and tell others. It is worth noting that Jesus asked these questions at what was believed to be the gate of Hades itself at Mt. Hermon in Caesarea Philippi, the center of Greek paganism and debauchery that is said to have included human sacrifices and sexual perversion in the cave beyond its entrance. Which is why he went on to say in verse 18;

“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” 

These scriptures lead in well to today’s subject, which is also a major worldwide culture and character divider in America that has a constructionism dividing line – Christianity.

I will be spending more time in this and future threads discussing the applications of these terms. Reminder:

Strict Constructionist – Literal and narrow reading (interpretation) of the document that limits the powers of the federal government to what it provides.

Loose Constructionist – Views it as a “living document” that is interpreted broadly that adapts to society as it evolves and its needs change..

For this subject, please ignore the federal government related documents and powers aspect in the definitions. Insert the Bible and its authority instead. Consider which Christian denominations, groupings, and individual belief systems would have strict versus loose constructionists today. Remember that strict is a literal or narrow as written view while loose views it as a “living document” that adjusts with an evolving society and world.

All sorts of descriptive words have been used with the two. Fundamentalists, traditionalists, Bible thumpers, holy rollers, snake handlers, Jesus Freaks and such would come to mind with some folks to represent the strict constructionists. Ecumenical, whiskapalians, Gracelanders, cultural Christians, liberation theologists, Christ progs, social gospelers and so on represent the loose constructionists.

If we go back to the Revolutionary War period we could say that most Christians were strict. That would mean they had a more narrow interpretation of the Bible and operated more rigidly in the churches. The loose interpretation would go to the enlightenment influenced folks who trusted reason and experience as they would view the Bible more philosophically. That was a smaller, but growing group in those days. Over time it led to the social gospel and social justice to take root during that period. Some may have called themselves Christian in a cultural sense. That would make them more acceptable to society.

The same applies today. It would seem obvious that perhaps the majority of Christians have a loose constructionist view of Christianity. Even some members of the Catholic Church have been looking the other way and supporting social gospel and justice positions. Many ignore church tenets about abortion, homosexuality, divorce and so on. This attitude is especially true in blue states where the Catholic Church dominates Christian culture, yet, is still losing membership who walk away, per their own statistics provided by the Catholic News Agency. These are clearly cultural Christians who are loose constructionists of the faith who have influenced the priesthood to lighten up on the old dogmatic approach if they want their attendance and donations.

Catholicism may have been THE most conservative, strict constructionist faith in Christianity at one time. But it really never has translated that way in the election booth in America as the blue states continue voting lockstep for the political party that endorses the activities the Bible has warned against for many decades. For example the majority there refuse to vote for GOP candidates; a political party that openly supports Christianity, is pro life and has conservative societal views.

But a similar aversion to the written word has also been happening with Protestants. This “we all have sinned so how can I judge them” argument is accepted as the gospel in many churches. They sing their beautiful contemporary songs and listen to pastors who never mention the reality of sin, discipline, Hell, or the judgment that is a significant part of Christianity. They sell cheap faith – get saved, baptized and go do your thing. You have your fire insurance. This type faith is a million miles wide and less than an inch deep.

Starting at America’s founding, in what direction has the majority of Christianity moved over the 260+ years since Jonathon Edwards, George Whitefield and the Great Awakening of strict constructionists led hundreds and even thousands of attendees at each service to fall to the ground as if dead from fear for the state of their souls due to the realization they had fallen short of Holy God’s desire for their lives? The answer for the Christian version of leading up to more recent times is obvious – the wrong direction away from truth. It is also the opposite direction of the 50+ founding fathers who signed the Declaration of Independence and risked everything for our freedom.

This has led to songs such as these from artists who sense we have been in trouble as a people.

As well as from others who sensed and discovered there was more to life and found it in the red letters…

Add in some direction for finding what we truly seek. Yeah, it’s a Christmas special. So what, it’s truth!

Observation

What direction has #47, cabinet and patriots been pushing the SCOTUS and government in general? Yup. Clearly he is pushing it all back toward our founding and a strict constructionist understanding and administration of the Constitution. With all of the deep state and liberal pushback, how will he and the patriots get it done?

Us.

We the People of MAGA are his real military. This war has nothing to do with us taking up arms, although we are certainly willing to do so if the fist of criminal oppression rises against us. But in this situation there is a war for the hearts, minds and SOULS that involves the education of the masses in opposition. Many of the oppressors have no idea they have been manipulated by the globalist cabal who have used loose constructionism as their weapon in government as well as being in collusion with some faith leaders going back nearly two centuries.

Which is why it is so encouraging to see TPUSA on fire with young people all over this nation. They know the world they have been raised in is filled with bull crap activists that are as misguided as the educators trying to brainwash them. They were already thinking things through and none of it added up. Evil did not win the day it killed Charlie Kirk. It birthed a response that will engulf and devour the demons like a lion. For those who have not been keeping up TPUSA reported on 1/12/26 that there have been 1,371 new chapters opened on college campuses with a total of 4,221 new chapters nationwide in only FOUR MONTHS.

They remember Charlie just as we do. The reason they remember Charlie is he spoke with them and encouraged dialog instead of speaking at or down to them like leftists do.

The full benefit of this commitment by America’s young people will be felt for decades and it is only beginning.

The Constitution with related laws and rights are not “living documents” to be viewed loosely with the prevailing attitudes and understanding of the times any more than that view applies to the Holy Bible. They contain universal truths. The Declaration of Independence even states, “We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator…” and so on. They establish a foundation for law and governance that comes from an understanding of Christian faith. The two fit hand in glove.

The Creator of all and everything does not change. He made that perfectly clear in Malachi 3:6. Hebrews 13:8 gives the same message about Jesus. The Lord had mankind write what He wanted written. He gave of Himself with His Son on that Cross at Calvary. He left Himself in the lives of believers through the Holy Spirit (Ghost). He also inspired the words that were written and approved by the founding fathers of our country in the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights – the latter two documents that resulted from the Declaration and its submission to the providence of God.

The purpose of the Holy Word that He gave us as well as the founding documents of America are what they are. They do not change – we do. We conform to them to live in harmony with God as well as one another.

There can be no amendments to the former. It is written with the blood of Christ and He said, “It is finished.” That eliminates the living document aspect of loose constructionism from consideration with the Bible. The latter acknowledges Divine Providence, Creator, Supreme Being, the Lord, etc. You can not have Divine Providence without God, as it is a Christian term.

When our nation gets in trouble it is because we fail to live up to that covenant. Our founding fathers stated they wanted that covenant when they stated the nation sought to be under the Divine Providence in the documents. The diaries and personal correspondence of nearly all of them are even more effusive and convincing, there is no legitimate alternative conclusion of their intent. When we turn from that relationship and start doing what the world does individually and corporately, which is supported by the backers of loose constructionists in the Christian church as well government, our world gets turned upside down. Cause and effect go on full display.

The globalist cabal who have loosened the law over that time have made it increasingly difficult to have justice served throughout the corrupted system. They have used the method to do the same to Christian faith based institutions. And as always we can follow the money that helped them do so.

To counter and enter the Golden Age prepared, MAGA needs to strengthen and resolve to stay in sync with the Lord. The good news is the next Great Awakening has clearly begun. The churches are filling. Young people are strengthening their faiths in large numbers. Faith based community ministries are reaching out to help others. Older adults are teaching and mentoring again. More folks are openly talking about their faith and extending the hand of friendship. More are standing up to the crazies. People sense there is more to life than they have been led to believe. Truth is sought and fear is evaporating. Something is coming. The battle has been joined…

Doubt it? Ask the criminal leaders of Venezuela, Iran, Cuba with more to come.

Conclusion

Next week will bring more strict and loose. Until then…

Remember Wolf’s site rules. Note and label all AI. Please be kind to one another, we are all in this together. May God richly bless America and all of you.

Trust Trump and the plan.

It is time to kick off the next American series with a name change and an off ramp from pure American history. There are too many “American Stories” out there now with far better authors than me to keep that in play. We have closed out the Declaration signers and discussed the Articles of Confederation while lightly touching on the Constitution previously. Each one of the posts of this series is intended to be less than a 10 minute read. The attached videos may add to that total time allocated.

The series image at the top is my personal vision of America. More folks ought to try hiking in the Smokies or their favorite national and state parks. Their perspectives about life in America might change for the better.

Today’s scripture is from Matthew 7:24-27;

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

Take that to the bank.

Series Intent

Unfortunately, YT will continue to play a part in this series due to their command of music and movie videos that Rumble cannot seem to duplicate yet. Since we are in a simulation anyway, who cares?! 😂

I will never stray far from the theme of AMERICA FIRST with the serious stuff.

These short stories will not be overly complicated. They will be based simply on observations, personal experiences, and publicly available evidence and documentation as in the past. To be sure I will continue with parallels, interconnections and inflection points that are baked into our American Experience. I seek to lighten these stories up to help readers have fun as well as inform. The heavy lifting was done with the Declaration of Independence series.

So let the fun begin.

My series title is a steal from the great, or insane, or pysop (your choice) movie from Robin Williams, The World According to Garp. Here is the trailer for those too young or did not see it. Note the year of release – 1982.

Also note the obvious CIA psyops in the movie that have surfaced (imagine that), have increased in scope and are ingrained into society today. Which brings us to who was Director of that renegade organization during those years? This guy – William “Bill” Casey from 1981-1987 during the Reagan years when all of us were focused on The Cold War and its end as well as recovery from the horrible economy and Iran hostages fiasco of the peanut farmer.

Fine, happy lookin’ feller. 😀 He also brought us a mixed bag of the Iran-Contra affair. Dude was CIA through and through for decades even without official titles. He was in the OSS after WW II before it became the CIA. So what was going on in Central and South America during his time in the saddle besides the Contras? Well, coke up the nose in America became king and the nation of Columbia was its capital for production and distribution. He was a practicing attorney who spent time as SEC Chair, under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, and Chair of the Exim Bank in the 1970’s. However, he also served on the President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board at the end of President Ford’s term.

For those who want a snapshot of Casey, there is a short read from a 1987 Time article below.

https://time.com/archive/6709197/death-of-an-expert-witness-william-joseph-casey-1913-1987

This one made my eyes bleed, but was interesting perspective on him in spots. He was very hard to pin down.

https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp90-00965r000807500037-5

But this February 1981 quote was his most famous, “We’ll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false.”

So, Bill, you said the government does disinformation programs to deceive the American public? I am so disappointed to read that. 😂 Notice it was said in 1981 and had obviously been done as a normal CIA practice for many years before that.

Again, no wonder the current DS corruptocrats hate POTUS so much. We know his agenda matches what We the People want, not what the DS wants you to believe.

Remember the Casey name, he reappears in the Conclusion today.

So back to this story, yes, in my opinion Robin and the movie about Garp was clearly a psyop of epic proportions and a precursor for more to come.

I promise not to be quite that insane in my own psyop versions, but being that my alter ego is Goober Gump, the fictitious brother of this guy, well…

Welcome to my world…

Your View Matters

For this first series and story we will stay with American history to set the stage and it is a really important concept if you seriously want to understand your life and government in America. When it comes to how you read and understand the Constitution, assuming you have, your viewpoint of its intent and content matters. As an example, if you were a Federalist back in those days you thought differently about it than an Anti-Federalist. So, let’s establish the two primary ways to interpret it that are still used today. I am going to keep this short and simple as I promised.

The two primary legal, political, and moral approaches to the Constitution are:

Strict Constructionist – Literal and narrow reading (interpretation) of the document that limits the powers of the federal government to what it provides.

Loose Constructionist – Views it as a “living document” that is interpreted broadly that adapts to society as it evolves and its needs change.

Then there are the true rebels who use whichever is expedient to their cause of the moment.

Note the immediate stress and contention between the two. Strict supporters point to the 10th amendment; that powers not delegated to the U. S. by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people. Seems rather straight forward, doesn’t it? If the issue is not covered under the powers of the feds or specifically prohibited; it was up to the states and We the People to handle.

Au contraire.

The Loose folks said the Necessary and Proper Clause (Article 1, Section 8) supported their theory that feds had powers not listed, including any powers needed to accomplish the powers that are listed through Congressional action. They do not call it the Elastic Clause without good reasons.

You decide for yourself if that stress on Constitutional interpretation was intentionally introduced or a consequence of disagreement of the parties involved in the Constitution’s creation. I have my own opinion and will not influence yours – yet.

Then There Is The Judiciary

The judiciary is designed in the Constitution and subsequent case law to be the arbiters of truth and justice of that document and related laws. How can the judiciary truly be that non-partial when their justices and judges are nominated, confirmed, and appointed in political processes? Human nature tends to influence how one sees the world and performs one’s role in it. You are not going to appoint or confirm a sworn enemy or ideologue you oppose if you have the power. In understanding the subject Constitution and laws along with their application; it all eventually leads us back to had control of Club Senate back in their day (BITD) as well as today because that is where the judiciary confirmation process exists.

Which is why it was of monumental importance when Harry Reid nuked the filibuster for non-SCOTUS judicial confirmations with Turtle answering when the GOP took over by nuking them on SCOTUS nominations. Harry got his leftist, loose constructionist federal judges. Turtle got the conservative, strict constructionist justices.

The historical political battle in our nation has always been between strict and loose constructionism. The rules of the game are set, then one group or another starts trying to change or reinterpret them to fit their goals. It has seesawed back and forth over the entire time period. The one consistency is that the Federalists of the past and Democrats after Jackson have tended to be loose constructionists while the Jeffersonian Republicans and GOP from Lincoln on have tended to be strict constructionists. This has polarized the general population over the years as one group or another became dominant.

Historically, it started as the post Revolutionary War patriots dealt with the process of isolating the loyalists and Tories along with building a country that could stand on its own accord. It took time and great effort to put down insurrections and mischief their enemies initiated to protect their personal interests. Over time the patriots rooted out their opponents, at least enough to insure America’s survival and progress. Many of those losers returned to Great Britain. Others converted and assimilated into society. It took a couple of generations and some funerals. This led to the Federalist Party’s demise as the Jeffersonian Republicans represented the vast majority of commoner patriots who actually fought in both wars.

However, even with the success there remained embedded operatives indebted and working for the ruling class and the Crown of Great Britain. As an example the southern plantation class along with the northern mercantilist and banker class sold “Cotton is King” to the nation to continue national slavery operations despite prohibiting the foreign slave trade operations decades before. They wanted to keep the money flowing from trade relations in Europe going, primarily with Great Britain, as they were becoming wealthier by the day.

Enter the Civil War.

If any of that intrigue sounds like it may still be going on today, you may be paying attention.

With this understanding you may be able to better understand why all of this current day retribution demanded by We the People seems to be taking so long. Every day it seems a loose constructionist and/or corrupt federal judge oversteps their authority. The depth of corruption and depravity in America has been breathtaking as well as disconcerting to discover. The amount of work that has to be done to fix things is daunting. The war rages on. Just always remember the definitions of strict and loose constructionists because there is a constant struggle within our government and people based on which interpretation rules on every issue.

There will be more applications of these two principles to consider that will be the focus of future threads, however, they will not always reference government related activities and conditions.

Conclusion

I cannot leave without a blast from the past. Does anybody remember the UPI press service of yore? It was formerly AP and UP at the forefront of what we now affectionately call the fake news. UP hit the skids long ago having gone through bankruptcy a couple of times and currently exists as a small disseminator of quirky stuff. But while they were still trying to remain a viable news source, they did political hit pieces. The fun in looking back on the declarations of idgits from the past is really, really hard to pass up. So below you will see a pre 2016 election article from UP.

Need a teaser? How about,

“With Hillary Clinton threatening to rack up the biggest electoral victory since George H. W. Bush obliterated Michael Dukakis in 1988, the scenarios for a comeback by the bilious billionaire are becoming increasingly far-fetched.“

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/Opinion/2016/08/17/From-Russia-with-love-an-October-surprise/7531471424582

Another mention of ole Happy, Bill Casey, above. Notice the article writer’s name? Walter Shapiro. He was a Dem operative. He was good at being wrong, a lot. Including about COVID from which he developed complications and cancer before dying last summer without getting a chance to see the “bilious billionaire” win his second election against a female Democrat candidate from hell. It was either that or TDS that caused his demise, not sure which.

So let’s look at the bio of the not so dearly departed who uttered that phrase.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Shapiro

Actually that was the first time I have ever seen the word “bilious” written or said. Seems it relates to a colorful fluid in the liver. I think it would make a good Wheatie word for Wolf to use in a daily.

😀

Oh, the irony. The Trump curse struck yet again.

Remember Wolf’s site rules. Note and label all AI. Please be kind to one another, we are all in this together. May God richly bless America and all of you.

I begin by going back to the opening Part of this series that was posted almost one year ago today. I had no plan to time this out in the way it has, in fact, when I started this series it was being done on random days, not as a Daily Opener. Then Gail suggested I do so to pick up the author slack and Wolf gave the approval. So here we are.

This series started because it was clear to me along the way that God was delivering We the People from evil once again. That understanding crystalized at Butler, PA. Then on November 5, 2024, Donald J. Trump and JD Vance won the election in convincing fashion even with the commies cheating their azzes off.

At various points in American history there have been inflection points when God’s hand has pulled us back from the brink of total destruction while using committed American patriots equipped for the task to do so. I have no doubts that He did it again that day in Butler as well as election day. Since that latter point the transformation that began and remains on-going has been a whirlwind that is tightly orchestrated. In my opinion this did not happen by good fortune; it was predetermined by God while being guided, planned and implemented by His instruments and servants.

As I finish this series I have grown to realize that I do not agree with all of the words and actions of any one patriot in our entire history. There is always something they did or said that I wish was different. I know I am not alone in that realization. I know I am not alone in the realization that there are many things I wish I had said or done differently as well. All of the giants from our founding forward were simply flawed men and women who gave their all to the cause of freedom and liberty. They did their best and that is all anybody could ask of them… or of us today.

I am also struck by a simple introspective question we all should ask. Am I part of the solution or the problem?

Thinking things through before speaking or acting would eliminate a lot of issues. Which is what our founding fathers did in the final Declaration of Independence document. They literally kept all of the windows and doors closed in the middle of summer in the assembly room of Independence Hall to insure secrecy. To be sure there were many disagreements, much pompousness, misunderstandings and so on within the human condition of those involved. However, they came together in consensus agreement on the final content of the document and signed their names affirmatively; while knowing they were committing treason and were subject to death. They knew they were not only endangering themselves, they were doing so to their families, communities, and the colonies themselves.

They knew the new nation would be totally dependent upon God’s protection. When you study their letters and statements they say it openly. At minimum 50 of the 56 were professing Christians with the others being deists or drifting between the two beliefs, but who also believed in a Creator as the Declaration document stated.

That is the context for the colonists’ words and actions. God or a Creator was their source of authority to do and say what they did in the Declaration of Independence. The British believed that the Crown and Parliament were the established authority of the colonies.

I guess we know who won that question of authority. A higher calling than one of man tends to do that.

As a result of the passionate engagement of patriots then as well as similar commitments down through the years; it is still true today. When you hear or see anything to the contrary you know it is false and intentionally misleading. That should alert you to a possible seditionist or traitor if not proven to be just an ignorant statement.

The founders took courage and did what had to be done to be free, but not before they invited God/Creator into their process and acknowledged their dependence upon His providence and will. They made a one way, front loaded covenant with God/Creator. So what has God/Creator done in response?

We are still here and the most powerful, influential nation on earth despite our missteps and sins. We just need to refocus, clean the decks, and get better at our mission. A reminder…

A Look Back

From my first January 5, 2025 post:

…I contend that it is that same American spirit that charges through the words of the Declaration of Independence that led to the greatest, ongoing experiment in national governance in world history. It is a spirit that is very much alive and expressed by the massive America First MAGA movement today, whose spirit is spreading like wildfire worldwide.

Not all of the 56 signers were present during the discussions and negotiations that surrounded the production of the document. They signed on anyway. They knew what was at stake and agreed in principle with the contents of the document. In this series we are going to dig down into understanding their roles and who many of them were as human beings. We need to personally identify with their commitment such that we may be emboldened to go and do likewise. This series will focus on many of these brave patriots.

Hint: They acted a lot like many America First MAGA patriots do today. Quite a few were from wealth and dignified. A handful were truly messed up people. Others were heroic and inspirational. Some were bombastic and others were pensive. A large number were highly educated and accomplished. Others were less educated, yet enlightened and committed to the cause. Blended together they gave us the foundational start for a truly blessed nation.

At the time I wrote that statement I had no way of knowing how applicable it would be now that we have arrived at the end. Simply, my heart had been stirred to tell these stories here on the Qtree, where patriots are many.

Have you noticed what has happened internationally with the MAGA movement in the year since I wrote those words above? It became a worldwide movement that has resulted in America gaining great respect, $18 trillion in investments, and world peace breaking out in unheard of places between long term enemies. The old order is being destroyed before our eyes. They fight back harshly because their self constructed evil world is being attacked. When we sift past the propaganda and fear porn we realize their takedown is all being handled systematically and with truth, which is further evidence of God’s hand guiding our nation.

I brought this forward again because when we read the signers’ stories, we see that our MAGA elected officials are similar in so many respects. None of the current version are perfect, but there is little doubt they are giving their all for We the People as the patriots did then. There were counter operations and enemies of state acting as black hats back in their day just as there are today. Nothing was easy then, nothing is easy now.

We need to take time to celebrate the wins and patriots who brought them, discuss the parallels between then and now as well as identify the sometimes hidden black hats and seditious activities that undermine the American Experiment. We already know most of the traitors.

7th/8th Grade American History – A Lesson Learned

I have posted previously that I homeschool a couple of subjects with our Grandson #1 who is a 6th grader. We share a love for history. His focus and intensity rises when we study the assigned material and he asks really thoughtful questions. Before this Series on the signers I would not have been able to answer some of them. A handful of the answers to those questions are different and contrary to what the course curriculum and even some alleged historical accounts provide. We do not shy away from discussing those differences.

An example from a past subject of a Series I did on here is the Great Chicago Fire accounts from over 150 years ago in 1871. Nearly all current historical accounts of the event still say that bad ole Elsie the cow caused it by kicking over a lantern in the O’Leary’s barn as I discussed in the Fire! series. However, even AI calls that a myth now. Yet, the authorities of that day made the O’Leary’s the scapegoats without ever charging them. That continued to be the story for over a century until they were absolved by city leadership three decades ago long after the couple was dead. Yet, virtually none of the current historical accounts we reviewed noted the owners and cow were absolved from the accusation. The curriculum we used still showed it the former way. Since that curriculum is used by over a million kids, well, you get the picture. Ridiculous.

Shifting back; with the subject course curriculum provider regarding the Boston Massacre they gave a stock answer that did not rock the boat. Instead of accepting on face value we researched and discussed the actual documentation and evidence to base our own conclusions. When we do this sometimes they are different, sometimes they are similar. But the point I am teaching #1 is to do the work himself with adult assistance as needed and never accept anything of substance at face value. It teaches him critical thinking in all things.

As an example as it applies to this Finale of the series, some founding fathers, especially those in the Sons of Liberty, used the awful event of the Boston Massacre to grow the discontent and move the people more toward the independence movement (thankfully). However, many of the independence supporting descriptions in print, art and verbally left out the violent mob aspect that threatened the British soldiers. In our study the curriculum portrayed these subject colonist depictions as patriot “propaganda” and provided a definition of what propaganda is.

This was an unfortunate illustration. The curriculum providers either do not know or do not want to present the truth. To call the depictions propaganda is over the top. In reality, we only know what others from the period and soon after have provided. The truth is what it is and there is no consensus, just narratives about the actual events subject to perception of the presenters and perspectives of the readers. There were dozens of eye witness statements in the trials and even they could not get their stories straight. Some of the “witnesses” could have been operatives on either side as there were over 400 people present in the chaotic event. There is no way to know for sure and examine deeper because they are dead.

As a developer of curriculum, historian or teacher you should never call historical representations as being propaganda without proven evidence. It reveals a bias when you do. In the real world of education in America we know great bias exists, so I was not the least bit surprised. Most folks realize that the leftists love to rewrite history. They make sure they hire and appoint people of their political and cultural persuasions into roles that influence school text. When proven wrong most shrug it off as being not important. If there is one thing we all have learned together on the QTree; schools and education sources are filled with their own propaganda, outright lies, and agendas.

They were not done. The only victim of the shooting mentioned in the curriculum account was a man of color, Crispus Attucks, who was the first person shot for throwing projectiles at the soldiers. Apparently Attucks was a freed man, a mulatto. He was one of eight people shot, five of whom died from their wounds. None of the other names of victims were listed in the curriculum’s account. The objective of the curriculum writer for noting the name and skin color of the person is totally out of context with the historical account, but reveals their bias. I informed #1 that none or all of the victims names should have been listed without skin color because the color of one’s skin was not relevant to the event. Mr. Attucks was not shot for having a different skin color than others; he was shot for throwing crap at British soldiers who did not obey orders and military protocol. It was good they asked no questions about Attucks on the quiz/test.

The propaganda discussion in the curriculum turned into the opening I needed to explain how #1 should “think things through” and come to his own conclusions, even if he needed to answer any quiz/test questions as the material had been presented fo scoring purposes. This taught him to become more discerning about what he read or heard. He could then be content knowing the truth even if the material misrepresented or outright lied. The smirk on #1’s face told me he got what I meant. Yes, a child with my genes in him. 😂

Which is what all of us patriots have learned over the past decade that Donald J. Trump has been trying to lead our country. Take NOTHING at face value. Research and test it. Quit accepting other viewpoints who try to influence as fact without verification and evidence. instead, look for the motives of the presenters and influencers first.

The actual results of the Boston Massacre trials are documented. The commanding officer of the soldiers was ruled not guilty and it seems to be a correct verdict. Many in the crowd testified to not hearing him give a command to fire and they also observed him standing in front of the soldiers, which he would never do if he wanted them to shoot. These witnesses were generally not loyalists, they were part of the mob that generally did not like the British military at all. Six of the eight soldiers were also found not guilty, which seemed unlikely since 8 colonists were hit and 5 eventually died from the musket fire. But there was insufficient proof to convict. Two were found guilty of manslaughter due to overwhelming witness testimony and evidence they fired their muskets. However, their punishments were only a brand on one thumb of each person’s hand. The curriculum portrayed them guilty of only causing accidental deaths. Nope. They had to know better than that since the convictions are in court documentation and first person accounts. That was intentional misinformation. So I corrected it with #1 and fortunately there were no questions on the quiz/test.

However, their very real propaganda will be accepted by thousands of home schooled students and their parents who did not do the work to check it closer. But as for me and my house…

As those knowledgeable of the event would know, John Adams, was the lead lawyer who represented the British soldiers. He was excellent at his craft. He accepted the case when all others were reluctant to do so. The royal Governor Hutchison was trying to defuse the heated emotions and independence movement. So, Hutchison delayed the trial and encouraged Adams to take the case as they had a good relationship. John Hancock urged Adams to accept as well to calm the patriot waves. Adams agreed and the result we now know. The curriculum portrayed it as Adams having sterling, personal moral reasons of not wanting anybody to go without legal council and doing the right thing no matter the consequences.

Yeah, OK.

The truth is that Hutchison could have used loyalist lawyers to defend or not even charged the soldiers. But he knew the situation was a powder keg ready to explode. So convincing a respected colonist lawyer with both loyalist and independence minded connections and clients to take the case that softened the blowback made more sense. Hutchison accomplished his goal by using Adams.

Adams accomplished his of keeping the British from using even more violence to quell the unrest than the colonists were prepared to experience. Based on his comments afterwards he knew the verdicts would not reflect the complete truth that the British soldiers murdered 5 and wounded 3 other unarmed colonists indiscriminately. Incited to do so or not, the British soldiers’ responses were way over the top. Two being convicted of lesser charges was at least something to offer while buying time for his cousin, Samuel Adams, and the other patriots of the Sons of Liberty like Paul Revere to gather more support for the movement.

John Adams was not in that hell raising patriot group. He preferred to work on the independence issues he supported through the law and politics. He really was not a man of the people anyway, he felt more comfortable with the elites and aristocrats. His success in the defense of the defenseless kept his hands clean with the British authorities and military. That would prove useful for his continued acceptance in their circles for intel as the events unfolded.

When the Boston Tea Party subsequently took place, we know that a large number of well armed and capable British soldiers were there and observing, yet, took no action against the fake Indians dumping 342 valuable crates of tea from three British ships into the Boston Harbor. The troops wanted no part with the even larger hostile crowds who were present like those that had been faced with the Boston Massacre. Their lack of response also reflects Hutchison having already developed a plan for addressing future unrest that did not include violence if it could be avoided. That plan hit the colonists in the wallet and involved recovery of lost taxes, making the mercantilists whole for the damages, and even more oppression from Parliament against them.

All of these historical characters had a part to play. Only they would know the truth of what they did and they are not talking because they stopped breathing long ago. We just know the narrative taught in schools and in various curriculum is often shallow and sometimes manipulated. That makes them susceptible to fake or incomplete narratives. The documents and evidence from first hand accounts combined with critical thinking works better.

The MAGA movement will be written about one day as the shot heard around the world for our period in American history as well as world history. At least it will in the reports and stories of honest authors. After that the propaganda and lies may be used to deflect from its true value and effect. However, the trajectory of world and human history made a marked turn that cannot be hidden and the truth will be known to those who choose to pursue it. You know it from the huge international investment into America and the major changes in dozens of aligned nations around the world. That cannot be hidden – it is a parting of the sea type change.

Just like the long term effects of the Boston Massacre and Boston Tea Party. Once again, history becomes our guide.

Something About Those Words…

I hope your heart quickens as mine does when you read the following words once again;

In Congress, July 4, 1776

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, —That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness...

That part in bold stands out to me. What Thomas Jefferson and the founding fathers saw in those days 250 years ago is what We the People of the MAGA movement see today. It is our moral and legal authorization to do what we have been doing.

Exciting times. As Thomas Jefferson said in my two favorites quotes from him,

“I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery.”

“Educate and inform the whole mass of the people. They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty.”

And so both will continue. God bless America.

Please remember Wolf’s rules for our community. In general that means to be respectful to each other and to pull no shenanigans that your mom might find offensive or otherwise cause jail time. That said, free speech is honored here.

Please note a name change for this series next week. Although it started as “American Stories: When in the Course of human events” with an emphasis on the signers of the Declaration of Independence. it is now time to move on. There are many more stories to tell.

Be blessed and go make something good happen!

While completing this series my heart and mind have been stirred by the patriots and their families. It has also made me curious about members of our family trees. It has been encouraging to see more study and research into American family genealogy. Our Aubergine is well versed in it and inspired me to get back to work on it recently after she posted some of her results and connections. Two decades ago I did some research on my family and came up empty beyond the mid-1800s. I restarted it with more current resources lately and was amazed. It is a testament to the interest of many more people wanting to know their family histories and taking time to post results with supporting documents. I first restarted with my paternal side as there were more readily accessible sources.

In this series of “begats” in my paternal lineage there were various maternal maiden names that need traced as well. Those will come as time permits. I also looked at the paternal lineage on wifey’s side of the family on a limited basis. The original purpose, which has since expanded, was to add this information to the two memory books of our fathers. However, in doing so I did note one curious connection from 1720 in North Carolina that has led to many jokes in our household. It seems we have a mother in common from that year. 😂 She originated from my side and married a man on wifey’s side. She then had a son that eventually led to wifey’s father and her.

So kissin’ cuzins would be us! I knew there was sumthin’ about that gal. No hillbilly jokes, please. Around here we use Bammer (Alabama) jokes. I made the mistake one time of telling a kissing cousin Bama joke to a really nice guy from that state who really had married his first cousin.

Oopsie. He took it well. I was a bit embarrassed. But I digress.

😀

This paternal trace on my side of the fanily originates in Scotland in the 1100’s with family members migrating into Ireland and England in the 1400-1500’s before soon leaving for the colonies. At its farthest point back that I have traced individuals, my paternal direct linage came from the Kent, England area pre-emigration to the colony of Rhode Island. A royal governor of that colony is in my direct lineage. He is about the only prominent or famous dude in all of those centuries I could find. Other than one Captain in the British Navy well before the Revolutionary War period, it appears all of the men on that side were grunts doing grunt things.

This particular paternal trace has progressed from 1547 in Middlesex, England to a 1661 marriage document in Quaker information in Maryland to the family migration, births and burials in the Raleigh area of NC during the early 1700’s to the migration of descendants to southeastern KY lumbering and coal mining areas, followed by moves to eastern TN lumbering and coal mining areas. In the process it has become very apparent I came from a Christian background with all of the baptism and christening documents that have been posted. It is in my blood. I am glad because I have not desired to live any other way. As a side note I immediately become emotionally involved when I hear the sound of bagpipes. I never understood why when I was younger. I do now.

In the middle of it all there was one who was born in 1731 and died in 1798 who served in the colonial army as a member of the 3rd battalion of the Cumberland County, PA militia. I was able to trace others, including younger military aged sons from North Carolina, who enlisted in Virginia and served honorably. Just knowing that brought patriot pride.

When we examine our family trees, we experience a slice of Americana that binds us even more to this great country. It becomes personal instead of simply names and events in a book. We are American by birth and by choice, it is our heritage. It helps us understand better why the non-enemy peoples from all over the world want that same citizenship and birthright as well. American pride is a real thing. You can tell the motives of those people by their desire to assimilate into the American Way. If they don’t want to assimilate, they are compromised and may be enemy combatants. They will never be real Americans if they do not assimilate. That is how you can identify them.

I will never understand why citizens of Great Britain willingly chose to throw all of it away by not resisting the opening of their doors to hordes of Islamic muck rakers and jihadists. Their blind allegiance to the Crown and Parliament has been their undoing. Their plight illustrates how right our patriot fathers and mothers were for kicking them and their lackeys out of America. Now, we are having to do it again with the heathen hordes that came in illegally that were invited by the uniparty and Demoncraps in particular. Of course, that bunch has always been tightly associated with the Brits and the (un)royal family. There should be no more pretending about bipartisan support of America and its culture. We have seen the enemy, we cannot unsee it. They are still the same as they were centuries ago.

It is a dirty shame THAT is not taught in public schools today. But it can be in private schools and homeschooling. As for me and my house…

As we near the completion of this topic of American Stories there are just two signers left that are far too important to the cause of liberty to take time away time from their stories. As we have learned the state of Virginia mattered greatly to the efforts of the patriots in their quest for independence. Below is just one more example. If there was such a thing as American royalty, perish the thought, this family would be listed near the top.

Benjamin Harrison V

We will now discuss a signer with a distinguished family tree and legacy. Benjamin Harrison V was born in 1726 at the Berkeley Plantation in Charles City County, VA. It is the site of one of the first annual Thanksgiving celebrations in America in 1619. That is correct, two years before the popular Plymouth, MA related native Indian and pilgrim feast tale told to schoolchildren. Interestingly, it is also reported as the location where the Army bugle call of “Taps” was first written and played in 1862.

His parents were Benjamin Harrison IV and Ann Carter Harrison. He was the eldest son of their ten children. He was born the same year his father completed the Berkeley Plantation mansion, which is constructed of brick that was fired on the property. The initials of both his father and mother appear on a date stone over a door. Harrison V’s (H-5) great-great grandfather (H-1) emigrated to the area in 1633 from the Isle of Wight in England.

H-5’s mother was the daughter of wealthy planter and politician, “King” Carter. Carter owned over 300,000 acres and a thousand slaves. For a time he was Treasurer of Virginia, on the King’s Council, and very involved in colonial government. The Carter family traced their roots in America to predecessors who emigrated to the area in 1649.

H-5 was tutored at Berkeley until attending William & Mary College in classical studies with patriot notables, Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson. However, at age 19 a lightning strike killed his father and two sisters back home at Berkeley in 1745. Already disenchanted with college life anyway, he returned home to take over operations of their 1000 acre farm that included ship building and horse breeding. Three years later at the age of 22, H- 5 married Elizabeth Bassett of nearby New Kent County, a niece of Martha Washington. Her great grandfather, William, had also emigrated to the area from the Isle of Wight.

H-5 grew into a physically imposing man during the period. As an older adult he stood 6′ 4″ and weighed about 250 lbs. He and Elizabeth had eight children who survived to adulthood in their 40 year marriage. He and his family had between 80-100 slaves, but had a more humane view and treatment of them, feeling a great responsibility for their care. Families were respected and kept together. The Harrison family were Anglican and felt a duty to teach them about Christianity. Many other slave holders would not do so as they were considered property, while H-5 and family made sure that the willing were baptized. Unfortunately, some of the other younger Harrison men in the extended family were less principled and had relations with slaves. Over the years that followed H-5 began working to stop the slave trade and introduced legislation to do so.

H-5’s family had deep involvement in politics going back to H-1’s arrival there. There are records of their many squabbles with British authorities going back to 1640. One Harrison was even imprisoned for six years for challenging British authority over charges of tyranny and treason. H-5 entered politics in 1749 with his election the House of Burgesses where he periodically served as Speaker until royal governor Lord John Dunmore shut it down in 1774. Throughout his years of service and due to his influence the Brits tried to win him over to their side with potential appointments, but he always refused and sided with colonial causes. He strongly opposed the Stamp Act, but did not agree with Patrick Henry’s resolutions proposing civil disobedience.

With the dissolution of the House of Burgesses, he was immediately selected for the First Continental Congress in 1774, during which he participated greatly from the beginning. He chaired the committee that debated the drafting of the Articles of Association and signed them later that year. He roomed with Peyton Randolph and George Washington while they were in Philadelphia and remained a major contributor throughout his service in Congress into 1778 including the signing of the Declaration.

H-5 was well noted for his use of humor that helped reduce tension among the patriots through the years. From the Descendent site is this humorous conversation with Elbridge Gerry as they prepared to sign the Declaration.

“I shall have a great advantage over you, Mr. Gerry, when we are all hung for what we are now doing.  From the size and weight of my body I shall die in a few minutes and be with the Angels, but from the lightness of your body you will dance in the air an hour or two before you are dead.”

H-5 did not trust yankees. 😂 He was well known for not trusting anything that came out of the New Englanders. He was a major backer of state’s rights. The only powerful patriot he trusted from that NE area was John Hancock, of whom he thought very highly due to his fair treatment of all. He said of Hancock that he was “noble, disinterested and generous to a very great degree.” Despite his opinions, he was chosen by all to read Thomas Jefferson’s draft of the Declaration of Independence on July 1 as well as to chair the debate the following day.

While serving he solicited assistance from other countries as a member of the Secret Correspondence Committee.  He worked closely with General Washington in planning the American army. He even served as a lieutenant in the county militia during the war and was a chief magistrate as well. Berkeley Plantation was ravaged during the war by Benedict Arnold and British troops, which included throwing their many family portraits into a fire, losing family historical documents and artifacts in the aftermath. That same Berkeley became the site of Gen. George McClellan’s headquarters as he gathered forces in the failed attempt to take Richmond for the Union during the Civil War many years later.

Further from the Descendants site:

After the war, Harrison remained active in Virginia politics as a member of the House of Delegates, which chose him to be its speaker.  When his second- cousin Thomas Nelson, Jr., resigned from the governorship in 1781, Harrison was elected governor of Virginia and was re-elected twice.  He was instrumental in shaping the U.S. Constitution as a member of the Virginia Ratification Convention in 1788 when he argued strenuously for a Bill of Rights prior to ratification, not after.  Failing that he voted in favor and helped secure Virginia’s ratification in a close vote.  He sat on the committee that recommended rights to be included in what became the Bill of Rights.

Whew. It wears me out just reading all this great man did on behalf of our nation. But after all that he returned to serve in the state legislature in 1791 before developing a severe case of gout and passing away at age 65. Elizabeth died a year later. They are buried at their beloved Berkeley Plantation, a national historic landmark.

Up to that point H-5 was long known for being healthy, active, and dignified in manner. He was rotund and found to love good food, wine, and bawdy behavior. As many noted he excelled in dealing with difficult situations and people as he was cheerful, steady and did not allow problems to bother him. John Adams wrote that Harrison had “contributed many pleasantries that steadied rough sessions.”

But Elizabeth’s and his story cannot be fully told without discussing their descendants. How about two future POTUS among other notables? From Wiki:

Among them was eldest daughter Lucy Bassett (1749–1809), who married Peyton Randolph (1738–1784). (Remember who H-5 roomed with in Philly?) Another daughter, Anne Bassett (1753–1821), married David Coupland (1749–1822). The eldest son was Benjamin Harrison VI (1755–1799), a briefly successful merchant who served in the Virginia House of Delegates but who died a self-indulgent, troubled, young widower. Another was Carter Bassett Harrison (c. 1756–1808), who served in the Virginia House of Delegates and the US House of Representatives. Other children were Elizabeth Harrison (1751–1791), who married physician William Rickman (c. 1731–1783) and Sarah Harrison (1770–1812), who married John Minge (1771–1829).

The youngest child was General William Henry Harrison (1773–1841), who became a congressional delegate for the Northwest Territory and also was governor of the Indiana Territory. In the 1840 United States presidential elections, William Henry defeated incumbent Martin Van Buren, but fell ill and died just one month into his presidency. Vice President John Tyler, a fellow Virginian and Berkeley neighbor succeeded him. William Henry’s grandson, Benjamin Harrison (1833–1901), was a brigadier general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Benjamin served in the U. S. Senate and was elected president in 1888 after defeating incumbent Grover Cleveland.

Do you see what I mean that if it were a thing, the Harrison clan would be American royalty? We owe a big debt of gratitude to H-5, Elizabeth and family for their selfless, patriotic service to America.

Please remember Wolf’s rules for our community, which includes labeling all AI. In general the rules mean to be respectful to each other and to pull no shenanigans that your mom might find offensive or otherwise cause jail time. That said, free speech is honored here.

It is that time again. The Savior of all mankind is remembered and lifted up on the day. It is a story that never gets old or loses its meaning. Enjoy your times with family, friends and fellow church members. Pray for our nation that we may find favor and please Him.

Be blessed and go make something good happen! Merry Christmas!!!

Last week I gave the Trumpmania economic and government strategy and plans that are being implemented to regain control of America and accelerate our world dominance. I now discuss a macro economics answer as to how we get the huge national debt off our collective backs. Are you ready?

Spend less than we take in. Pay back the debt. Done.

Don’t fall for the doomsday BS or even the termination of the Fed being needed. In my opinion, the latter will be neutered back to its original intent by #47 because it can be used for the white hats to our collective benefit – at least for now. Long term, all bets are off on what happens to it as the functions they perform are literally Treasury’s responsibility. After its usefulness is done it could be shut down or materially changed. There is no doubt it has been used as a weapon against us since 1913. Watch how #47 and Scott Bessent turn it into an asset against foreign trade and currency manipulators. Boomerang.

If you have not already, watch the Marlow interview with Scott Bessent in the link below. Watch now or in your spare time, but watch it. Even if you have zero understanding of the economy you will come away with knowledge that will be useful to you going forward. Trump has this. Trust him.

https://www.breitbart.com/economy/2025/11/24/exclusive-scott-bessent-vs-the-elite-how-the-treasury-secretary-keeps-on-winning-for-maga

As for day to day media information, watch the world or business news, read an article, listen to a podcast – whatever. Believe what you will believe. Just know that if the GDP of America; its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) – defined as the total monetary value of all final goods and services produced within a country during a specific time period, typically measured annually or quarterly – averages 4% annually over the next three years the national debt will begin declining at a decent rate and the annual budget deficit will turn into a surplus every year. Actually that begins to happen irrespective of tariff revenues. Fact, it is an economic reality proven time again. They report it quarterly and annually. You will now be able to trust the reported data because of #47 and DOGE.

Guess what has happened already for two quarters in 2025? Yup, around 4% GDP. What is a primary reason for the Schumer Shutdown exclusive of political party infighting? The negative economic impact it had on the recovery and acceleration of business investment under Trump. Yes, TDS. It slowed the recovery down to probably around 1.5-2% per Kevin Hassett, chair of Trump’s National Economic Council. The Demoncraps felt it would help them to win a few blue state elections. They gave the 🖕 to We the People in doing so. Kevin may be downplaying it. The Atlanta Fed predicted we would still see 3.9% in the fourth quarter even with the Schumer Shutdown.

The people you can trust for reporting the truth on the economy are Scott Bessent and Kevin “Happy” Hassett. Both have our backs and the blessing of #47 to handle things. The latter has long been one of my favorite truth tellers. Just a really good dude. Signals are out that he and Kevin Warsh are the two at the top of the Fed Chair list. Both are outstanding and will do MAGA proud. We should know soon.

Next up add in the net tariff revenues. Which is why PDT predicts they will be able to eliminate the personal income tax, especially for low and middle income folks. PDT still needs the SCOTUS to rule in MAGA’s favor on them. If they do not, expect the markets to react negatively for a time and for PDT to retool their approach to using them. Bessent has already said they have other Constitutional methods to use if needed. The prayer is that they are not needed.

The Demoncraps care more about hurting Trump than the well being of even their own voters. Which means he and MAGA are over target. Demoncraps do that for personal party politics and don’t give two shits what any American thinks about it if it helps them gain or retain power. That is why there should be no bipartisan deals negotiated with them. We the People lose by giving them leverage if they do. Advance MAGA legislation and if the Demoncraps do not sign it, expose them openly while eliminating any financial or other support you legally can to their districts. Time to play hard ball.

With nearly $20 T being invested into America over time, 4% annual GDP is likely to be the floor if there are no Demoncrap generated disasters. If We the People deliver control of both houses of Congress, there is nothing stopping 5+% from happening annually for a very long time. The filibuster threat cannot even stop that because MAGA can deliver another reconciliation bill and PDT can use impoundment. The latter is the POTUS authority to delay or not fund non-essential appropriations. Since the Demoncraps cannot get any appropriations approved without GOP help going forward, stopping the funding of non-essential appropriations helps reduce the size of government, which reduces expenses and capital costs.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is already predicting 6% GDP at some point in 2026 as it currently stands. That is record breaking, but also sustainable if the patriots and We the People do our jobs with the midterms and beyond. That totally rebuilds the foundation of America economically and militarily. No adversaries will want to take that on. FAFO will rule and their demise will be swift and painful.

We could discuss multipolarity of regions of the world here, but I will wait. Just know that the Monroe Doctrine is the rule of order on this side of the world again. Both Chyna and Russia know it. The Euros are on their own. We will maintain a military force as a deterrant, but that will primarily be for America’s protection. Since the Euros want to shiz in their nests, it will be up to them to clean it up. #47 will be glad to sell them some of our weaponry and equipment to fight their forever wars.

To you, all of this means federal deficit reduction; which means lower interest rates, more liquidity (cash) in the economy, more economic growth, more well paying jobs with good benefits, continued low inflation and more opportunity for all of us long term. Anybody opposing that is a declared enemy of the American Way and Experience.

In reality, most of the world is over the old system that destroys to the benefit of the elites. They want what is now being delivered by #47 and patriots. Which is why the leaders of those nations agreed to high tariffs and massive investment into the USA. They are over forever wars and meddling in their own national affairs. We need to make sure it continues.

What that means personally to each and every one of you reading this is thousands of dollars of annual buying and investing power more than you have now with prices of products edging down or stabilizing at current levels. The extra funds compound annually if you invest into about anything that has and holds real value; not just CD’s, stocks and bonds. Land/property, precious metals, collectibles, etc. will also increase in value.

Method For Lasting National Prosperity

The actual method to reset everything PERMANENTLY in this country is the same that it has been since forever. It is a balanced budget amendment along with an amendment for no personal federal income tax in our U. S. Constitution. They must include enforcement provisions that even SCOTUS has no options to abort like the first and second amendment. Wut, you say? Yes, that is all it takes.

Which is just like the Brits treated the colonists. Some things never change without rebellion. The timing of the Fed potentially going away would affect the timing of the balanced budget amendment and its amendment language.

How do I know for sure that two amendment method works? Because there are very prosperous red states that do exactly that. I live in one. There are others. All are in really good financial shape with stable to growing employment and rising incomes of their citizens even in nationally troubled economic times.

Why must there be amendments to the Constitution you may ask? How many amendments to the Constitution have been terminated or repealed in over 236 years? One. The 21st effectively repealed the 18th. It was the repeal of prohibition – booze. That’s it. How many people do you know who would rise against the government for only spending what it takes in or eliminating personal income taxes? Exactly.

I am sure it is safe to say the 80/20 rule would apply. After ratification the two amendments would survive any future challenges easily. The political will to get it done resides within the MAGA movement. #47 is already on board with it and pushing for the personal tax elimination. It needs a block of GOP elected officials sufficient to make it and balanced budgets Constitutional amendments. That means killing dead their allegiance to the old system. Which means some existing elected officials have gotta go.

Primary out the RINO’s and elect large numbers of MAGA GOP. Increase the overall number of MAGA elected officials in government everywhere. Set the options on the table, explain what they do for the American people, and enjoy the fruits of their passage.

As an example, nearly every state ranking of financial health and solvency include Tennessee and Florida in the Top Five. Both require balanced budgets and have no personal income taxes. There are nine states with no personal income taxes and 49 with with some form of balanced budget requirement. None of the states that are without personal income taxes are anywhere near the bottom of the list for economic health. That honor is reserved for all of the high debt, highly taxed blue states with personal incomes taxes such as Illinois, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey and California. They are the bottom feeders who suck the economic lives out of their citizens who continue to seemingly enjoy the condition of being bent over by electing the people who stick it to them. That they do should tell We the People to completely ignore or shout them down every time they open their mouths.

When you add right to work state status, no personal income taxes, and a required balanced budget, you get an influx of population and business growth. It is a proven formula for success. Those same principles work for the federal government as well. It creates the environment for success. It shores up The Golden Age.

So how do we reduce and eventually eliminate our massive national debt? Are you ready?

Again, spend less than we take in. Use the difference, the surplus, to pay back higher interest treasury debt first. Even Dave Ramsey knows and tells people that in their personal finances.

Besides forcing a balanced budget via amendent, how do you get to surplus?

Well, that’s the good part. #47 and cabinet have already done enough, but are continuing to do it even more as explained above. The answer is massive investment into America that increases manufacturing, energy and natural resource development. Return to true supply side economic independence instead of playing the globalist game of London and Europe. That dramatically increases tax revenue collections over time. Add in massive tariff surpluses already in place that can be directly applied to the debt or given back to We the People as a, wait, what did #47 call it, oh yeah, DIVIDEND.

Dividends are paid from profits. America, Inc. is making money now and will make even more in the future as the business investment takes root. Again – America, Inc. is no longer just a user of funds at that point. Successful businesses pay dividends to shareholders, which in this case is us – We the People.

The balanced budget amendment generally includes requirements on what is done with surpluses. The sooner you get to surplus the sooner you can use future, more inflated dollars to pay off older, less inflated debt. Paying off debt reduces the carrying cost (interest expense) of remaining debt and it becomes a smaller percentage of the annual budget expenses going forward. The more you do it, the faster the debt repayment accelerates.

We can also accelerate the rate and total reduction by simply marking our massive gold reserves to market as well. That improves the balance sheet by $1.4 T +/- overnight based on current quotes. Doing it will probably also mean a return to the gold standard with the dollar solidifying as the world’s reserve currency. America then finds stability from less inflation, less to no market bubbles, less to no forever wars. All of that has been fueled by phony baloney fiat currency of the past.

However, there is no guesswork that the Sovereign Wealth Fund is going to be used because both PDT and Scott Bessent have discussed it publicly. The link below explores it and other subjects accurately in my opinion.

https://erikc.substack.com/p/sovereign-wealth-fund

Surplus tax revenues from an expanded economy + tariffs + Sovereign Wealth Fund investment = National Debt demise. Balanced budget with restrictions on surplus fund usage keeps it there. We do not have to do a thing for all of this to happen to our benefit except be good citizens, show up in big numbers to vote for the patriots, and protect our nation.

This will be the last of my planned current day economic summaries for awhile. I have done all I can do to inform. I will still post in the comments on current activities if I can add to the flow. If conditions on the ground change dramatically in a different way, I will revisit. Me and my house chose the Lord, #47, and the patriots. So I am going to do what I have asked of everybody else – make a difference for America.

It is now time to discuss another largely unsung hero of the signers. This one was special and a critical piece in the quest for independence as we will see with another highly important founding father in a couple of weeks. Enjoy!

George Wythe

George Wythe was born in 1726 in the former Elizabeth City County, now city of Hampton, Virginia on the prominent Chesterville plantation. Over time the previous settlements and towns dissolved or merged into the city of Hampton, such that it lays claim to being the oldest continuously English speaking city in North America.

George was of the third generation of this predominantly Quaker family. His parents, Thomas III and Margaret Walker Wythe, were planters and Thomas owned a half interest in a wharf in Hampton. Unfortunately, Thomas passed away when George was three years old. His well educated mother homeschooled George. He became proficient in Latin and Greek while she also taught him the classics, logic and science. He entered William and Mary (W & M) Grammar School at age 14, studied two years, then spent two years in the study of law under his uncle, Stephen Dewey, in Charles City Council. After that he returned to Chesterville to continue his studies. At the age of 20 in 1746 he easily passed the bar exam.

Since his brother, Thomas IV, was established at Chesterville he moved to Spotsylvania County to open his practice. George moved in with the King’s attorney, Zachary Lewis, because Lewis had a great deal of case backlog. While there he met Lewis’ daughter, Ann. They fell in love and were married a year later. Unfortunately, Ann caught a fever and died seven months later. George was distraught with grief. He returned to Williamsburg and joined Ann’s uncle, Benjamin Waller, in his practice to get a new start on life. While there he was selected to clerk for two important committees of the House of Burgesses. This led to many contacts and an entry into the world of politics. In 1754 he was selected to fill a vacant seat in the House of Burgesses.

A year later his brother, Thomas IV, died and George inherited Chesterville. That same year he married Elizabeth Taliaferro, whose family lived a few miles outside of Williamsburg. A wealthy landowner and architect, Elizabeth’s father built the couple a nice brick home in the city to begin their lives together. It served as their home for over thirty years. The home was restored and has been owned by Colonial Williamsburg since 1938.

George would win and lose seats in the House of Burgesses for several years. In 1758 Francis Fauquier became the new royal Governor of Virginia. As a neighbor, Francis formed a close bond with George, who at that point was teaching at W & M. This included them bonding with a 20 year old student named Thomas Jefferson. The three of them were joined by fellow W & M professor, William Small, and became a tight knit group who frequently met for dinner to discuss science, literature, architecture, politics and morals. This continued for five years.

Wythe joined Patrick Henry in 1763 to argue against the Two Penny Tax. A year later they had a mini falling out over the Stamp Act. Wythe had sent an letter of admonition previously to Parliament concerning the Two Penny Act and was waiting on a response. When the Stamp Act was approved, Henry and supporters reacted harshly, while Wythe wanted to wait for an official response from his letter. Henry’s resolutions passed in the House and Governor Fauquier, Wythe’s friend, was forced to dissolve the General Assembly immediately in response.

A few years later George was elected Mayor of Williamsburg and had become more prominent in the area. When Lord John Dunmore was named royal Governor, the two frequently clashed. It became apparent to George it would no longer be possible to support the Brits and he moved more toward independence causes. After the battles of Lexington and Concord, Dunmore seized the arms and powder from the colonial magazine at Williamsburg. When the colonists learned of it they went after Dunmore and he was forced to escape to a British ship off shore. He left and never returned.

George then went to Philadelphia as Dunmore’s replacement to the First Continental Congress that year. From the Descendants site:

During the continuing debate over independence, he asked his fellow delegates, “In what character shall we treat? As subjects of Great Britain? As rebels? Why should we be so fond of calling ourselves dutiful subjects? We must declare ourselves a free people.”

In the spring he returned to Virginia to argue for Thomas Jefferson’s plan for their state government and returned to Philadelphia in time to sign the Declaration of Independence in September. He then moved Congress to make Jefferson, B and Silas Deane colonial agents (ministers) to France; for them to act as ambassadors. From our story on B, we now realize just how important it was to have him in France. We can thank George Wythe for that observation and recommendation.

He returned to Williamsburg the next year and was elected Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates where he assisted Governor Patrick Henry is meeting obligations to fund and supply the military. Even though he was exposed to British forces, he remained in Williamsburg throughout the remainder of the war and avoided capture. In 1777 he was also named as a justice on the state’s Chancery Court, on which he served until 1788. In 1779 Jefferson as Governor appointed him to a new professor position over Law and Police at W & M when James Madison was President of the school. Many famous elected officials, attorneys and future judges were taught by Wythe over the years that followed which included Henry Clay, Littleton Tazewell, James Monroe and John Marshall. Remember that for a future Part.

He and Elizabeth hosted Gen. Washington in their home before the battle of Yorktown. He later worked on the Articles of Confederation as well as the Constitution in 1787 before he had to quickly return home when Elizabeth fell ill and soon passed away. The next year he worked within the state for the eventual ratification of its Constitution. In 1789 he resigned from W & M to move to Richmond with one of his students (William Munford) to be near the Chancery Court. Over the years that followed he studied Hebrew and began conducting electrical experiments there along with that former student. He returned to public service as a Presidential Elector in 1800 and 1804; both times voting for his long term friend and political ally, Jefferson. He had freed his slaves many years before at Chesterville and was adamant in his belief that, “…. freedom is the birthright of every human being….”.

The grandson of a sister came to live with him while in Richmond, George Wythe Sweeney. Wythe had written him into his will in 1803 as he and Elizabeth had no children. When he later discovered Sweeney was stealing from him he modified the will to read that Sweeney received half and a former freed slave, Michael Brown, would receive the other half. Sweeney discovered the changed will and codicil. He secretly began poisoning both Wythe and Brown with arsenic in their food. Both died, but before Wythe did he wrote Sweeney totally out of his will by order of the judge presiding over the murder charge. Sweeney had also poisoned Wythe’s former slave housekeeper, but she survived and sought to testify in Sweeney’s murder trial. Her testimony was disallowed because she was a Negro and not allowed to testify against a white man by law. As a result Sweeney was ruled to be not guilty.

George Wythe was 80 years old when he died and is buried at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Richmond. this is the same church where Patrick Henry gave his famous “give me liberty or give me death” speech. Per the Descendants site,

Wythe will be forever known by the comments of those with whom he associated.

“Four days after his death, on June 10, the Richmond Enquirer wrote: “Kings may require mausoleums to consecrate their memory, saints may claim the privilege of canonization; but the venerable George Wythe needs no other monument than the services rendered to his country, and the universal sorrow that the country sheds over his grave.”

From Thomas Jefferson, “No man ever left behind him a character more venerated than George Wythe. His virtue was of the purest tint; his integrity inflexible, and his justice exact; of warm patriotism, and, devoted as he was to liberty, and the natural and equal rights of man, he might truly be called the Cato of his country…. (He was) my faithful and beloved Mentor in youth, and my most affectionate friend through life.”

Benjamin Rush, “a profound lawyer and able politician. I have seldom known a man who possessed more modesty or a more dove-like simplicity and gentleness of manner.”

Reverend Lee Massey called George Wythe “the only honest lawyer I ever knew.”

Historian/biographer Reverend Charles Goodrich, wrote: “With all his great qualities, he possessed a soul replete with benevolence, and his private life is full of anecdotes, which prove that it is seldom that a kinder and warmer heart throbbed in the breast of a human being….As a judge, he was remarkable for his rigid impartiality, and sincere attachment to the principles of equity; for his vast and various learning; and for his strict and unwearied attention to business. Superior to popular prejudices, and every corrupting influence, nothing could induce him to swerve from truth and right. In his decisions, he seemed to be a pure intelligence, untouched by human passions, and settling the disputes of men according to the dictates of eternal and immutable justice…. He took a great delight in educating such young persons as showed an inclination for improvement. Harassed as he was with business, and enveloped with papers belonging to intricate suits in chancery, he yet found time to keep a private school for the instruction of a few scholars, always with very little compensation, and often demanding none.”

George Wythe was absolutely essential as a cornerstone building block in the creation of America. He will be honored for as long as America exists.

Please remember Wolf’s rules for our community. In general that means to be respectful to each other and to pull no shenanigans that your mom might find offensive or otherwise cause jail time. That said, free speech is honored here.

I wish all of you a Merry Christmas. Thanks be to God for the Savior of all mankind entered the world this week over 2000 years ago. He shall be called the Prince of Peace…

Be blessed, enjoy your times with family and friends, and go make something good happen!

I lead today’s thread with a question, followed by others that are related.

Would you be hard line or reconciliatory with those who worked or fought against you and the colonists in the quest for independence, freedom and liberty? We have seen many examples of each with our Declaration signers. All of it led to differing results, historical significance, and sometimes interesting or unexpected conclusions to their lives.

I ask because we are in a similar war today. It is just as messy as it was then. The enemy has used deception, lies, terrorism, censorship and criminality of every sort instead of frontal, declared war tactics. But it has still been war. Foreign powers have been deeply involved as they were back then. Greed and seeking power has driven much of it just as it has with all wars. The tools that have been utilized against patriots today are somewhat different, but just as effective.

So when, not if, America First MAGA patriots win the current war – will you be reconciliatory toward the past enemy combatants or adamant in their receiving punishment and banishment from society? Which approach do you think #47 and other patriot leaders that follow him will take? What does our founding documents and the law say? What does the overriding will of God found in the Holy Bible say?

For the early Americans it even translated into taking sides using political parties. And here we are some 250 years later still bickering and abusing the American Way through political parties.

Ponder The Future Of America

The patriots of our past were innovative, creative, focused and dedicated. Life was harder then, many did not make it to age 60. So many children and mothers died young. Knowing this they made their days count, unlike many today who pass through their time living in fantasy worlds or shackled with drugs and perversions of the soul. It is a world filled with so much hate, so much stupidity, so much whining, so many petty grievances and making mountains out of molehills for personal gain and power.

VSGPOTUS Trump is working unbelievably hard and having a great time doing it while knowing at any moment there could be a bullet to the back of his head. He can do that because he knows his number of days in this world is in the hands of the Master. Do we have the same understanding in our own? If not, why not? It may be keeping us from fulfilling our God given mission.

Those who know the real me, know that I am a diehard University of Tennessee Vol sports supporter. So forgive me if you need to as I bring you a recent quote from the new head coach of the baseball Vols, Josh Elander, who has replaced who many believe has been the best of all recent college baseball coaches, Tony Vitello. Tony accepted the challenge of being the first college head coach in history without any professional baseball experience to jump from college head coach to manager of a major league team, the San Francisco Giants. His replacement at Tennessee had worked for Tony since their previous stop together at Arkansas, some nine years ago. With other coaches, staff and the administration they built an elite program together from bottom feeder status. Josh turned down several lucrative offers to go somewhere else over the past few years to continue building the Vol program.

Despite having very different personalities, Tony and Josh share a common trait. Josh’s quote from his introductory press conference follows. You may catch a reference to someone from a past BIMD story.

“Nine years ago, I got this job (as an assistant),” said Elander. “Tony called and I went on the road basically immediately. I never went back to the place that I rented in Arkansas. [I was] running around recruiting, doing a bunch of deals. 

But when I got here finally for our first visit, we were running a kid around, and there was a welcome packet on my desk. It had a bunch of different things. But the main thing I took out of that, I just took some scissors and cut it out. It was a quote from Pat Summitt. It’s been hanging in my office for nine years — and it ain’t going anywhere. That quote is, ‘Here’s how I’m going to beat you. I’m going to outwork you. That’s it. That’s all there is to it.

We knew Pat. We went to church together for decades. We had other occasions to visit with each other. Pat did what POTUS Trump is doing now, just in her expertise of women’s basketball. She became the face of the sport worldwide. As a result, she improved life for millions of young women over the years that have followed because what she did transferred into every women’s sport at every level as well as life in general. Her next challenge was revealing to the world that she had early onset dementia at the height of her HOF coaching career. This led to her opening up even more of her life and allowing the world in to experience it with her as she set up a foundation for Alzheimer’s treatment and research. She left this world far too soon, but the world was much better for her having been here.

Before she passed away, all of her work and dedication ended up translating into recognition around the world with her receipt of the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Hussein, one of the few things he did honorably. All of it happened because a rural west Tennessee country farm girl loved playing basketball and was willing to out work everybody else as she lived her dream. Tony Vitello and Josh Elander have benefitted from that same Pat approach in their occupations as well. It is a common thread with most people who make a real difference no matter the world’s perceived importance of one’s position in life.

The secret sauce is to have vision and outwork your opposition, whoever and whatever it may be, while thinking outside the box.

Take the blinds off and let your mind run wild with the possibilities that may make a difference in some way, big or small. It is just like the patriots did when the hostilities with the Brits ended 248 years ago. If the hostilities ended…oh wait…could that be another challenge left on the board?

As a current day MAGA patriot what are you doing or going to do with the secret sauce?

The focus now shifts to two little discussed New Jersey signers. Don’t ask me why many historians have slid right by these two.

Abraham Clark

Born in 1726 in Elizabethtown, NJ (now Elizabeth, NJ) to Thomas and Hannah (Winans) Clark as an only child, Abraham Clark was the third generation to reside there on both sides of his family. Both families were prominently involved in the area with over 150 Winans family members buried in the cemetery adjacent to First Presbyterian Church, where they were members. He was educated via tutor in surveying after his father realized he was very good at math. While working as a surveyor he studied law and opened a practice that focused on assisting poor clients. In 1749 he married Sarah Hatfield and they had ten children over the years that followed. While Sarah raised the children on their farm, he entered politics and became a clerk of the Provincial Assembly. He continued clerking for the assembly instead of military service due to his frail physical condition. Later he became the High Sheriff of Essex County and was elected to the Provincial Congress in 1775 as well as serving on the Committee of Public Safety.

New Jersey replaced their representatives to the Continental Congress in early 1776 as the existing reps were opposed to independence. Due to Clark’s strong support for it, he was named as one of the five replacements in June. As they voted in July, he wrote in a letter that, “”It is gone so far, that we must now be a free independent State, or a conquered country.”  He followed that statement later with, “”We can die here but once. Nothing short of the Almighty Power of God can save us.”

He worked to provide supplies to Gen. Washington throughout his time in Congress and during the war. He was notified that his two oldest sons who served in the enlisted military had been captured and were incarcerated in horrible conditions on the prison ship, HMS Jersey. He refused to let others in government know so they would not be given deference over other prisoners. When leadership discovered it they made arrangements to reciprocate better treatment to a handful of captured Brits to assist the Clark situations until their release in a prisoner exchange.

He returned to Congress for two additional, multi-year periods. He was a strong proponent for the common man, the farmers and mechanics in particular. This placed him at odds with those founders who urged deference to public officials. He refused to wear a wig or ruffles on his sleeves as he hated elitism and pretense. He wanted regular citizens to stay involved and let their elected officials know what they wanted done. He pushed a pro-debtor paper money bill through the state legislature in 1788. He ran for U. S. Senate and lost, but followed in 1791 for a U. S. House of Representative seat and won. He was a Whig and had a deep desire to secure personal liberties for citizens. He saw that centralized authority could lead to tyranny.

Clark passed away in 1794 from a sunstroke on his property and is buried in Rahway, NJ. It is said that he became ill, but refused to seek help at home until he took another person who had been working with him home first. His wife, Sarah, passed away ten years later and is buried next to her husband. What a patriot, what a principled man!

Francis Hopkinson

Francis Hopkinson was born in Philadelphia to Thomas and Mary Johnson Hopkinson in 1737. His father died when he was 14, however, his mother directed him to attend the College of Philadelphia (Penn), where he graduated in its first class with a BA degree while earning a MA degree three years later. Before his death his father was instrumental in the chartering of the college and worked with B to get it done. Hopkinson studied and apprenticed in the law under the colony’s AG and was admitted to the Bar a year later in 1761.

He immediately began work as Secretary to the Provincial Council of Pennsylvania Indian Affairs. He worked on numerous treaties during the period. He was not nearly as successful in his law practice and failed at a business venture, so he accepted a position as a Customs Collector in Salem, NJ. Hoping to make more money, he boarded a ship for England in 1766 in an attempt to gain a position as Customs Commissioner for North America, but was also unsuccessful with that despite learning a great deal more about the system. While there he began taking painting lessons under Benjamin West, the American born painter who founded the Royal Academy in England and painted for King George III. Francis returned to the colonies a year later in 1767.

His personal interests were diverse in that he was involved in writing, painting, music, design, politics and the law. He played the harpsichord and the organ. He composed published music of his own as well as copying arias, songs and instrumentals of other famous composers. By 1768 he had met and married Ann Borden, daughter of famous patriot Colonel Joseph Borden and wife, Elizabeth Rogers Borden of Bordentown, NJ. They had nine children together, four of whom died as young children with the rest marrying and having children.

Hopkinson returned to the role of Customs Collector in New Castle, Delaware in 1772. The couple moved to Bordentown two years later and he entered politics as a an Assemblyman in the state’s Provincial Council. He was admitted to the NJ Bar in 1775, resigned all of his British related positions, and was elected as a Delegate to represent NJ in the Second Continental Congress. He voted for independence and became a signer a month later. He left his role in Congress a few months later to return to his law practice and to serve on the Navy Board in Philadelphia. The British attacked areas of NJ during this period and their home was ransacked, however, they were not home at the time and were unharmed.

In 1778 he served as Treasurer of the Continental Loan Office and was later appointed to the Admiralty Court of Pennsylvania for periods from 1779 through 1787. He participated in the development and pushed for the Articles of Confederation as well as later, the Constitution in multiple states. In return for his tireless efforts after George Washington’s Presidential inauguration he was appointed to be U. S .District Court Judge for eastern PA in 1789.

He was long noted for his music, writing and artistic works. He also designed flags as well as seals, many of which were either used or provided as input for the final products chosen by federal entities. He continued to serve in his occupation and community roles until his death in 1791 at age 53 from stroke complications. He is buried in the churchyard of Christ Church in Philadelphia. Ann passed away many years later in 1827 at age 80. She is buried in her native Bordentown.

We are grateful for all of his patriotic and artistic contributions.

Please remember Wolf’s rules for our community. In general that means to be respectful to each other and to pull no shenanigans that your mom might find offensive or otherwise cause jail time. That said, free speech is honored here.

This Thanksgiving holiday weekend, remember the early American settlers and the patriots who followed that led to America’s existence as the greatest nation on earth. Thank the Lord that He saw fit to permit this great experiment in liberty and freedom to be conducted in His creation. Then go have some fun and love on your families and friends in celebration!

YUM!

Be blessed and go make something good happen!