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!