Changes

5. Certainly culture contributes to a nation in general.  Politics is ideas, and most politicians just sign onto ideas they like; most of the ideas are abstractions and aspirations created and molded by inventors, churchmen, and even common citizens.  A nation is driven by an almost indescribable sense which exists in the people as a whole.  For example, Jacksonian democracy was not so much a creation of President Jackson, but the culmination of the desire of the common man to be represented in government.  Manifest Destiny was not a law or a treaty written by Congressmen and Senators, signed by the President, and interpreted by the Courts, but a feeling, a movement, which drove the country westward, and swept up the politicians along with it.  These two periods, which came from the culture, are two memorable and important periods in our history.  In contrast, the federal programs of Herbert Hoover and the New Deal of FDR were inventions of politicians, and they failed to lift up the nation, failed to create a movement- it was empty rhetoric.  Hoover’s “A chicken in every pot and two cars in every garage” and FDR’s “Four Freedoms,” which captivated people during campaigns, ultimately did little more, and they did much less than ideas which originated from culture and the collective national mind.

5. Certainly culture contributes to a nation in general.  Politics is ideas, and most politicians just sign onto ideas they like; most of the ideas are abstractions and aspirations created and molded by inventors, churchmen, and even common citizens.  A nation is driven by an almost indescribable sense which exists in the people as a whole.  For example, Jacksonian democracy was not so much a creation of President Jackson, but the culmination of the desire of the common man to be represented in government.  Manifest Destiny was not a law or a treaty written by Congressmen and Senators, signed by the President, and interpreted by the Courts, but a feeling, a movement, which drove the country westward, and swept up the politicians along with it.  These two periods, which came from the culture, are two memorable and important periods in our history.  In contrast, the federal programs of Herbert Hoover and the New Deal of FDR were inventions of politicians, and they failed to lift up the nation, failed to create a movement- it was empty rhetoric.  Hoover’s “A chicken in every pot and two cars in every garage” and FDR’s “Four Freedoms,” which captivated people during campaigns, ultimately did little more, and they did much less than ideas which originated from culture and the collective national mind.

6. Two of Ronald Reagan’s greatest achievements were his tax cuts under the idea of “supply-side” economics and his Strategic Defense Initiative.  Interestingly, both were derided and both were given sarcastic nicknames- supply-side economics was “Reaganomics” and SDI was “Star Wars.”  Yet both were enormously successful.  Reaganomics led to an economic boom, and Star Wars intimidated the Soviet Union like nothing else.  Both were also relatively original ideas, and an example of good, logical thinking, not partisan politics.  It’s a wonder Ronald Reagan wasn’t homeschooled!

6. Two of Ronald Reagan’s greatest achievements were his tax cuts under the idea of “supply-side” economics and his Strategic Defense Initiative.  Interestingly, both were derided and both were given sarcastic nicknames- supply-side economics was “Reaganomics” and SDI was “Star Wars.”  Yet both were enormously successful.  Reaganomics led to an economic (or should we say Reaganomic) boom, and Star Wars intimidated the Soviet Union like nothing else.  Both were also relatively original ideas, and an example of good, logical thinking, not partisan politics.  It’s a wonder Ronald Reagan wasn’t homeschooled!

7. This map was probably drawn in the first half of the 1500s.  The cartographer seems to envision “Die Nuw Welt” as little more than wilderness and, in South America, cannibals is it? He also got the details of the shapes wrong, as they are only approximate.  The prevailing viewpoint at this time was that the New World was an uncivilized savage land, whereas Europe was refined and cultured.  But it was exactly the opposite of this “Gentleman” culture which built up America into the hard-working, rich, powerful- and yes, civilized- nation we are today.  We have surpassed Europe in wealth, inventions, and leadership, which would have been a good joke in the 16th century.

7. This map was probably drawn in the first half of the 1500s.  The cartographer seems to envision “Die Nuw Welt” as little more than wilderness and, in South America, cannibals it would seem. He also got the details of the shapes wrong, as they are only approximate.  The prevailing viewpoint at this time was that the New World was an uncivilized savage land, whereas Europe was refined and cultured.  But it was exactly the opposite of this “Gentleman” culture which built up America into the hard-working, rich, powerful- and yes, civilized- nation we are today.  We have surpassed Europe in wealth, inventions, and leadership, which would have been a good joke in the 16th century.

Honors

Honors