The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is the primary amendment addressing freedom, guaranteeing freedoms of religion, speech, the press, assembly, and the right to petition. It prohibits Congress from establishing a religion or hindering its free exercise, and it also protects the right to express oneself, including through the press, and to assemble peacefully. Additionally, the First Amendment ensures the right to petition the government for redress of grievances. But: we need some order The concept of ordered liberty describes a balance . . .
Author: Timothy Schell
Corruption in Plain Sight
Job Description: US President Article II of the United States Constitution establishes the executive branch of the federal government and defines the role of the President The president shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and . . .
International Criminal Court

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is an intergovernmental organization housed in The Hague, Netherlands. It is a permanent international court with jurisdiction to prosecute individuals for genocide, acts of aggression, crimes against humanity and war crimes. The ICC is not affiliated with The International Court of Justice, an organ of the United Nations, that mediates disputes between member states.
Top Issue: The Economy

The US economy is a mix of capitalism and socialism. There is freedom of choice and consumer sovereignty. The US does not have a free market economy because there is regulation and control of specific industries by the government.
What Next?

And What Have We Done? 49% of us was enough to elect a person with a cult following and little to recommend him, otherwise.
Kings, Dictators and Oligarchs

Dictatorships do not have open elections, have curtailed civil liberties, rule is by decree, opposition is not allowed and often include a cult of personality. Dictators can emerge in a variety of situations. Dictators need money to operate and maintain control.
Money and Influence

Super PAC money started influencing elections immediately after Citizens United and has been flowing ever since. Most of that money comes from just a few wealthy individual donors. In the 2018 the top 100 donors to super PACs contributed nearly 78 percent of all super PAC spending.
Double Haters?

Looking at consensus presidential polling from FiveThirtyEight , Trump has a one percent lead over Biden, 41.5% vs 40.5%. In other words, the people responding to the polls are not excited about either 2024 presidential candidate. These polls seem to indicate that there is a significant bloc of voters, approaching 20%, who dislike both candidates. The 2024 election somewhat resembles the 2016 contest (when exit polls showed 18% disliked both candidates) more than the 2020 contest. Biden has lost favor . . .
Elected Again?

Grover Cleveland had been the mayor of Buffalo, NY in 1881 and the following year, governor of New York. He led the Bourbon Democrats, a classical liberal organization opposed to high tariffs, inflation, imperialism, and subsidies to business. He fought against political corruption, patronage, and bossism. Grover Cleveland was praised for honesty, self-reliance, integrity, and commitment to the principles of classical liberalism. 1884 – Cleveland ElectedHe was first elected president as a Democrat in 1884 with support from the republican Mugwumps. . . .
Can Politicians Be Leaders?

We are living in an era when many politicians are entertainers rather than leaders. Getting the important things done has become secondary to being bellicose with personal attacks on opponents – flinging talking points without substance. Peter Drucker: “Management is doing things right; Leadership is doing the right things.” Our elected representatives need to recognize what is important and focus on fixing the problems. We have concerns that need their attention: immigration, climate change, war lords, gun control and poverty . . .