The Forgotten Man

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Against the background of a darkening sky, The Forgotten Manall of the past Presidents of the United States gather before the White House, as if to commemorate some great event. 

In the left hand corner of the painting sits a man. That man, with his head bowed appears distraught and hopeless as he contemplates his future.

Some of the past Presidents try to console him while looking in the direction of the modern Presidents as if to say, “What have you done?”

Many of these modern Presidents, seemingly oblivious to anything other than themselves, appear to be congratulating each other on their great accomplishments.

In front of the man, paper trash is blowing in the wind. Crumpled dollar bills, legislative documents, and, like a whisper—the U.S. Constitution beneath the foot of Barack Obama.

Jon McNaughton

painted this work, and explains his thought process in the following YouTube. As you can see, all of the modern Presidents are congratulating themselves, while our Founders are reacting in horror at what we have done. 

Here’s the ‘Tube:

Gouverneur Morris, American Patriot

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Here is the amazing story of the author of the final draft of our Constitution. This article originally appeared in Illinois Review. Re-published by permission.

THE MIGHTY QUILL OF A WESTCHESTER PATRIOT

By John F. Di Leo –

Reflections on the anniversary of the birth of Gouverneur MorrisGouverneur Morris

Willis Haviland Carrier invented the first modern air conditioning machine in 1902 at the Buffalo Forge Company, and today, a century later, it’s difficult to imagine a home or office being built anywhere in America without either central A/C or at least a window or room unit to alleviate the summer heat.

There was no such technological solution in the Founding Era, when statesmen committed to the Glorious Cause spent months at a time in Philadelphia, trying to think straight in a muggy meeting room at what we now call Independence Hall.

In the summer of 1787, the oppressive weather must have felt like a very physical metaphor for the condition of the country.  The crushing pressure of humidity and heat mimicked the crushing pressure of national and state debts, as the impotent national government was exposed as naught but an empty shell.  We couldn’t repay our loans to Holland, France, Spain, or so many other lenders, both public and private.  Many patriots and investors were going bankrupt due to our government’s inability to pay our bills… and tens of thousands of soldiers were penniless, having served valiantly in a victorious revolution, with nothing to show for it but their poverty and their war injuries.   Continue reading Gouverneur Morris, American Patriot→

Quote of the Day: The Crisis

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December 23, 1776

THESE are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated. Britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has a right (not only to TAX) but “to BIND us in ALL CASES WHATSOEVER” and if being bound in that manner, is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth. Even the expression is impious; for so unlimited a power can belong only to God.   Continue reading Quote of the Day: The Crisis→

Quote of the Day

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“Government exists to protect us from each other.

Where government has gone beyond its limits is in deciding to protect us from ourselves.”

~ Ronald Reagan

Ron Paul’s defense strategy

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We all knew that Ron Paul has a naive at best national defense strategy. It seems that he had been working with Barney Frank on something called a Sustainable Defense Strategy. Barney Frank, really? Glenn Beck fills in the blanks, with . . . you won’t believe this . . . George Soros.