Author Archives: Jeffrey

Did the Articles of Confederation Fail? ~ Probably Not!

It is taken, in many cases, to be fact that the reason the Constitutional Convention was called and that the Constitution was ratified was because of the failure of the Articles of Confederation system. The folks at Heritage have made their position clear:

The first plan the Framers tried after declaring independence was called the Articles of Confederation. The government that the Articles created failed because it was too weak to coordinate national policy among states with different priorities. Continue reading →

Teachers Are Sharing the “Basic” Skills Students Can’t Do Anymore… and Parents Are Panicking!

….and one MUST wonder why we recommend that you get your children OUT of the public school system and take responsibility for the future of YOUR children! ~ Editor

Across the country, teachers are sounding the alarm about a new kind of gap in the classroom: kids who can code on a tablet but cannot tie their shoes, write a legible sentence, or remember their own phone number. The viral stories are piling up, and so is the parental anxiety, as families realize these “basic” skills are not guaranteed anymore. Underneath the panic is a harder question, though, about what schools and homes are actually prioritizing in 2026. Continue reading →

**Benjamin Franklin: ‘Money has never made man happy. The more one has, the more one wants‘**

Benjamin Franklin, a Founding Father, believed money could not bring lasting happiness. His life showed that desire grows with wealth, not contentment. Franklin, from modest beginnings, achieved great influence through self-education and public service. He established institutions and made scientific discoveries. His focus was on purpose, learning, and self-control, not accumulation. This perspective remains relevant today. Continue reading →

The Continental Bait-and-Switch

Continental Currency, One Sixth of a Dollar

Due to wartime inflation of bills of credit (“Continentals”) during the American war for independence and the predictable economic effects, an old American colloquialism developed, “not worth a Continental” (although this phrase may have come about much later than the Revolutionary era). This article argues that Continentals only temporarily retained some value largely because of an initial promise of future redemption in gold and silver – a monetary “bait-and-switch.” (Additionally, interventions such as legal tender laws and the acceptance of paper money for tax payments may have offered some temporary support, but these measures were secondary to – and ultimately dependent upon – the original expectation of redemption in gold or silver).

This poses a significant problem for Modern Monetary Theory (MMT). Rather than demonstrating chartalism or a state’s ability to impose money on a people via a combination of legal tender laws and acceptance of their tokens in tax settlement, it demonstrates that the Continentals were only perceived as valuable because they were linked to gold and silver and carried explicit promises of future redemption in specie and were burned to avoid other problems. Continue reading →

**Washington’s “Suppression” of the Whiskey Rebellion Betrayed the Revolution… and It Failed!**

Some conservatives are now bending over backwards to try to justify their calls for more federal intervention in local law enforcement around the nation. This has been problematic for many because some of these people also have pretended to be in favor of decentralization, local control, and a strict reading of the Constitution when it suits them.

But now that the actual respect for the Tenth Amendment and the federalism built into the Constitution for the moment favors left-wing protestors and rioters, the Right is now attempting to come up with reasons why the federal government should be called in to solve our problems after all. Continue reading →

**Hill ~ The Psychology of Learning: How Motivation, Memory, and Stress Shape Smarter Study Habits**

Group of students studying in classroom writing notes during lesson.

From high school students juggling deadlines to professionals retraining for new careers, one truth remains: learning isn’t just about time spent studying — it’s about how your mind works while doing it. Psychology, the science of human behavior and mental processes, offers powerful tools to help you learn more effectively, stay motivated, and retain knowledge for the long term. When applied deliberately, principles of motivation, memory, and stress management can radically transform not just how you study, but how you grow. Continue reading →

**Annie: Did We Make a Mistake in Removing Christianity From the Classroom?!**

(RawPixel, Public Domain)

Once upon a time, December was filled with Christmas pageants and programs, many of which took place in the local school auditorium. At the very least, such programs were filled with Christmas carols spelling out the story of Christ’s birth in Bethlehem; many of them – like the one depicted in the 1941 film, “Penny Serenade” – even acted out that story, complete with Mary, Joseph, and the angels. (Watch the movie Below! ~ Editor)

School Christmas programs still take place today … but often only under the generic title of “Holiday Concerts.” Gone are the renditions of “Silent Night” and “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing.” Continue reading →

4 Essential Lessons of the Past: Skills That Aren’t Taught in Schools Today

***THESE* are amongst the reasons that you should Homeschool your children! ~ *Editor***

Photo by Vitaly Gariev

The evolution of education over the past few decades has been profound. What was once standard curriculum for many students has now faded into memory, replaced by digital devices and tech-centric approaches.

But as we move further into the digital age, it’s worth asking: have we sacrificed some crucial life skills in the process? Let’s explore four key lessons that Baby Boomers were taught in school — skills that today’s students often miss out on. Continue reading →

Kids Don’t Need to Spend So Much Time in School

Get your children OUT of the System – NOW – and keep them OUT!

When most people hear that my siblings and I graduated high school years ahead of normal, scored high on state-standardized tests, and attended top colleges and universities, they generally assume our schooling was extremely strict, long, and arduous.

Our schooling was challenging, but it was never impossible. In fact, I realized only years later how shocking it was that I never recall spending more than two hours a day on schoolwork until high school. Even then, I hardly ever worked on homework during evenings or weekends.

Thus, it boggles my mind how teachers find work for children as young as six or seven years old to do from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Continue reading →

**The Three Stooges – Swingin’ The Alphabet (1938)**

C’mon… Everybody needs a good laugh. Just think how enjoyable a modern day math lesson would be today! ~ Editor

Lafayette Helped Americans Turn the Tide in Their Fight for Independence – and 50 Years Later – He Helped Forge the Growing Nation’s Sense of Identity

Jean Marie Joseph Bove’s depiction of Lafayette returning to the U.S. The caption says, ‘A great man belongs to the whole universe.’ Blancheteau Collection/Cornell University Library via Wikimedia Commons

America is nearing the 250th anniversary of its revolutionary birth, the Declaration of Independence. July 4, 2026, will mark a milestone – and a time for reflection.

As fascination with America’s founding endures, controversy colors how the revolution is taught across the United States. From contested efforts by The New York Times “1619 Project” to put slavery at the center of America’s story, to attempts to limit teaching about race and racism, partisanship surrounds the teaching of American history. Anniversaries can inspire public passion, but they can also open old wounds. Continue reading →

Public Schools Are Failing And Parents Are Bailing

Families are choosing alternatives to the educational-industrial complex.

Students attending American public schools are struggling. Test scores from the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), released this year, indicate that 33% of 8th graders – a greater percentage than ever before – are reading at the “below basic” level.

Additionally, only 22% of high school seniors are proficient or above in math, down from 24% in 2019, and only 35% are proficient in reading – the lowest score since NAEP began in 1969 – down from 37% in 2019. Also, a record-high percentage scored at “below basic” levels in both math and reading compared to all previous assessments.

Parents across the country, especially in big cities, have become aware of the problem and are removing their children. Continue reading →

The Hollywood Starlet We Have To Thank for Wi-Fi

When you think of Hollywood’s Golden Age, you probably conjure images of glamorous actresses walking the red carpet and lighting up the silver screen with their charm, looks, and talent. You most likely wouldn’t think that any of them were pioneering inventors who ushered in the age of global communication.

Hedy Lamarr was one of Hollywood’s brightest stars. Many consider her to be a film icon, and she was called the most beautiful woman in the world. But behind her appearance, acting talent, and international fame was the mind of a brilliant inventor whose efforts laid the foundation for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and modern wireless networks.

While her contributions weren’t recognized in her lifetime, she is now celebrated for her brilliance and stands as evidence that genius doesn’t have to look a certain way. Continue reading →

Theodore Roosevelt Cracks Down on NYC Corruption

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It took a 100 years for them to destroy his monopoly laws. That’s why we only have 2 or 3 technological companies controlling the internet right now. Because our government destroys the monopoly laws so that they could do that. They’ve been given special permission to do it just like the sports teams have been given special permission to ignore the monopoly laws. ~ Tony Moore

‘Part of History’: Family Steps in to Save 120-Year-Old Store in Northern Arizona

The Parks’ general store, tucked in the pines on Route 66, has been a staple in the community of about 1,500 people since 1906.

PARKS, AZ — A 1906 general store was on the brink of closing on Route 66 in Arizona until a family stepped in to save it.

Stepping into the Parks Old Route 66 Store feels like stepping back in time. Not only for its 50s theme and location on the Mother Road, but also because the store itself is 20 years older than Route 66.

NOTE: Consider this a follow up to our recent post of the video and story of Old Route 66 that we published last week. And there is more to this story. Stay Tuned. ~ Jeffrey Bennett, Editor Continue reading →

THE PILGRIMS: The First Thanksgiving

The Surprising Reason Kids Can’t Seem To Read Anymore

Without substantial reading skills, “the risk is that future generations will simply be unable to think as deeply and with as much complexity as in the past.”

One of my daily challenges as a parent is getting my fourth grader to read for 30 minutes as part of her homework.

It’s not because she struggles with her reading skills; she actually reads well-above grade level. Like many kids of her generation, though, my daughter has zero interest in picking up a book. Why would she, when she’s got an iPad offering her nonstop entertainment via videos expertly designed for her short attention span? Continue reading →

William Lyon Phelps ~ The Subject of Owning Books

“You should own no book that you are afraid to mark up.”

NEW HAVEN, Conn., April 6, 1933 – William Lyon Phelps, who retired this year after 41 years of teaching students at Yale the richness and delight of literature, tonight gave to the American public a living legacy of his appreciation in a brief broadcast on the subject of owing books.

Professor Phelps noted that he lives principally in a room that contains 6,000 books; remarked that when he was asked if he had read them all, he hedged in his reply by saying, “Some of them twice.” Continue reading →

The Untold Story of Route 66: America’s Most Famous Highway

Route 66 is more than just a highway — it’s the story of America itself. From its birth in the 1920s to its role in World War II, the Dust Bowl migrations, the dreamers who built and traveled it, the day the road went silent, and its surprising revival, Route 66 has always been a symbol of freedom, resilience, and change.

There was a time in our lives that my wife and children lived in a 70 year old two-story farm house house that we had restored. We had 3 1/2 acres, and for the most part – collected our own water, heated our own home with a wood-burning stove for which we cut and collected about 12 cords of wood per year to heat the home. OH – and during the cold months – we cooked soup and various sauces on top of the wood-burner. Damn that food was good.

There were times during the year that young bears came on our property to see what we might have to eat – and of course – the wife grew an intense vegetable garden whenever she could.

The road that passed by our driveway – WAS Old Route 66. ~ Editor

**Paine reminds us that, Government is Not a ‘Necessary Evil‘ but a Positive Good**

Led as they are by sinful men, many human governments abuse their power and authority and inflict great suffering both on their own subjects and on the people of other nations.

The notion that government is a “necessary evil” has seeped into American lore and consciousness. Many Americans accept it as they would a self-evident truth. Yet treating government as a necessary evil contradicts biblical teaching and, by extension, contradicts God’s good design for government. Continue reading →