Category Archives: Political Theory

Life, Love, People and God

My book: Life, Love, People and God is available on Amazon.com. Click here to order a copy It is comprised of poetry and essays written over the past fifty years by myself, a lifelong student of parliamentary procedure and political … Continue reading

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On Rebellion

“I’M AS MAD AS HELL, AND I’M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE!”[1] These are the words of Howard Beale in “Network”. The American movie classic is about an aging network broadcaster who rebels against the corporate oligarchy and subsequently … Continue reading

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Liberty and Non Aggression

Liberty is expanded by the free exchange of information and freedom of association. Nevertheless Tyranny is easier. I observe this constantly as a parliamentarian. The right to bear arms protects the right of free speech, religion, association, and petition, all … Continue reading

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A Sadly Changed Country

Back in the 1970’s a man wrote a letter to the editor of the Palm Beach Post. I though that I should share it with you. Hear Hear! Editor: By the mercy of God my grandfather is dead. He would … Continue reading

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Thoughts on the Militia for a New Republic

We constantly hear about the second half of the Second Amendment, an independent clause which guarantees us the absolute right, free from any legislative impingement, to keep and bear arms. All laws to the contrary in my opinion are unconstitutional, … Continue reading

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Contract Law and the U.S. Constitution

From a popular tutorial on contract management, we may learn the following: “A contract is…a formal written agreement between two individuals or organizations for the procurement of commodities and services. Every contract consists of the following five elements: Mutual agreement … Continue reading

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LGBT Rights and the First Amendment

From Muhammad Ibn Abdullah to Joel Osteen the world seems awash with false prophets. This is why it is so important to be able to say whatever we want, to believe whatever we want about God, or not to believe, to publish whatever we want to publish, to associate with those whom we wish, and to shun those with whom we do not. Continue reading

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The Civil Liberty that Protects all Others

It was certainly ironic and fitting that a legislator who voted against allowing guns in a certain place should be shot by a gun in exactly that place.  Yet that was the fate of Clementa Pinckney, state senator and pastor of … Continue reading

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Sonnet: Government

What do you mean when you say government? An entity once held in high esteem? Realization of some patriot dream? A rule of law some said was Heaven sent? Its reputation badly tarnished now with statesmen promulgating globally their deconstructionist … Continue reading

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Management, Labor, and the Union

We recognize that there is a fundamental difference between management and labor. Being part of labor means that, at least for right now, you are destined to make your way through life with a little less than you’d hoped for. … Continue reading

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A new verse for “The Mikado”

In Gilbert & Sullivan’s “Mikado”, Koko a tailor under a death sentence is appointed Lord High Executioner with the reasoning that before he can cut off someone’s head, he has to cut his own off . Nevertheless, he has a list. … Continue reading

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To Those who call Abortion, Murder

2 Kings 17:17 They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire. Some claim that abortion is murder. To restate this, there are some who claim is that there are rooms all over America, where individuals are murdering innocent children … Continue reading

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A Neo-Patriarchal Response to Communitarianism

Very occasionally, in the morning when the weather is not too hot, I step out onto my front porch and sit on a broad wooden bench, looking out into my front yard and that of my neighbor’s, enjoying the coolness … Continue reading

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Can a constitution put limits on a government?

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The Bill of Rights at Home and Abroad

In our post-republic era, much is made of the U.S. Constitution and its accompanying Bill of Rights, even though it is clear that the government and the courts rely less and less upon their unconditional application, and more upon political … Continue reading

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Parliamentary Procedure the Cornerstone of Liberty

Originally Published in the St Augustine Town Crier The word comes from the Old French, eleventh century “parlement” translated as “talking” and the suffix “ary”, again from the French “of or belonging to.” The word parliamentary means a way of … Continue reading

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The Present Education Controversy

Originally published in the Jacksonville Observer Education is not the business of government. This is why we have a school board separate from the county government. It is the duty of the school board to decide how the school system … Continue reading

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Politics and Party Loyalty

Originally published in the Jacksonville Observer There are some folks who think you can say you are a member of a political party and attack your own party’s candidates during an election. I disagree. We have a multiparty system in … Continue reading

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Church Politics

Originally published in the Jacksonville Observer I don’t believe that there is a separation of church and state. If you are a member of church and you vote, you know what I mean. I have been visiting various churches for … Continue reading

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Sonnet: A Toast to the Constitution

A simple document in seven parts An easy read, including the amendments Compelling words that stir up young men’s hearts To sacrifice their lives for independence And sacrifice they did, that holy number Was yearly multiplied in foreign fields In … Continue reading

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Make No Mistake, It’s Still Liberty or Death!

Originally published in the Jacksonville Observer I know that I am the odd man out when I say I could care less about the Jaguars. But given that, you must admit that professional football is a fantasy world where the … Continue reading

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Property Rights and Environmental Public Policy

Indeed, the principal reason why, in the first place, states and cities were ever organized at all was to defend private property. – Cicero 1 In 1772, shortly before the beginning of the Revolutionary War, Samuel Adams, who was a … Continue reading

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Toward a Clearer Understanding of Universal Human Rights

Originally posted on the Florida Student Philosophy Blog It was never the people who complained of the universality of human rights, nor did the people consider human rights as a Western or Northern imposition. It was often their leaders who … Continue reading

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Dr. Dale Jamieson on ‘The Moral and Political Challenges of Climate Change’

Originally posted on the Florida Student Philosophy Blog On Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010 I attended a lecture by Dr. Dale Jamieson, director of environmental studies at New York University, on “The Moral and Political Challenges of Climate Change” at the … Continue reading

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Mixing Religion with Politics

Originally published in the Jacksonville Observer It is impossible to keep religion out of politics. Why, you ask? Because a few folks involved in politics actually know God, and others have strong religious beliefs that supersede and drive their political … Continue reading

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How to Overthrow the Government

Originally published in the Jacksonville Observer I think that it is way past time that we overthrew the government that is currently in power, and put in some decent, honest folks that know what’s important and what’s not. While it … Continue reading

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What is Wrong

Originally published in the Jacksonville Observer It seems to me that things are terribly wrong and that my fellow citizens are slipping back into the abyss of subjection and slavery. This is a non-partisan observation. I am not laying the … Continue reading

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The Business of Government

Originally published in the Jacksonville Observer Recently Mayor Peyton sent everyone an e-mail in which he said that it was his intention to run the City of Jacksonville like a business. The problem is that the City of Jacksonville should … Continue reading

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Demanding Liberty

Originally published in the Jacksonville Observer On April 15th, more than 4,000 patriots gathered at the Jacksonville Landing as part of a national network of Tax Day Tea Parties that are said to have attracted more than a million participants. … Continue reading

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Rose’s Political Continuum

Originally published in the Florida Student Philosophy Blog As a political philosopher, I believe that one of my tasks is to reduce complicated issues to basic principles. Hence this graphic. It represents my conclusions on the opposing ideas of war … Continue reading

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President Obama

Originally published in the Florida Student Philosophy Blog God bless the new President of the United States! Now let us do all we can do to help him uphold his oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United … Continue reading

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On Parliamentary Procedure

Liberty is the ability to do what I want, when I want, without interference, in order that some good may be accomplished. Politics is the interaction with others in an attempt to influence the outcome of events. A large part … Continue reading

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Gender Wars

“Although the official ideology and the government support liberty and equality, men and women do not share an equal status in the United States.” In order to respond to the statement that “although the official ideology and the government support … Continue reading

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Poem: Martha Mitchell

Martha Mitchell, brassy, big haired, woman of the South Arkansas simple sweet and twangy A voice of her own that she loved to hear And John Mitchell for a husband Trouble. Trouble for the GOP Nixon knew her kind and … Continue reading

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Poem: The Party’s Over

The conflict between the two party pols at last has begun Now that all the facts that no one will hear are made manifest. Of course they will both continue to poll the voters en masse Ensuring that they position … Continue reading

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Song: Liberty Is A Tree That Must Be Watered

Liberty is a tree that must be watered, with the blood of patriot men who will be slaughtered to reclaim the rights the cowardly have bartered. Yes, Liberty is a tree that must be watered. The government should keep our … Continue reading

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Fire in the Flint

Walter White’s novel, Fire in the Flint was originally published in 1924. While White hoped “that sales of the book would show white publishers that colored people would buy books if publishers dared to bring out those which tell the … Continue reading

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Warren Beatty’s Bulworth: A Trial Balloon for the 2000 Presidential Nomination

Warren Beatty is a successful actor, director and producer. In addition to the entertainment industry, he has been publicly involved in liberal and democratic causes for the greater part of his life. He was seven when Franklin Roosevelt was reelected … Continue reading

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Class Versus Crass: A Comparison of “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” and “The Distinguished Gentlemen”

The film, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington was produced in nineteen thirty-nine and was directed by Frank Capra. When released a few weeks after the German invasion of Poland, it came as a who-needs-it-now irritant to many leaders in the … Continue reading

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