Hallograms

It’s been a little over a year since Trump was sworn back into office to " preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."  Instead he's diminished the office and America's standing with allies and foes alike.  His second term has been marked by cruelty, ineptitude, and dangerous provocations.  To mark the passing of this exhausting  year, I wanted to share my post from June of 2024, about the hard work our ancestors put into shaking off an unaccountable government, and building one "of, by, and for the people." June 27, 2024 Post This is the headstone of my great, great, great, great, great grandpa Benjamin S Hamilton.  Sometime around his 15th year, the colonies declared their independence from the King and Britain.  As you can see, young Pvt. Benjamin played his part in the choice by our ancestors to reject the notion of a “unitary executive” ruling over them, and instead embraced a belief that the governed should have a say and take...

"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 it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman." Thomas Paine (1776)

  As we near 250 years since we rejected the whims of a solitary King and embraced the messier, but superior road of self governance, I thought it would be fun to share some quotes from that period. Hope you enjoy. "It's not tyranny we desire; it's a just, limited, federal government." - Alexander Hamilton

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/13/us/ice-videos-minnesota-trump-immigration.html?unlocked_article_code=1.EVA.6oCb.3T5FUDgNvPR2&smid=url-share

  Why bother? That’s what I’ve been asking myself over the last few years, as I tried to call out warnings like Paul Revere, and was met with denials or shrugs. I’ve joked that my English teachers oversold me on the effectiveness of the persuasive essay, even though I know persuasive essays were a big part of making the case to the colonists to break with England. So, why bother, when warnings of impending danger go unheard or unheeded? Because it’s my country too, and people I love live here. Because my ancestors fought for freedom and I don’t want to see their sacrifice diminished a mere 250 years later. Because even if nobody listens, and my words are sewn to the wind, at least I’ll know I tried to defend all the things my ancestor’s fought for. So, I bother. But, I’m not interested in the fiasco that passes for “debate” online. Social media had potential to connect people, but unfortunately the incentives were directed to division instead. I’m not interested in that, a...