Raw History (Page 2)

Intellectual Combustion: Ideology and Federalism in America Today

Intellectual Combustion: Ideology and Federalism in America Today

Thoughts by August Glen-James Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) wrote that “Life is known to be a process of combustion; intellect is the light produced by this process.” An interesting metaphor, to be sure, but metaphors can be tricky. Often, some points, premises, or conclusions don’t tuck neatly under a metaphorical

Six Innovations on the Road to the American Revolution: Innovation 6: The Right of Revolution

Six Innovations on the Road to the American Revolution: Innovation 6: The Right of Revolution

By August Glen-James After running the gamut of innovations from denying a king’s divine right to rule, redefining the purpose of government, denying the supremacy of the Mother Country, invoking the rights of self-government, and denying the validity of “virtual representation,” the American colonists finalized their revolution: They not

Six Innovations on the Road to the American Revolution: Innovation 5--Distinguishing between Representation and Virtual Representation.

Six Innovations on the Road to the American Revolution: Innovation 5--Distinguishing between Representation and Virtual Representation.

By August Glen-James Because they were not represented in Parliament, Americans denied the legality and constitutionality of British colonial taxation policies that emerged after the French and Indian War. Parliament had no right either to tax the colonies or to legislate for them generally. Great Britain’s government, however, formulated

Six Innovations on the Road to the American Revolution: Innovation 4--Taxation, Representation, and Self-government.

Six Innovations on the Road to the American Revolution: Innovation 4--Taxation, Representation, and Self-government.

By: August Glen-James The French and Indian War changed the relationship between England and her North American colonies. Victory over the French and her native allies was expensive. Consequently, the British, believing their colonies benefitted from the war, asserted that they should help pay the massive war debt. The colonies

Six Innovations on the Road to the American Revolution: Innovation 3--Defining the Relationship of the Mother Country to the Colonies. Thoughts by August Glen-James

Six Innovations on the Road to the American Revolution: Innovation 3--Defining the Relationship of the Mother Country to the Colonies. Thoughts by August Glen-James

Under the economic theory of mercantilism, colonies were subordinate to their Mother Country. Colonies existed primarily to enrich the Mother Country by providing raw materials for manufacturing and serve as a ready market for her commerce. American revolutionaries denied this doctrine. Here are some leading thinkers of the American Revolution

Six Innovations on the Road to Revolution: Innovation 2--Minimalist Government. Thoughts by August Glen-James

Six Innovations on the Road to Revolution: Innovation 2--Minimalist Government. Thoughts by August Glen-James

Despite living in an age of monarchical governments with all its pomp and ceremony, size and power, Englishmen and their “country cousins” in America were notorious throughout the Western world for their “insubordination, their insolence, [and] their stubborn unwillingness to be governed.”[1] While professing their loyalty to the crown,

Six Innovations on the Road to the Revolution: Innovation 1--Putting Kings in their Proper Place. Thoughts by August Glen-James

Six Innovations on the Road to the Revolution: Innovation 1--Putting Kings in their Proper Place. Thoughts by August Glen-James

It was widely held in monarchical Europe that God had chosen certain people to rule nations. Known as the divine right of kings, this political doctrine defended monarchical absolutism by asserting that kings, having derived their authority from God, could not, as a consequence, be held accountable for their actions

Why Civilizations Fail: Editorial Thoughts by August Glen-James

Why Civilizations Fail: Editorial Thoughts by August Glen-James

“History,” wrote Edward Gibbon, “undertakes to record the transactions of the past for the instruction of future ages.”[1] Gibbon well apprehended this task having penned a six-volume tome entitled The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire comprising more than 1200 pages. Deciphering historical lessons, therefore, is no easy

Thomas Jefferson, 1823

Thomas Jefferson, 1823

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1749-1832

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1749-1832

Reading and Thinking: Thoughts by Arthur Schopenhauer, 19th Century

Reading and Thinking: Thoughts by Arthur Schopenhauer, 19th Century

This post offers some interesting ideas from the German philosopher, Arthur Schopenhauer, about the nexus between reading and thinking. The piece speaks for itself. Enjoy. August Glen-James, editor . . . the surest way of never having any thoughts of your own is to pick up a book every time you have a

The Demands of the Socialist Parties: Analysis by Igor Shafarevich.

General Interest

The Demands of the Socialist Parties: Analysis by Igor Shafarevich.

For many people, political parties, are an embarrassing malady of society akin to hemorrhoids for a person. But why do political parties even exist? James Madison observed that "As long as the reason of man continues fallible, and he is at liberty to exercise it, different opinions will be formed.

George Orwell on the Press

George Orwell on the Press

Henry David Thoreau, 1849

Henry David Thoreau, 1849

The Common Threads of Socialism: Thoughts by Igor Shafarevich.

Political Philosophy

The Common Threads of Socialism: Thoughts by Igor Shafarevich.

Igor Shafarevich (1923-2017) was a gifted Russian mathematician and Soviet dissident. He associated with some notable "trouble makers" in the USSR, like novelist Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. One of Shafarevich's students, Ilya Piatetski-Shapiro, revealed that the math savant disliked the October Revoloution and had "negative feelings for Communism." Though he felt political

The Average Man vis-á-vis the Government: Thoughts by H. L. Mencken, 1925.

General Interest

The Average Man vis-á-vis the Government: Thoughts by H. L. Mencken, 1925.

Is government a blessing, a curse, or something in between? It seems that too much or too little government are both fraught with dangers. The subject has engaged some of the great minds of history. For instance, Thomas Paine had the following thoughts: SOME writers have so confounded society with

Theories of Government: Thoughts by H. L. Mencken, 1922.

General Interest

Theories of Government: Thoughts by H. L. Mencken, 1922.

A consummate critic, H. L. Mencken unpacks what he thinks of monarchy, democracy, and communism in this short but vivid observation. August Glen-James, editor And communism, as the example of Russia already shows, is not a fountain that gushes peace, justice and plenty, but a sewer in which they are

The Politician: Thoughts by H. L. Mencken, 1940.

General Interest

The Politician: Thoughts by H. L. Mencken, 1940.

Mencken's analysis of the politician seems, in the main, to be timeless wisdom, as applicable today as it was when he wrote it. But, the reader can make that judgement. August Glen-James, editor “In politics,” he said, “man must learn to rise above principle.” Then he drove it in with

Government: Its Inner Nature. Thoughts by H. L. Mencken, 1919

Political Philosophy

Government: Its Inner Nature. Thoughts by H. L. Mencken, 1919

H. L. Mencken had a sharp wit . . . and a sharp pencil. His observations about government will ring a consonant note with most readers, regardless of personal politics. Enjoy! August Glen-James, editor The ideal government of all reflective men, from Aristotle onward, is one which lets the individual alone—one which

Freedom of Speech: Thoughts by C. Chauncey Burr, 1865

C Chauncey Burr

Freedom of Speech: Thoughts by C. Chauncey Burr, 1865

Freedom of speech has been in the news a lot lately as the nation, like a ship on the high seas, lists left and right in the heavy political storms of our day. Our nation has weathered heavy storms in the past with the nadir, arguably, being during the Civil

Truth: Thoughts By H. L. Mencken, 1922

General Interest

Truth: Thoughts By H. L. Mencken, 1922

In a work entitled, The Critical Process, H.L. Mencken addressed the concept of "truth." It may be a cynical take on the concept, but it gives one something to think about. August Glen-James, editor All that one may safely say of them is that no one, as yet, has

The Crowd: Thoughts By H. L. Mencken, 1918

General Interest

The Crowd: Thoughts By H. L. Mencken, 1918

Crowd dynamics have interested generations of thinkers. Various Ph.D. types have written articles on the subject; chapters in sociology and psychology books philosophize "deeply" about the topic, but H.L. Mencken stated the facts, as he saw them, in a way that only he could. Enjoy! August Glen-James, editor

The Average Civilized Man of Today: Thoughts By H.L. Mencken, 1924

The Average Civilized Man of Today: Thoughts By H.L. Mencken, 1924

That the average civilized man of today is inferior to the average civilized man of two or three generations ago is too plain to need arguing. He has less enterprise and courage; he is less resourceful and various; he is more like a rabbit and less like a lion. Harsh

Novanglus No. II: The Revolutionary Doctrines of John Adams, 1774

Novanglus No. II: The Revolutionary Doctrines of John Adams, 1774

Writing as "Massachusettensis" in the Massachusetts Gazette, Daniel Leonard argued that Parliament had a constitutional right to exercise authority over the American colonies. The denial of this "right" was the central theme of America's revolutionaries; consequently, writing as "Novanglus," John Adams countered "Massachusettensis's" arguments in a series of essays that

Capitalism: Thoughts by H. L. Mencken, 1935

General Interest

Capitalism: Thoughts by H. L. Mencken, 1935

H. L. Mencken (Sept. 12, 1880--Jan. 29, 1956) was an American journalist from Maryland. His work is characterized by sharp criticism and satirical observations about government, cultural institutions, and powerful people. He was witty, iconoclastic at times, and a master of the English language. His works are always an interesting