Movie Review: John Adams (Book ref. HBO Series)

Posted on October 14, 2015 by Brian Wright

The founding father of founding fathers
by David McCullough
Review by Brian Wright

2001, Simon and Schuster, 656 pages

“But all the provisions that He [God] has made for the gratification of our senses… are much inferior to the provision, the wonderful provision that he has made for the gratification of our nobler powers of intelligence and reason. He has given us reason to find out the truth, and the real design and true end of our existence.”
— diary of John Adams ca. 1756

John Adams (1735-1826) is probably the most underrated thinker and actor participating in the birth of our nation, the birth of practical liberty (for society at large for the first time in history). The simple truth: were it not for Adam’s fierce determination and hard intellectual work of persuasion at the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, 1776, independence from England would not have been declared, much less achieved. Continue reading →

Brian’s Column: Of Fantasy Football and Donald Trump

Posted on August 30, 2015 by Brian Wright

Comments on how my friends (and I, occasionally) ignore the 900# Gorilla

Ol’ Tom said it most eloquently:

“Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.”

In other words, life goes on. Most people, like my fantasy football league guys and nearly everyone else I’ve ever worked or played golf with, have ‘taken the Blue Pill’ so long ago in their lives—preferring normal lives with children, jobs and careers as best they can, going to church, fitting in with the way things are done without asking any questions—that they literally have no idea what I’m talking about when I suggest the system is lying to them. That, in fact, the system is dangerous to life and limb and needs to change… and that they should ask questions and act to save themselves and all those they love. [They have to recognize, first, what Toto tells them, and then they must DOROTHY UP!]

Now with advent of ‘The Tube‘ it may be too late:[1] as Morpheus notes to Neo in The Matrix, “You have to understand, most of these people are not ready to be unplugged. And many of them are so inured, so hopelessly dependent on the system, that they will fight to protect it.” Say it isn’t so, Morpheus! These are great guys… productive, bright, generous, funny, a joy to be around… you mean they’ll never lift a finger to stop wars of aggression, end torture and gross injustice, expose all the Big Lies of the Borg State?! Sadly, I’m afraid that’s just the way things are. For plenty of reasons. Unless… Continue reading →

Guest Column: Independence Day Thoughts

Posted on June 30, 2014 by Brian Wright

Independence Day Letter
by Matt Simon (July 4, 2006)

This is a letter written by a freedom-fighter, Free State Early Mover Matt Simon, to his friends and family back in West Virginia, explaining the importance of the cause for liberty and the progress we’re making in New Hampshire. [Editor’s note: Mr. Simon wrote this during his first year in the Free State. Matt is now perhaps the leading and most effective voice in New Hampshire for Compassion (when it comes to medical marijuana and other personal freedoms the runaway statists would just as soon crush with their jackboots). I shared a house in Amherst with him in those early days of the Early Movers.]July 4, 2006

Continue reading →

Guest Column: Constitution Day

Posted on September 16, 2013 by Brian Wright

Celebrate by enforcing via Nullification
by Michael Boldin

When I think of a “Constitution Day” speech, three things pop into my head.

First, I expect to hear a speech about the greatness of the Constitution and the wisdom of the Founding Fathers.

Second, that speech will likely cover the many ways that today’s Federal government is nothing close to the Founders’ constitutional vision. I’d hear about some of the ways the supreme court has flipped the constitution on its head, and how politicians from both major political parties only care about the constitution when it fits their political goals. They ignore or violate it with impunity when it doesn’t. Continue reading →