This week we look at Part I of Richard Haass' new book, Bill of Obligations. In the episode we discuss the erosion of American democracy and of American society. We also explore our political system's focus on individual rights and what the government owes the individual without a corresponding emphasis on what each citizen owes his or her fellow Americans.

This week we look at a June, 2022 poll done by Gallup which asked people if they were proud to be an America. The results may SHOCK you. 

You can find the poll here: https://news.gallup.com/poll/394202/record-low-extremely-proud-american.aspx

Thank you for checking out the podcast!

Hello again! This week I discuss where I have been, my plans for the future and we delve into a quote from Teddy Roosevelt's Man in the Arena speech. You can read the whole speech at: https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/Learn-About-TR/TR-Encyclopedia/Culture-and-Society/Man-in-the-Arena.aspx

Welcome back to the twenty-fifth episode of the American Social Fabric Podcast. This week we look at the Constitution's protection of the slave trade in the early US and on the writings of the Founding Father Martin Luther.  This week's episode underscores the great contradiction of many of the Founding Fathers when it came to slavery, it was something they wanted to remove and also something they participated in.

You can find the essay at: https://consource.org/document/luther-martin-genuine-information-viii-1788-1-22/20130122080919/\.

Also, if you want to follow along in the book I am using as a primary source, it is called "The Essential Debate on the Constitution" and is edited by Robert J. Allison and Bernard Bailyn.

Thank you for your interest in the podcast and have a great week!

Welcome back to the twenty-fourth episode of the American Social Fabric Podcast. This week we take a break from the typical exploration of the ideas and writings of our Founding Fathers and examine the book of a more recent American figure, Jim Mattis, who was both a General in the Marines and the Secretary of Defense. We will cover Part 1 of Mattis' book "Call Sign Chaos" as apply some of the leadership principles contained in his book to current American lawmakers and political leaders. 

Thank you for your interest in the podcast and have a great week!

Welcome back to the twenty third episode of the American Social Fabric Podcast. This week we take a break from the typical exploration of the ideas and writings of our Founding Fathers and listen to the words of more recent American generals. In this episode, we listen to General Dwight Eisenhower's D-Day address to his men about to invade Europe and General Jim Mattis' letter to his Marines before they began their invasion of Iraq in 2003. The purpose of this Memorial Day and D-Day anniversary episode is to appreciate the sacrifices made by those Americans who fought and died for our ideals of freedom, liberty and self-determination. As noted in the episode, it is not meant to be a comment on the politics or policy decisions of the Bush Administration, but an appreciation of the risks those of the greatest generation and of my generation took to preserve American ideals. 

Thank you for your interest in the podcast and have a great week!

Welcome back to the twenty second episode of the American Social Fabric Podcast. This week we return to the Brutus essays, explore Brutus IV and discuss the unknown author's concern over bad American leadership and politicians who will be corrupt and put their interests above those of the Nation. This week's episode underscores the point that good, honest leadership whose interests are aligned with those of the average American are essential for the protection of our liberties and freedoms. 

You can find the essay at: https://teachingamericanhistory.org/document/brutus-iv/.

Also, if you want to follow along in the book I am using as a primary source, it is called "The Essential Debate on the Constitution" and is edited by Robert J. Allison and Bernard Bailyn.

Thank you for your interest in the podcast and have a great week!

Welcome to the 21st episode of the American Social Fabric! This week we will discuss the essay "A Countryman - II", by Roger Sherman, published in the New Haven Gazette of Connecticut on November 22, 1787. You can find a copy of this essay here: 

https://csac.history.wisc.edu/wpcontent/uploads/sites/281/2017/07/ct_countryman_II.pdf

Also, if you want to follow along in the book I am using as a primary source, it is called "The Essential Debate on the Constitution" and is edited by Robert J. Allison and Bernard Bailyn.

In this episode, we explore Sherman's argument that it is more important that those you delegate power to have the same appreciation for your liberties as you than the contents of any Constitution or Bill of Rights. Sherman believes that what really counts for the flourishing of liberty is quality leadership whose values are aligned with those of the average citizen. 

Thank you for checking out the podcast and I hope you find some value in it!

Welcome to the 20th episode of the American Social Fabric! This week we will discuss the 10th of the Federalist articles published in the Daily Advertiser of New York on November 22, 1787. You can find a copy of this article here: https://billofrightsinstitute.org/primary-sources/federalist-no-10. Also, if you want to follow along in the book I am using as a primary source, it is called "The Essential Debate on the Constitution" and is edited by Robert J. Allison and Bernard Bailyn.

In this episode, we explore James Madison's warnings about political parties and the dangers they pose to the functioning of our government. Madison then discusses how the democratic republic established by the Constitution provides certain buffers against the worst of political parties and peoples' natural inclination to them. 

Thank you for checking out the podcast and I hope you find some value in it!