Difference between revisions of "Notes:BC1.CWintro"
From Civicwiki
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Motivating factors: | Motivating factors: | ||
| − | * There is a political division in America that has become more strident because it is being fed by people who profit by it. | + | * There is a <u>political division</u> in America that has become more strident because it is being fed by people who profit by it. |
* We are ''Coming Apart'' and few understand what is happening, why, or what to do about it. | * We are ''Coming Apart'' and few understand what is happening, why, or what to do about it. | ||
| − | * Today's youth is 8 or 9 generations away from our country's beginnings and do not understand American exceptionalism--though this was likely true to some degree of every generation since the middle of the 19th century. | + | * Today's youth is <u>8 or 9 generations</u> away from our country's beginnings and do not understand American exceptionalism--though this was likely true to some degree of every generation since the middle of the 19th century. |
::When I was a kid, we could recite parts of The Declaration, but never thought about what it meant. It was not something profound, it was homework. | ::When I was a kid, we could recite parts of The Declaration, but never thought about what it meant. It was not something profound, it was homework. | ||
| − | * The evolution of English liberty and constitution and how it spun off the United States is not understood | + | * The <u>evolution of English liberty</u> and constitution and how it spun off the United States is not understood |
:::And that is a fascinating story. | :::And that is a fascinating story. | ||
| − | * Rule of Law is not understood by many - including myself not so long ago. This is the same as saying that our Constitution is not understood by many. | + | * <u>Rule of Law</u> is not understood by many - including myself not so long ago. This is the same as saying that our Constitution is not understood by many. |
| − | * Democracy is not understood. | + | * <u>Democracy is not understood</u>. |
:::France is a democracy. | :::France is a democracy. | ||
:::The United States is a constitutional republic with democratic input. | :::The United States is a constitutional republic with democratic input. | ||
| − | * Economic freedom is neither understood nor appreciated. | + | * <u>Economic freedom</u> is neither understood nor appreciated. |
| − | * Capitalism is understood by very few--including economists. (Likewise for socialism.) | + | * <u>Capitalism</u> is understood by very few--including economists. (Likewise for socialism.) |
| − | * We want people in America to either remember or discover what made America exceptional--we want immigrants to have a better understanding of what made America the place they want to be. | + | * We want people in America to either <u>remember or discover what made America exceptional</u>--we want immigrants to have a better understanding of what made America the place they want to be. |
| − | * The spirit and appreciation of the ideas and history that can bring us back to a reverence for liberty has to be captured in a reasonably concise manner and in a form that does not require plowing through a library full of profound books. | + | * The <u>spirit and appreciation</u> of the ideas and history that can bring us back to a reverence for liberty has to be captured in a reasonably concise manner and in a form that does not require plowing through a library full of profound books. |
| − | :* We wanted a way to educate, inform, discuss these things and we thought that the web was the best way to reach a large audience. | + | :* We wanted a way to <u>educate, inform, discuss</u> these things and we thought that the web was the best way to reach a large audience. |
| − | ::::::We want to build some political momentum for the real meaning of liberalism. | + | ::::::We want to <u>build some political momentum</u> for the real meaning of liberalism. |
* We don't want to just lecture. | * We don't want to just lecture. | ||
:* And we're not smart enough or energetic enough to do it all ourselves anyway. | :* And we're not smart enough or energetic enough to do it all ourselves anyway. | ||
| − | :* We needed a way that others--anyone--can contribute information and participate in the education and discussion. | + | :* We needed a way that <u>others--anyone--can contribute</u> information and participate in the education and discussion. |
:* We needed a concise Wikipedia for American civics. | :* We needed a concise Wikipedia for American civics. | ||
Before the 2012 election we had stood up a website to discuss issues. It was cogent, but not effective. | Before the 2012 election we had stood up a website to discuss issues. It was cogent, but not effective. | ||
<br>We had the idea of putting together another website aimed more at addressing those things I just listed than in attacking specific issues--though it contains a forum for that as well. | <br>We had the idea of putting together another website aimed more at addressing those things I just listed than in attacking specific issues--though it contains a forum for that as well. | ||
| − | *The website purports to be non partisan--one of the rules being that advocacy for political parties or candidates is off limits. | + | *The website purports to be <u>non partisan</u>--one of the rules being that advocacy for political parties or candidates is off limits. |
| − | :* It does admit to a dedication to liberty, an admiration of the founding principles of the U.S., and promising to discuss what that means, etc. | + | :* It does admit to a <u>dedication to liberty</u>, an admiration of the founding principles of the U.S., and promising to discuss what that means, etc. |
| − | A central part of this website is a discussion of the Constitution, and I set out to sit through the Hillsdale on-line lectures ''Constitution 101'' to get smart enough to write a series of articles. | + | A central part of this website is a <u>discussion of the Constitution</u>, and I set out to sit through the Hillsdale on-line lectures ''Constitution 101'' to get smart enough to write a series of articles. |
* Then it occurred to me . . . . | * Then it occurred to me . . . . | ||
:::::CW would be a long time in coming and somewhat narrow in its perspective. | :::::CW would be a long time in coming and somewhat narrow in its perspective. | ||
| − | * and we need help--but not just any help. | + | * and <u>we need help</u>--but not just any help. |
::* We need the help of people who have an understanding, an appreciation, and an enthusiasm for what we are trying to capture | ::* We need the help of people who have an understanding, an appreciation, and an enthusiasm for what we are trying to capture | ||
::: and an ability to write about it. | ::: and an ability to write about it. | ||
Revision as of 19:56, 7 February 2015
Motivating factors:
- There is a political division in America that has become more strident because it is being fed by people who profit by it.
- We are Coming Apart and few understand what is happening, why, or what to do about it.
- Today's youth is 8 or 9 generations away from our country's beginnings and do not understand American exceptionalism--though this was likely true to some degree of every generation since the middle of the 19th century.
- When I was a kid, we could recite parts of The Declaration, but never thought about what it meant. It was not something profound, it was homework.
- The evolution of English liberty and constitution and how it spun off the United States is not understood
- And that is a fascinating story.
- Rule of Law is not understood by many - including myself not so long ago. This is the same as saying that our Constitution is not understood by many.
- Democracy is not understood.
- France is a democracy.
- The United States is a constitutional republic with democratic input.
- Economic freedom is neither understood nor appreciated.
- Capitalism is understood by very few--including economists. (Likewise for socialism.)
- We want people in America to either remember or discover what made America exceptional--we want immigrants to have a better understanding of what made America the place they want to be.
- The spirit and appreciation of the ideas and history that can bring us back to a reverence for liberty has to be captured in a reasonably concise manner and in a form that does not require plowing through a library full of profound books.
- We wanted a way to educate, inform, discuss these things and we thought that the web was the best way to reach a large audience.
- We want to build some political momentum for the real meaning of liberalism.
- We don't want to just lecture.
- And we're not smart enough or energetic enough to do it all ourselves anyway.
- We needed a way that others--anyone--can contribute information and participate in the education and discussion.
- We needed a concise Wikipedia for American civics.
Before the 2012 election we had stood up a website to discuss issues. It was cogent, but not effective.
We had the idea of putting together another website aimed more at addressing those things I just listed than in attacking specific issues--though it contains a forum for that as well.
- The website purports to be non partisan--one of the rules being that advocacy for political parties or candidates is off limits.
- It does admit to a dedication to liberty, an admiration of the founding principles of the U.S., and promising to discuss what that means, etc.
A central part of this website is a discussion of the Constitution, and I set out to sit through the Hillsdale on-line lectures Constitution 101 to get smart enough to write a series of articles.
- Then it occurred to me . . . .
- CW would be a long time in coming and somewhat narrow in its perspective.
- and we need help--but not just any help.
- We need the help of people who have an understanding, an appreciation, and an enthusiasm for what we are trying to capture
- and an ability to write about it.
