I have often heard people question why the US postal service, USPS, cannot be as efficient as UPS or FedEx. There are voices clamoring for privatization of the postal service. Benjamin Franklin Our First Postmaster The U.S. Postal Service was founded in 1775 by Benjamin Franklin a Founding Father of…
Category: History
History
Continue Reading
A Parking Spot That Saved Our Democracy
Memories of the Watergate Scandal have grown dim. I came of age in the 70’s and Watergate was a central event in my understanding of what it meant to be an American. My association with it grew even stronger when in 1976 my Mother moved into an apartment in the…
History
Continue Reading
LIES, DAMN LIES, STATISTICS
These is an age old saying which I hesitate to credit to any one source, but it goes, “There are lies, damn lies and then there are statistics.” I studied graduate level statistical analysis for two years and God help me I enjoyed it. I try to resist the temptation…
History
Continue Reading
ACRONYMS SAVE LIVES
Acronyms are used to shorten the names of organizations. It is a shorthand so we can identify them easily. It dehumanizes them. Their full names are closely associated with their function. And their function is what sensible governance strives to do. Help citizens lead better lives. We are hearing these…
History
Continue Reading
SUPER BOWL SLEDGEHAMMER
It is that time of year again. Super Bowl! Kansas City versus Philadelphia. The game will be played in New Orleans. Hard to believe that this is the 59th Super Bowl and I have been alive for each one. Kansas City was in the first Super Bowl and lost to…
History
Continue Reading
JIMMY CARTER HAS DIED
Jimmy Carter has died. For those who did not live through the 1970’s he may seem like a distant and unremarkable figure. During his administration we suffered much. Runaway inflation, gas shortages, and the humiliation of the Iranian hostage situation. America chose to replace him with a celebrity politician who…
History
Continue Reading
The Day the U.S. Invaded Canada and Lost: The War of 1812
When you think of U.S. military history, victories like the Revolutionary War, World War II, and even underdog triumphs like the Battle of the Alamo come to mind. But what about the time America tried to invade Canada? Spoiler: It didn’t go well. In fact, it went so poorly that…
History
Continue Reading
How Common Sense Policy Gave Us GPS
It is essential that we remember the importance of common sense policies that improve the daily lives of the average individual. May 2, 2000, marks an often-overlooked political moment in American history. In a move that changed civilian access to technology worldwide, the Clinton administration chose to turn off Selective…
History
Continue Reading
George Washington’s Secret Weapon: Invisible Ink
During the American Revolution, the battlefield wasn’t just on the front lines—it was in secret back rooms, whispered exchanges, and apparently invisble ink. General George Washington, revered for his leadership and military strategy, was also a master of espionage. One of his lesser-known but critical tactics involved invisible ink, a…
History
Continue Reading
The 17 Year Old That Created The Modern United States Flag: Robert Heft
The Assignment: In 1958, Robert G. Heft was a 17-year-old junior at Lancaster High School in Ohio. When his history teacher assigned a class project to design a new U.S. flag, Heft decided to go beyond the conventional. At the time, the United States had 48 states, but Heft anticipated…