Here's a fascinating U.S. map indicating which states' populations are buying predominately conservative or liberal books. McCain landslide looks to be in the offing if this is any indication: Amazon Election 2008

Obama's comment about the determination of when live begins being "above his paygrade" continues to surface in the news. Wall Street Journal had an article about it today. Folks continue to say "it's a theological issue" - but I see it as not theological at all. I added my comment to the WSJ article:

Here's one of Grace's essays from her reading of The Law by Frederic Bastiat.

Bastiat here exposes the motive of all promoters of the State. This motive too often lies hidden, undiscovered, perhaps, even by the promoter himself, but here it is revealed. The true purpose of the State is to mold and shape men into a machine, thereby exalting and promoting itself and its legislators. For to whose whims are we subject? The wielder of the law is all-powerful and resistance of a minority is futile. Man is viewed by the State as a raw material to shape something great. It divides humans into two catagories: one contains the human race in general, the other holds the legislator. A dictator supposes himself so superior to his fellow man that he never considers that he himself may need re-shaping, not his country. Never does he suspect that men may get along very well if left alone with their resources and their senses. He supposes that he must be like a god to them, teaching them, enslaving them, turning them into little mirror-images of himself, yet always weaker. Never does he wonder if they have an omnipitent God who cares for His creation.

First essay from Grace's reading of Democracy in America by Alexis DeTocqueville.  This is from her week's reading of Volume 1, this first half of part 1.

In the early years of America, the maiden country was vastly different from Europe. In America there were different ideals, resources, and outlooks that astounded and bewildered the Europeans. De Toqueville was sent as an ambassador to try and clear up some misunderstandings between countries and confirm rumors. 

He wrote in length about the lack of aristocracy, or poverty, for that matter. There were few of either class, because of the vast scope of opportunities in the new world. Land was free for the taking, jobs free for the founding, and Americans all were using these opportunities to their best advantage. The majority, then, lived comfortably, because nothing prevented or hindered them from pursuing comfort and success.

De Toqueville remarks that there is a normality and common standard in America unfamiliar to Europe. There is a common level of knowlege and success in the young country, and as it progresses, it progresses as a whole. Men rise or fall to the modern standard of living. De Toqueville calls it a strange phenomenon that one nation should be so equally strong. He speculates on every facet of American society, observing, and predicting what will come of this new, unfamiliar way of living. A new world has endless opportunities, but De Toqueville and all of Europe keep their eyes bent on America, wondering if the dreams of the young nation will be realized, or topple as an unsturdy wall under the pressure of construction.

Here are several widgets we've developed recently to allow homeschoolers and other bloggers to easily display the Children's Catechism, George Washington's Rules of Civility, Luther's 95 Theses, the U.S. Constitution's Bill of Rights, and quotes from great composers. My daughter Grace worked on the content of the Composer Quotes widget and we assembled it together.

The widget displays a random item when it first loads and the user can then navigate with simple links. Try them out right here and then "embed" your favorite in your site's sidebar. If you have questions or suggestions for other types of widget, let me know.

In pondering free markets and democracy, I've wondered if the bloated bureaucracies (public and private) we have in the US are indeed what the "free" market has produced.  After all, our freely elected representatives have implemented this.  We say we don't like the result...

Life of George Washington.  Highlights, Farewell Address, Rules of Civility and Behavior, suggested books to learn more.

According to Exodus 18:19-22, qualifications for civil leaders are: a man who fears God, is truthful, and hates dishonest gain...

We participated in THSC's final Capitol Day for 2007.  The Texas legislature was in its final week of the sesson so everyone was really busy.  A group of about 250 homeschoolers and their parents spent the morning with THSC's Tim Lambert and other staff learning about the session and general information about Texas lawmaking.  Later, about 50 teams spread out across the capitol complex to deliver cookies to each Senator's and Representative's office, to cheer the weary and show our appreciation of the hard work done in the session...