ON POINT: THE FOUNDING FATHERS IN PLAIN ENGLISH
365 days of timeless advice from America's first generation to ours.
"I need to strongly recommend On Point: The Founding Fathers in Plain English ...You rarely see a book that is such an easy read and also has so much depth."
John Pudner
Founder/Executive Director, Take Back Our Republic,, Sports and Political Sabermetrics Consultant
"This is an impressive endeavor. Well done! I hope it's a best-seller... the country needs it!
Terry Meeuwsen
Co-Host, The 700 Club, Orphan's Promise
Miss America 1973
"This is an extraordinary anthology that brings to light, in modern vernacular, the wisdom that founded our nation and has kept us “on point” throughout our history. Well constructed and user friendly, Dave Hebert has provided a great resource that all Americans would do well to have in their library. I have it in mine."
Ben Kinchlow
Commentator and Author, Americans for israel
"This book fills a huge gap in conservative messaging. It brings the thoughts and ideas of the founders directly to voters better than any other resource I'm aware of."
Michael Aavang, Hillsdale College
"...these gems are actionable ideas that resonate in a surprisingly fresh way today. This is one of the few books I've read that sheds light on both our political foundation and our current world in a contemporary, non-partisan way. Highly recommended read!"
Rick Santiago, Indy Audio Labs (Amazon Review - 5 stars)
"On Point: The Founding Fathers in Plain English is a great read for anyone who values the freedoms we hold dear. It provides a daily reminder to not let those freedoms slip away."
Former Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker
"Far too many Americans have either forgotten or... were never taught the founding principles of this great nation. This book brings the thoughts of freedom, limited government and individual rights... to light for modern-day Americans.”
Former Senate Homeland Security Chairman Ron Johnson
" Great way to start the day. See what the founders really meant .. fascinating."
"Blueskin" (Amazon Reviews - 5 stars)
Timely. Relevant. Revolutionary.
Feature Rich. User Friendly.
What might America's founders say about issues that challenge us today?
It's not too late to revive the promise of the America our founding fathers dreamed of. What if we could read their unique perspective in words and images familiar to us? What if we could re-capture the clarity, common sense and vision of their time and apply it in ours?
What if there was a book that included...
Relevant and "On Point" Quotations
The cool thing about a daily reader is there's always something to get you charged up or make you think. Some days' readings are brief, others longer, but all are worth reading, reflecting on and discussing with others around you. Learn AND enjoy U.S. history in a fresh and engaging way.
Plain English Language
You may be one of those normal folks who are intrigued by history but have given up trying to understand the words they said, much less what they meant. Well, this book gets that, so virtually every quotation cited is also displayed in language you and I can relate to. It's like havng a colonial interpreter reading along with you.
Readings for Each Day of the Year
These 365 comments, questions and challenging remarks from the most colorful and enlightened era in U.S. history all pertain to issues that their generation and ours hold in common. Many of these issues were anticipated; some with warnings, others with hope, all with profound and timeless insights. And the days aren't dated - start wherever you want.
Chapters According to Topic
These 365 quotations are divided into 24 topical chapters, each of which informs us today. Like many daily readers it just makes sense to collect and present similar points together. Although the chapters vary in length, each builds on prior chapters to methodically move readers toward a fitting climax.
1-Page Chapter Introductions
We assume you'll want to buy and read this book to get the founders' words, not long and windy (though usually helpful) background information. Not a problem. Each chapter begins with a brief synopsis of why the founders viewed the topic as important and why that should be important to us.
Author Sketches and Quote Index
Not familiar with Horatio Bunce, James Wilson or Tench Coxe? Not surprising. The good news is you'll find a thumbnail sketch of every founder quoted in this book in Appendix A: The Authors. And following each sketch is a list of days on which that author is quoted. What could be easier?
Resources Listed for Further Study
Every quotation cites the author, his/her title at the time of the quote and the source and date of the quote. This makes it much easier to study the statement further to get your own unique perspective on the setting, the audience, the controversy (if any) and any subsequent debate or discussion. It's how to make history fun again.
A Topical Index
If you're like me you know you read something somewhere but can't quite remember where. If that describes you, you can relocate your memory in Appendix B: The Topics Index. An alphabetical index by key ideas shows you where to find that memorable but elusive remark!
Timely. Relevant. Revolutionary.
Fresh. Timeless. Readable.
DAY 29
THE CLASH OF BRANCHES
In 1790, Vice President John Adams wrote:
“The essence of a free government consists in an effectual control of rivalries. The executive and legislative powers are natural rivals; and if each has not an effectual control over the other, the weaker will ever be the lamb in the paws of the wolf."
(Discourse on Davila, VIII)
Today, Vice President Adams might write:
Successfully managing competitors is the key to efficiently leading a free government. Since the president and Congress are natural rivals, if one can't hold off the other, the weaker one will always be as helpless as a lamb in the grasp of the wolf.
DAY 43
GOVERNMENT INCOMPETENCE
In 1833, Justice Joseph Story wrote:
"A feeble executive implies a feeble execution of the government. A feeble execution is but another phrase for a bad execution; and a government ill-executed... must, in practice, be a bad government." (Commentaries On the Constitution)
Today Justice Joseph Story might write:
A weak president is a sign of a weak government. A weak government is just a nicer way of describing an incompetent government. And an incompetent government... will inevitably prove to be a bad government.
DAY 146
TAXATION AND "FAIR SHARE"
In 1791 Thomas Paine wrote:
"Invention is continually exercised to furnish new pretenses for revenues and taxation. It watches prosperity as its prey and permits none to escape without tribute." (Essay, Rights of Man)
Today, Mr. Paine might write:
[Government] is always dreaming up clever excuses for new taxes so they can get more and more money. They view private wealth as a predator views it’s prey: None are allowed to escape without surrendering their “fair share.”
DAY 160
THE FOLLY OF EXCESSIVE NATIONAL DEBT
In 1820, Thomas Jefferson wrote:
"It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world." (To Antoine Louis Claude Destutt de Tracy)
Today, Mr. Jefferson might write:
Each generation is obliged to stay current in paying off its own debts. We'd cut wars in half if this principle was consistently practiced.
DAY 228
LIMITS ON EXECUTIVE POWER
In 1793, Judge Nathaniel Chipman wrote:
"The legislature may proceed to the declaration of tyrannical laws; the judiciary to the pronouncing of unjust decisions; the executive furnishes the immediate instruments of tyranny and injustice. ...It is, therefore, very necessary, that the executive should be limited, with as much precision, as the nature of the power will permit." (Sketches of the Principles of Government)
Today, Justice Chipman might write:
Congress can pass oppressive laws and judges can make unjust rulings. [But only] the president has the power to directly impose oppression and injustice. …So it’s absolutely essential that, to the greatest degree possible given his role, the presidency should be specifically limited in its reach.
DAY 359
OPPOSING FOREIGH TERRORISM
In 1796, President George Washington said:
"If we remain one people, under an efficient government, the period is not far off, when we may defy material injury from external annoyance; when we may take such an attitude as will cause the neutrality, we may at any time resolve upon, to be scrupulously respected; when belligerent nations, under the impossibility of making acquisitions upon us, will not lightly hazard the giving us provocation; when we may choose peace or war, as our interest, guided by justice, shall counsel." (Farewell Address)
Today, President Washington might say:
If we stay united under a capable government our homeland will soon be safe from outside threats. Then we’ll be able to take a neutral stand whenever we choose and our position will be fully respected. Aggressive enemies, realizing it would be hopeless to make gains against us, will think twice about trying to intimidate [the United States]. As a result we’ll be free to choose either peace or war, whichever we believe is most just and serves our best interests.
Their Vision. Our Words.
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Abigail Adams
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John Adams
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John Quincy Adams
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Samuel Adams
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David (Davy) Crockett
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Benjamin Franklin
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Alexander Hamilton
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John Hancock
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Patrick Henry
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Thomas Jefferson
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James Madison
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Thomas Paine
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George Washington
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Daniel Webster
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Noah Webster
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William Blackstone
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Edmund Burke
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Charles Carroll
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Alexis de Toqueville
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Stephen Decatur, Jr.
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John Dickinson
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John Jay
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John Paul Jones
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Richard Henry Lee
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John Marshall
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George Mason
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Gouverneur Morris
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Edmund Randolph
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Dr. Benjamin Rush
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Adam Smith
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Fisher Ames
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John Barnard
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Elias Boudinot
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Horatio Bunce
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Nathaniel Chipman
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Dr. Benjamin Church
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Tench Coxe
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Hector St. Jean de Creveceour
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Oliver Ellsworth
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Elbridge Gerry
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Sarah Updike Goddard
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Nathanael Greene
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Andrew Hamilton
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Robert Goodloe Harper
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James Iredell
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Rev. Jonathan Mayhew
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Charles Cotesworth Pinckney
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Joseph Story
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Dr. Joseph Warren
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Mercy Otis Warren
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Samuel West
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Samuel Williams
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James Wilson
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Rev. John Witherspoon
Contents: What's In It For Me?
Click on selected chapters to Peek Inside...
Chapters 1-6
THE EXPERIMENT
An American Vision
On Divided Powers
A Respected Congress
A Prudent Judiciary
Chapters 11-15
THE GENIUS
On Property and Prosperity
A Robust Economy
An American Exceptionalism
On God and Governing
Chapters 16-20
THE DANGERS
On the Allure of Power
On Entitlement
On Virtue and Freedom
Chapters 21-24
THE CARETAKERS
On Political Discourse
A Perceptive Voter
A Sacred Trust
About
GoodPoint PublishingTM is a division of GoodPoint Elite Communication located in Plover/Stevens Point, Wisconsin. The mission of GoodPoint Publishing is to develop both print and digital books that offer the wisdom of past ages in readable form for modern audiences. We firmly believe that exposing ourselves to the wisdom, worries, hopes and advice of such men and women may help us in our day to appreciate their good insights while adapting their uncommon sense to our times and circumstances, empowering us to make better choices in our daily lives.
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