In honor of our Nation's Independence here is the contribution Coltons Point and St. Clements Island made to our Colonial History - Religious Freedom

Maryland and the nation owe a great deal to the brave colonists who ventured across the Atlantic in 1633 and landed on St. Clements Island in early 1634. St. Clements Manor, established within a couple of years, remains the oldest, continually settled chartered community in colonial America.

The following series of articles gives the latest research and solves the enduring mysteries about the colonial days in England and Southern Maryland giving a fascinating glimpse into the lives and politics of the colonial era.

Some of us cannot get enough of history, and we know the history we read is not complete, is biased, maybe fabricated, and often contains little resemblance to truth.  Actually most historians try but they have an outline or agenda that distorts the truth.

We at the Coltons Point Times have no vested interest in Southern Maryland history other than wanting it to be complete, factual, and not boring.

Thus, we have produced a series of fascinating stories about the prehistory and history of this quite sacred area, and where possible, have filled in the missing pieces from earlier works.

Thursday, October 26, 2006
Where in the world is Coltons Point?
http://coltonspointtimes.blogspot.com/2006/10/where-in-world-is-coltons-point.html

Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Histories Mysteries - The Journey of the Ark and the Dove
http://coltonspointtimes.blogspot.com/2009/09/histories-mysteries-journey-of-ark-and.html

Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Histories Mysteries - Next King of England (Prince William) Shares St. Clements Manor, Maryland Bloodline
http://coltonspointtimes.blogspot.com/2010/01/histories-mysteries-next-king-of.html

Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Histories Mysteries - The Landing at St. Clement's Island in 1634
http://coltonspointtimes.blogspot.com/2010/04/histories-mysteries-landing-at-st.html

Southern Maryland and St. Clements Island History

St. Clements Island and Manor - Four Centuries of Interrupted History

http://coltonspointtimes.blogspot.com/2009/07/st-clements-island-and-manor-four.html

St. Clements Prehistory Part 1 American Colonial History

http://coltonspointtimes.blogspot.com/2009/08/st-clements-island-prehistory-part-1.html

St. Clements Prehistory Part 2 American Colonial History

http://coltonspointtimes.blogspot.com/2009/08/st-clements-island-prehistory-part-2.html

Scenes from Coltons Point

http://coltonspointtimes.blogspot.com/2009/03/scenes-from-coltons-point.html

The Miracle of St. Clements Island

http://coltonspointtimes.blogspot.com/2008/04/miracle-of-st-clements-island.html

Histories Mysteries - A Lighthearted View of the Pilgrims Progress in Coltons Point

http://coltonspointtimes.blogspot.com/2007/02/pilgrims-progress.html

CPT Monarch Factoid - King's Stuff Headlines

https://coltonspointtimes.blogspot.com/2013/07/cpt-monarch-factoid-kings-stuff.html

Histories Mysteries - The Story of John Wilkes Booth, the Black Diamond, and St. Clement's Island

https://coltonspointtimes.blogspot.com/2016/04/histories-mysteries-story-of-john.html

Histories Mysteries - St. Clements Island - Coltons Point - and the mysterious 7th District in Maryland

https://coltonspointtimes.blogspot.com/2015/06/histories-mysteries-st-clements-island.html

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The American Two-Party System - The Roots of Polarization - Destroyer of the Independent Movement.

For the first time in our history in the 2016 election there were more Independents voting than either Democrats or Republicans.  Yet Independents remain the victims of the most vicious and discriminatory laws in the nation.  There is no such thing as an Independent party in America, and those who register as an Independent are denied the right to vote in the primary election for federal elected officials in most states.  

Did you ever wonder how a nation as powerful as America could be dependent on only two political parties to the exclusion of anyone who disagrees with them? Well it was not always that way. In fact there were no political parties back when we tossed out the English. Perhaps this history of the two party system will help you understand why it evolved and how it might have failed to meet the needs of today.

Following the publication of the Declaration of Independence (1776) and before the successful resolution of the War for Independence (1783), the American colonies decided it would be best to "confederate," at least for the purposes of entering into strategic alliances with European powers and perhaps waging war again with the mother country. This gave the U.S. the Articles of Confederation (1781), the first constitution of the "United States.” But the Articles were soon deemed inadequate and another Constitutional Convention was called (1787) which resulted in the U.S. Constitution (1789). But not without a fight.

The “Federalists” were of course instrumental in the movement for the new U.S. Constitution and for a stronger Federal role. The so-called Anti-Federalists were concerned that this new Federal government might over-power the states' sovereignties and abridge individual citizens' rights (most states had a long and proud history of individual rights). The passage of the Bill of Rights, as a permanent limit to the powers of the Federal government, answered much of that argument. Nonetheless, the struggle between a strong Federal government and state sovereignties has been an important thread in the play of our two-party system from the very beginning.

From that beginning in 1789, the U.S. didn't have a two-party system; it had George Washington, a President without a party. During his two terms, a rivalry grew between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, both Federalists. Jefferson challenged Adams under the banner of the Democratic-Republican party. Interesting that this first real party, alone, should contain the nominal seeds of the present two-party system. The word Democratic implies will of the people, the word Republican implies rule of law (protection from a potential tyranny of the majority). The (mostly aristocratic and Virginian) Democratic-Republicans kept the Presidency from 1800 through 1828.

In 1828, the popular war-hero Andrew Jackson became the first President from a new party, the Democrats, the true party “of the people." With the exception of one term when the Whigs (a party whose name more clearly identified itself as the party of privilege than the Democratic-Republicans whom they replaced) won the Presidency, the Democrats held the White House until 1860.

The Northern Abolitionist Movement gave birth to a new party (1856), the Republicans. Abraham Lincoln was their first successful candidate for President (1860). The Northern, anti-slavery and pro-business Republicans held the White House thru 1912, with the exception of the Democrat Grover Cleveland's two non-consecutive terms. 1864 really marks the beginning of the two-party system of Democrats and Republicans. From the beginning, the Republicans have been Northern and pro-business, the Democrats Southern and more populist. Woodrow Wilson was the only other Democratic President besides Cleveland before the Great Depression. So, for all intents and purposes, the Republicans held Presidential power for 72 years but for 16 Democratic years.

The Great Depression (1929 and forward) changed all that. As business had so completely failed the people, the party of the people, the Democrats, under Franklin Roosevelt, won the support of the majority of the voters. Indeed, they kept power through 1968 except for the two terms of Dwight Eisenhower, who won his elections not for his politics but for his stature as a war-hero. Pretty much the Democrats (FDR, JFK, LBJ) successfully defined themselves as the party of the people, of the poor and middle class, and of the large and growing labor movement.

The Republicans were pretty much forced to redefine themselves, not as the party of privilege but as the party of individual and states’ rights, and of tax cuts and reduced government spending. But this didn't win them elections (nor did it represent their real values). Most Americans since FDR have identified themselves as Democrats, a natural thing as most Americans are not wealthy. Ever since 1932, the Republicans have only won the Presidency when their candidate was more personable and more “Presidential,” not because of his positions on the issues. Poll after poll for the last 70 years show Americans identify with Democratic positions even when they elect a Republican. TV has been a potent force in this phenomenon, as has the increasing role of religion and ignorance in the American political scene.

The nature of the parties' differences has altered dramatically, if not fundamentally, since 1864. The initial differences were over slavery and industrialism and the dominance of the South (poorer and less populous) by the North. The differences in the 1890's, following a Depression, were over a Gold standard and whether debts were to be repaid by cheaper or more dear money. In the 1910's, party differences centered around isolationism and fighting World War I. In the 1930's, again following the start of a Depression, the Democrats became the party of the people and of the Labor Movement while the Republicans were seen as the party of the Wealthy.

Since Franklin D. Roosevelt, then, the parties have divided the electorate, for better or for worse, along economic class lines. How then, you ask, have the Republicans been able to win any national elections at all, as they are the party of the Sheriff of Nottingham, not the party of Robin Hood? The reason is not hard to see. The rise of the Independents, now larger than the registration of either major party, began during the Viet Nam era and has accelerated ever since.

Both parties have lost their identity and lost their commitment to principles long held sacred.  As the voter had a more difficult time distinguishing between the two, neither party could dominate as split power between the parties provided a viable check and balance for the people.

While the more aggressive conservatives in the Republican party, Liberals in the Democratic party, and Libertarians in the loose confederation of the Tea party get all the media attention, in truth all three are fighting it out for control of the middle ground in political philosophy.

Today America can be found where the conservative and liberal philosophies blend in the middle, where fiscal responsibility and limited federal government embrace certain social obligations while rejecting other social issues.  America is not about class separation and philosophical polarization, it is about individual freedom and equal opportunity.  Neither party holds the key to such a goal. 

No Republican wants to starve the poor or cut benefits for the elderly any more than a Democrat wants to wipe out the upper class or take over big business. The very concept of such thought is promulgated by the news media to increase TV ratings, sell advertising or sell newspapers. Oh yeah, and also to help all the news "contributors" and political pundits sell their latest book telling us what is wrong with our country but only from their perspective.

So that is an entirely over-simplification of the history and evolution of the two party system and it will hopefully give you some insight into how we got in our current mess.  Getting out may take a lot more work than we hoped.
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The Society for the Preservation of Old White Men in the Halls of Congress – Are the OWMs really the Enemy of the Resistance? Good!

Are old White men really incapable of knowing what is best for the people of America, all the people of America?

How about those who condemn old White men in the US Senate for lack of judgement, perhaps they should get their facts right before they start spewing reckless charges.

Okay, so their hatred may cloud their flamboyant charges, does that mean truth is obsolete to the far left?

Resistance

Enemy of Resistance

Anti-Trump forces and mischievous Democrats intent on running for president or ignoring the Constitution coined the negative phrase of the “twelve old White men” when debate and voting took place for the Supreme Court Justice nomination of Brett Cavanaugh.  The Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee were "twelve old White men."

They use it as if older, White, male members of the Senate are incapable of making decisions for anyone except, old White men one must presume.

Resistance

Enemy of Resistance

They use it as if older, White, male members of the Senate are incapable of making decisions for anyone except, old White men one must presume.

Resistance

Enemy of Resistance

It is a clever ruse and used constantly by Move On and many other special interest groups within the fringe of what used to be the Democratic party.  Some consider themselves progressives, others socialists, others anarchists and all seem to be members of the resistance, which translates to anti-Trump resistance.

Resistance

Enemy of Resistance

So, what about their claim “old White men” are not qualified to decide the future of the nation?  Well this is not the first time old White men have been required to determine the future of the nation and how did they fare in the past?

Resistance

Enemy of Resistance

History of Old White Men in America

July 4, 1776 - Old White men approved the Declaration of Independence.

September 17, 1787 - Old White men adopted and signed the Constitution

December 15, 1791 – Old White men ratified the Bill of Rights as additions to the Constitution

Resistance

Enemy of Resistance

April 8, 1864 - Old White men in Senate pass the 13^th Amendment abolishing slavery

June 8, 1866 – Old White men in Senate pass the 14^th Amendment guaranteeing citizenship to all born or naturalized in the US and extending Bill of Rights protection

February 16, 1869 – Old White men in Senate passed 15^th Amendment prohibiting the federal and state governments from denying a citizen the right to vote based on that citizen's "race, color, or previous condition of servitude"

Resistance

Enemy of Resistance

June 4, 1919 – Old White men pass the 19^th Amendment prohibiting the states and the federal government from denying the right to vote to citizens of the United States on the basis of sex.

June 19, 1964 – Old White men in Senate passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964

August 4, 1965 - Old White men in the Senate passed the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Resistance

Enemy of Resistance

I do not know about you, but it seems to me that time after time in our nation’s history “Old White men” in the Senate have stepped forward to correct serious injustices and inequalities.  People seem to be ignoring history when they condemn old White men and they seem to be contributing to the rabid polarization of society through their reckless hatred.

In spite of the media support of the resistance, those millions that support such idealism still are a very small fringe of the voting public.  As more people seek truth the number of supporters of such resistance are alienating the substantial number of men and women in America who do not believe those old White men are the enemy, but the protectors and defenders of equal rights and opportunity for all.

Sadly, a lot of very worthwhile causes for women and many other issues have been seduced by the resistance and hijacked by them.  In time they will find their own worthy causes lost in the hatred, polarity, and fantasy world of the resistance.  You see, good ideas respect all others, they do not trade in hatred and polarity.

Thanks to those old White men, the resistance of today can now stand before the cameras and resist to their heart's content.

There are also quite a few White men, and women, along with fellow Americans of every race, who never grew to be old because they gave their lives to defend the right of others to freedom and free speech.

So, who are the many tentacles of the “resistance” movement intent on compromising our Constitution and polarizing our people, well they come in many sizes and shapes. 
     

#ResistTrumpTuesdays is a joint project of The Working Families Party, MoveOn, and People’s Action.