Civics Moment in History: Why Kings Don't Work!

Historians reporting from the documents, letters, and local newspapers of

the time lay out the fact that citizens of the colonies, though attached to

England as a place of origin if they were immigrants, or by relatives

remaining across the Atlantic, felt ignored by the King and Parliament of the

time. They wanted the respect they believed was their due.

Of course communication was difficult by person or paper as it had to cross

the Atlantic, seek an answer, and wait for the response patiently. This is

hugely different from a click on social media today for info or a response!!

Each colony had its own governance operating relative to the Mother

Country. With the power of Law originating in England (without expertise in

understanding the predicaments that each colony faced) the various

Executive Orders related to paper goods, tea, etc., that we may remember

seemed disrespectful. At the same time each colonial territory in its western

geography was confronting indigenous peoples and adjusting their

settlement to alliances made during the French and Indian War but without

English military power protection.

Disrespect, or a lack of caring, plus miscommunication, likely brought us to

examining the governance of the time and seeking an alternative. Ben

Franklin, in a Philadelphia paper showing a ‘severed serpent identified by

initials for colonies’ on May 9 1754 with the words JOIN, OR DIE advising

colonials to gather TOGETHER to understand their common cause, and

twenty years later they responded as the tempo of change continued.

Donald Trump does not hold up ‘law and order’ undergirded by the US

Constitution for folks to follow. He asks us to listen to his lies daily, and

observe his sandbox behavior of retaliating against persons who are

speaking to subjects in disagreement with him, while exercising powers in

excess of his Constitutional authority, especially fiscal and military, by

asking Republicans in Congress, to neuter themselves and their

constituents who elected them in turn, by following his lead, unlawfully.

My opinion only. Casual Civics Conversation on Bridgeport governance

matters Saturday at 9AM, at Fruta. Welcome. Bring your opinions and

curiosity. All are welcome.

Time will tell.