Constitution 101: Congressional Punishment and Expulsion Clause

From Southwest Ledger On Dec. 21, 2023, the United States House of Representatives voted 311-114 to expel Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., from Congress. Doing so was the first time a member had been expelled without a prior conviction of a crime since the Civil War. While Santos eventually would plead guilty to identity theft and … Continue reading Constitution 101: Congressional Punishment and Expulsion Clause →

Constitution 101: Congressional Rules Clause

From Southwest Ledger In July of 2022 U.S. Rep. John B. Larson (D-Conn.) wrote an op-ed in which he called the Senate “the most debilitating threat” to our nation. He was writing about Rule 22 in the Senate which requires 60 votes to take up a House bill. Larson claimed that the Constitution did not … Continue reading Constitution 101: Congressional Rules Clause →

Too many cooks in the kitchen spoil the broth

From Southwest Ledger Last week after learning about America’s bombing of Iran, two debates emerged: Did we do the right thing? And did President Trump have the legal authority to attack Iran without congressional authority or input? The first question is difficult to answer, and we probably will not know until everything has played out. … Continue reading Too many cooks in the kitchen spoil the broth →

Army’s 250th Anniversary Celebration Overshadowed by ‘No Kings’ Protests

From Southwest Ledger I was disappointed June 14 as I saw several social media posts celebrating the low turnout at the military parade honoring of the 250th anniversary of the United States Army in Washington, D.C. Closer to home, Lawton/Fort Sill canceled their anniversary celebrations to ensure public safety following protests nationwide. I understand that … Continue reading Army’s 250th Anniversary Celebration Overshadowed by ‘No Kings’ Protests →

We Celebrate the 250th Anniversary of Our United States Army

Happy 250th birthday to the United States Army. Thank you to all my many friends and family who bravely served and to all the soldiers today may God watch over you until your mission is done. From the Southwest Ledger After the April 19, 1775, battles of Lexington and Concord, delegates of the Continental Congress … Continue reading We Celebrate the 250th Anniversary of Our United States Army →

Book Review: Skousen’s “The Big Three in Economics”

From Southwest Ledger To better understand economic thought, I decided to tackle Mark Skousen’s 2007 book “The Big Three in Economics: Adam Smith, Karl Marx and John Maynard Keynes.” Not written as an economics textbook but more of a biographical look into the lives of these three important men, Skousen also analyzed their economic philosophies. … Continue reading Book Review: Skousen’s “The Big Three in Economics” →

Constitution 101: Congressional Authority and the Quorum Clause

From Southwest Ledger In many ways, Article I, Section V of our Constitution is a continuation of Section IV in that it established the rules and powers of Congress. The first part gives Congress some judicial power while, at the same time, it eliminates one of the biggest tricks parties used to block legislation. Article … Continue reading Constitution 101: Congressional Authority and the Quorum Clause →

The Land of the Free Because of the Brave

From Southwest Ledger With Memorial Day this week, I felt it appropriate to write something patriotic in honor of those who gave their last full measure of devotion to our nation. One idea I have been mulling over for a while now has to do with our national anthem. I have noticed lately as I … Continue reading The Land of the Free Because of the Brave →

The Battles of Lexington, Concord Were Fought For Rights, Not Independence

From Southwest Ledger As we approach the 250th anniversary of the founding of our great nation, it is important to remember the events in 1775 that led to its birth. Studying these events help us understand the reasons colonists revolted. Last month, as we commemorated the anniversary of the first battles of the American Revolution … Continue reading The Battles of Lexington, Concord Were Fought For Rights, Not Independence →

Constitution 101: Election and Assembly Clauses

From Southwest Ledger As we have seen over the past few months, there has been a lot of debate as to who is eligible to vote and where the power belongs. However, in federal elections, it is up to the states to make these rules. While most people are familiar with the first three sections … Continue reading Constitution 101: Election and Assembly Clauses →