This is the second of a four part series. Matthew Spalding’s new book, We Still Hold These Truths, examines the timeless principles and practical wisdom that have been the source of America’s monumental success. In this video segment Spalding discusses the progressive assault on the Founders’ principles that began more than a century ago and that continues—indeed, is accelerating—in our time. Modern political leaders and cultural elites have all too readily abandoned the principles to which America is dedicated; even more troubling is how readily we all let it happen. Progressivism …
Heritage constitutional scholar Matthew Spalding has quite a few things to say about Americans’ love of liberty in his book, “We Still Hold These Truths: Rediscovering Our Principles, Reclaiming Our Future.” Some of the passages stand out all the more this week as the nation again saluted its defenders on Veterans Day, which this year fell six days after the Fort Hood shootings. “An understanding of our deepest principles, as well as an appreciation of our history, tells us why this nation is a noble achievement, and worth defending,” writes …
I’m looking forward to Heritage’s celebration on Thursday, November 5, of Matthew Spalding’s new book, “We Still Hold These Truths.” Our most underappreciated President, Cal Coolidge, wrote: “We live in an age of science and of abounding accumulation of material things. They did not create our Declaration [of Independence]. Our Declaration created them. The things of the spirit come first.” Our material prosperity and our freedom both seem to be diminishing. Dr. Spalding’s book reminds us that the “things of the spirit” must be our priority. Americans sometimes take for …
Do Americans have a right to government-run health care? Is it “the consent of the governed” to be forced to obey the dictates of unelected bureaucrats? Does religious liberty allow our government to impose a secular culture? These are among great questions of the day to which Americans ought to apply the guiding principles of our nation’s founding, Matthew Spalding, a constitutional scholar at The Heritage Foundation, argues in his new book “We Still Hold These Truths: Rediscovering Our Principles, Reclaiming Our Future.” Spalding is sure to talk about “We …
A year ago this week, the American people elected a President who had promised during the campaign that he would: “cut taxes for 95% of workers and their families,” expand the Army by 65,000 and the Marines by 27,000, and enact “a net spending cut” for the federal government. Lower taxes, a strong defense and shrinking the size of government. Those are all core conservative beliefs. Accordingly, President Barack Obama entered the White House with sky high approval ratings. But since being sworn into office, President Obama has raised taxes, …
