Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Calvin Coolidge didn't say much, but everything he said was brilliant
After Ronald Reagan, Calvin Coolidge is my favorite U.S. President. I once wrote a paper about Coolidge for a graduate history class. When I got my paper back, it had this brief, snarky note scrawled across the title page (right under my "A" grade):
"A lot of people have problems with Coolidge."
The prof who scrawled that note didn't dispute any of the facts and or figures I presented in my paper. She just wanted me to know that "a lot of people," meaning a lot of left-wing college instructors, don't like Coolidge because he was a conservative champion of individual liberty.
If you wanna know why I admire Calvin Coolidge so much, check out this video from 1924, which is reportedly the first presidential film with sound recording. A sample from ol' Cal:
"Taxes take from everyone a part of his earnings and force everyone to work for a certain part of his time for the government. ...
"I want the people of America to be able to work less for the government and more for themselves.
I want them to have the rewards of their own energy -- this is the chief meaning of freedom.
"Until we can reestablish a condition under which the earnings of the people can be kept by the people, we are bound to suffer a very severe and distinct curtailment of our liberty."
UPDATE: If you want to learn more about Calvin Coolidge, my second-favorite president of all time, check out Robert Sobel's Coolidge: An American Enigma, which you should be able to find in your local library.
# posted by Joltin' Django @ Tuesday, May 13, 2008 
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The U.S. had high growth AND high tax revenue under Coolidge until Hoover brought in tax increases and protectionism. The Democrats of today have alot in common with Herbert Hoover even though they won't admit it.
# posted by 
: 13 May, 2008 18:45
: 13 May, 2008 18:45
"A lot of people . . ."
by that I'm guessing she meant herself?
I've always liked anything about "Calvin". My best friend in grammar school was named Calvin, then there's John Calvin, Calvin & Hobbes,
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by that I'm guessing she meant herself?
I've always liked anything about "Calvin". My best friend in grammar school was named Calvin, then there's John Calvin, Calvin & Hobbes,
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