On this, the 250th anniversary of our nation’s independence, the lack of leadership from the President is appalling. The best he can imagine is a campaign event masquerading as a poorly conceived state fair- instead, he could have planned a national week of celebration! Sunday a day of prayer and community outreach. Monday a national civics lesson, accurately retelling the story of our founding and celebrating the emergence of the first modern democracy. Tuesday honoring our veterans. Wednesday the immigrants and slaves who helped build the nation. Thursday a day of introspection and reconciliation. Friday a contest for the best ideas on how to reimagine our democracy for the next century. And finally Saturday the 4th, a day for picnics and fireworks.
The greatest tear in the fabric of our nation isn't to be found in the reflection pool on the mall, but at 1700 Pennsylvania Ave. Perhaps it’s not too late to channel the sprit of the Revolution, draw together as one nation, and re-dedicated our sacred honor towards a common goal. That is a vision worth fighting for.
When will you demand that Israel stop starving the people of Gaza? When will you join the rest of the civilized world in condemning their hostile incursion into Lebanon? You are out of step with the rest of the world.
Well said. Our historical indomitable spirit must persist even when those in power attempt to subvert the historical ideals to suit their own personal interests.
lol I'm an expert on this Rep. Tell me all about how he walks the talk. He doesn't give a shit about human rights - here or anywhere else. He loves building a war chest, fighting for the status quo that benefits him and other wealthy people, he's changed his party affiliation to run for this seat, and uses campaign funds to wine, dine, and tennis up private equity bros in Miami so that he can pretend he wants to expand housing when he really wants to please his second largest donor base - real estate.
Someone needs to do research, but it's not me.
If you want nothing, keep voting for Jake. I'm sure you will.
• and to take part in determining who represents us and in holding them accountable."
Are these rights for all or just those who are citizens of the USA?
You still take AIPAC funds and vote to uphold the tyranny of Israel using our tax dollars and weapons.
You have little interest in the massive human rights abuses being perpetrated on immigrants in this country and the general tyranny of ICE.
You have denigrated Mamdani who was chosen to represent the people of NYC. Your general Islamophobia is on full display often. You dismissed the choice of Maine Democrats in the senate primary. You don't even walk your own talk.
You have done next to nothing to hold this regime accountable and absolutely nothing to hold Israel accountable for the atrocities in Gaza and Lebanon and their role in our involvement in the Iranian quagmire.
The life we choose for ourselves is completely hindered by our government's overreach into our bedrooms and bathrooms and underreach in our health care and general well being.
What are you running on? What is your platform?
This is just more navel gazing from a centrist who only cares about re-election - not the actual constituents. MA D4 deserves better. Vote https://poulos.house/ in September so that we can have a government that works for us.
Yes, I know that school is out for summer, sorry, Alice Cooper, I just had to use your line. However, that does not mean we should not continue our learning, especially in this, our 250th year of American independence. I even learned something last week that I did not know about our road to independence. It is the story of the British schooner, the HMS Gaspee, and its fate in 1772.
I was visiting throughout New England, supporting veterans running for political office, when the good people of Rhode Island shared with me an event that predated that of Lexington, Concord, and Breed’s (Bunker) Hill. HMS Gaspee was a Royal Navy revenue vessel that was patrolling the waters of Narragansett Bay, enforcing maritime trade laws and preventing smuggling activities. In essence, it was preventing colonial free trade that sought to avoid onerous British regulation, sound familiar? The schooner ran aground on June 9, 1772, while chasing a colonial ship. Nothing like home-field advantage. It was a local merchant, John Brown, no relation to the fella who raided Harpers Ferry, who organized a raiding party of Patriots that went out on longboats to attack, burn, and destroy the Gaspee. The raiding party of some sixty was led by Captain Abraham Whipple. They took Lieutenant William Dudingston and his crew prisoner, then set the HMS Gaspee ablaze.
The HMS Gaspee event was two years after the Boston Massacre and three years, almost to the date, before the Battle of Lexington. When you speak to the Rhode Islanders, they feel the claim of the “first shot” for American independence should belong to them. Oh, the British were never able to find out the perpetrators of the Gaspee raid. The folks in Rhode Island were very tight-lipped.
I found it interesting that in the month of June, leading to our 250th anniversary of independence, I saw more rainbow flags in New England than American. The acts of rebellion in Rhode Island, June 9, 1772, and at Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts, on April 19, 1775, are REAL reasons for pride. This is why I believe we need an American homework assignment.
The story of America does not begin on July 4, 1776. I believe that it began on October 31, 1517. That was the day a Germanic professor and theologian, Martin Luther, nailed his 95 theses, statements of protest, on the door of the church in Wittenberg. Luther presented his officially titled Disputation on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences as a challenge to this practice of some Catholic clergy “charging” for absolution of sins. It was Luther’s premise that Jesus Christ had gone to the cross and His sacrifice absolved us of our sins. It was not necessary to have any intercessor, as we have a natural relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father, who sent His only begotten Son, John 3:16. Luther’s efforts set ablaze the understanding of individual spiritual liberty and freedom, codifying the words of 2 Corinthians 3:17, “The Lord is the Spirit. And where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
It would be almost 200 years later that an English political philosopher would challenge another standing premise of his day. John Locke in his Second Treatise of Government, 1689, would argue that it was not just our spiritual freedom, but also our earthly freedoms that were endowed to us from the Judeo-Christian faith heritage Creator God. Locke presented this as his Natural Rights theory that was in opposition to the prevailing Divine Rights theory of ruling elites, royalty. Much as Luther, Locke presented the case that we did not need any entity as an intercessor when it comes to our rights of life, liberty, and property.
It would be on July 4, 1776, that a nation would be born based upon the Natural Rights theory of John Locke, something unique in the world. Jefferson would begin by invoking Locke, the father of classical liberalism, the advocacy of the rights and freedoms of the individual, their sovereignty over the institution of government. Much the same, Luther and Locke set the conditions for Jefferson, as did the acts of rebellion with HMS Gaspee and Lexington of June 9, 1772 and April 19, 1775, respectively. The question is, how many Americans know this history and its relationship to our founding? Certainly not the folks who voted for open Marxists this last Tuesday in New York, certainly not those who voted for Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Consider, 250 years ago, General George Washington and the Continental Army were fighting in and around New York against the British Army. Now, a new crop of Redcoats rules in New York City.
Your American homework assignment for this week is simple: read the entire Declaration of Independence. It is imperative to realize that it is a document similar to that of Martin Luther in that it lists protests and grievances against King George, just as Luther listed his grievances. As you read the Declaration of Independence, you may see a resemblance of some of the listed usurpations to today. Here we are, 250 years later, still contending with an ideology that masks “taxation without representation” under the modern guise of “paying your fair share.” More onerous regulations and restrictions on our freedoms and liberties. Undermining our Judeo-Christian faith heritage. And no, you will not find Separation of Church and State in the Declaration of Independence. We have sitting U.S. senators, like Tim Kaine, who say our rights do not come from God, but from the government. We have candidates for congressional office possessing membership in groups that seek to eradicate Western civilization, and even the eradication of America. Sadly, they fail to understand that Western civilization gave us Martin Luther and John Locke, along with great Christian theologians who enabled our first Great Spiritual Awakening, figures like Reverend George Whitefield.
As we march towards America 250 at the end of this week, think about America 200 and what has transpired over the past 50 years. Ask yourself, have we continued to honor our founding principles and fundamentals? Heck, in 50 years, we have lost the understanding of what a woman is! Maybe we should have been doing our American homework assignment each year over the past 50? I was around for America 200, and I have seen what has happened in the longest-running Constitutional Republic that the world has ever known in the last 50 years. I will not be here for America 300, but my daughters may; certainly, my grandsons will. We must do our homework assignment and instill in them the tradition of doing the same as we go forward.
Lest we will be victims of Alexander Fraser Tytler’s cycle, “A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship. The average age of the world’s greatest civilizations has been 200 years. These nations have progressed through this sequence: From bondage to spiritual faith; From spiritual faith to great courage; From courage to liberty; From liberty to abundance; From abundance to selfishness; From selfishness to apathy; From apathy to dependence; From dependence back into bondage.”
Spiritual faith brings forth great courage, and from that courage comes liberty. However, ask yourselves, where is America 250 in this cycle? Let us not revert from independence to dependence and ultimately back into bondage, which is what the Marxists and their Islamist allies seek.
Happy Independence Day, America, now and forevermore!
May we always be Steadfast and Loyal."
Read this, compare it to our currrent principles, then you can boast of the 250 Years of the American Experiment. We need to return to that great country.
I would add it is our shared obligation to protect our land and give back to the earth as much as we take from it so that we leave our descendants a livable planet with abundant resources.
On this, the 250th anniversary of our nation’s independence, the lack of leadership from the President is appalling. The best he can imagine is a campaign event masquerading as a poorly conceived state fair- instead, he could have planned a national week of celebration! Sunday a day of prayer and community outreach. Monday a national civics lesson, accurately retelling the story of our founding and celebrating the emergence of the first modern democracy. Tuesday honoring our veterans. Wednesday the immigrants and slaves who helped build the nation. Thursday a day of introspection and reconciliation. Friday a contest for the best ideas on how to reimagine our democracy for the next century. And finally Saturday the 4th, a day for picnics and fireworks.
The greatest tear in the fabric of our nation isn't to be found in the reflection pool on the mall, but at 1700 Pennsylvania Ave. Perhaps it’s not too late to channel the sprit of the Revolution, draw together as one nation, and re-dedicated our sacred honor towards a common goal. That is a vision worth fighting for.
Thank you for your leadership, Congressman!
Brand new day, remember this temporary, July 4th for heaven's sake, bless you!
When will you demand that Israel stop starving the people of Gaza? When will you join the rest of the civilized world in condemning their hostile incursion into Lebanon? You are out of step with the rest of the world.
Roy Belcher, Attleboro
https://poulos.house/
Excellent! Thanks
Thank you for all of your public service!
Well said. Our historical indomitable spirit must persist even when those in power attempt to subvert the historical ideals to suit their own personal interests.
I really, really like this. Thank you for stating what binds us as one nation, notwithstanding our many differences.
He doesn't walk this talk at all. It's easy to type words.
His legislative actions say pretty clearly that he walks the walk. Maybe you need to do some research.
lol I'm an expert on this Rep. Tell me all about how he walks the talk. He doesn't give a shit about human rights - here or anywhere else. He loves building a war chest, fighting for the status quo that benefits him and other wealthy people, he's changed his party affiliation to run for this seat, and uses campaign funds to wine, dine, and tennis up private equity bros in Miami so that he can pretend he wants to expand housing when he really wants to please his second largest donor base - real estate.
Someone needs to do research, but it's not me.
If you want nothing, keep voting for Jake. I'm sure you will.
"Every one of us has a set of intrinsic rights:
• to survive;
• to not be tyrannized;
• to live the life we choose for ourselves;
• and to take part in determining who represents us and in holding them accountable."
Are these rights for all or just those who are citizens of the USA?
You still take AIPAC funds and vote to uphold the tyranny of Israel using our tax dollars and weapons.
You have little interest in the massive human rights abuses being perpetrated on immigrants in this country and the general tyranny of ICE.
You have denigrated Mamdani who was chosen to represent the people of NYC. Your general Islamophobia is on full display often. You dismissed the choice of Maine Democrats in the senate primary. You don't even walk your own talk.
You have done next to nothing to hold this regime accountable and absolutely nothing to hold Israel accountable for the atrocities in Gaza and Lebanon and their role in our involvement in the Iranian quagmire.
The life we choose for ourselves is completely hindered by our government's overreach into our bedrooms and bathrooms and underreach in our health care and general well being.
What are you running on? What is your platform?
This is just more navel gazing from a centrist who only cares about re-election - not the actual constituents. MA D4 deserves better. Vote https://poulos.house/ in September so that we can have a government that works for us.
My response is lengthy but relevant:
"An American Homework Assignment
DATE
June 30, 2026
Yes, I know that school is out for summer, sorry, Alice Cooper, I just had to use your line. However, that does not mean we should not continue our learning, especially in this, our 250th year of American independence. I even learned something last week that I did not know about our road to independence. It is the story of the British schooner, the HMS Gaspee, and its fate in 1772.
I was visiting throughout New England, supporting veterans running for political office, when the good people of Rhode Island shared with me an event that predated that of Lexington, Concord, and Breed’s (Bunker) Hill. HMS Gaspee was a Royal Navy revenue vessel that was patrolling the waters of Narragansett Bay, enforcing maritime trade laws and preventing smuggling activities. In essence, it was preventing colonial free trade that sought to avoid onerous British regulation, sound familiar? The schooner ran aground on June 9, 1772, while chasing a colonial ship. Nothing like home-field advantage. It was a local merchant, John Brown, no relation to the fella who raided Harpers Ferry, who organized a raiding party of Patriots that went out on longboats to attack, burn, and destroy the Gaspee. The raiding party of some sixty was led by Captain Abraham Whipple. They took Lieutenant William Dudingston and his crew prisoner, then set the HMS Gaspee ablaze.
The HMS Gaspee event was two years after the Boston Massacre and three years, almost to the date, before the Battle of Lexington. When you speak to the Rhode Islanders, they feel the claim of the “first shot” for American independence should belong to them. Oh, the British were never able to find out the perpetrators of the Gaspee raid. The folks in Rhode Island were very tight-lipped.
I found it interesting that in the month of June, leading to our 250th anniversary of independence, I saw more rainbow flags in New England than American. The acts of rebellion in Rhode Island, June 9, 1772, and at Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts, on April 19, 1775, are REAL reasons for pride. This is why I believe we need an American homework assignment.
The story of America does not begin on July 4, 1776. I believe that it began on October 31, 1517. That was the day a Germanic professor and theologian, Martin Luther, nailed his 95 theses, statements of protest, on the door of the church in Wittenberg. Luther presented his officially titled Disputation on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences as a challenge to this practice of some Catholic clergy “charging” for absolution of sins. It was Luther’s premise that Jesus Christ had gone to the cross and His sacrifice absolved us of our sins. It was not necessary to have any intercessor, as we have a natural relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father, who sent His only begotten Son, John 3:16. Luther’s efforts set ablaze the understanding of individual spiritual liberty and freedom, codifying the words of 2 Corinthians 3:17, “The Lord is the Spirit. And where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
It would be almost 200 years later that an English political philosopher would challenge another standing premise of his day. John Locke in his Second Treatise of Government, 1689, would argue that it was not just our spiritual freedom, but also our earthly freedoms that were endowed to us from the Judeo-Christian faith heritage Creator God. Locke presented this as his Natural Rights theory that was in opposition to the prevailing Divine Rights theory of ruling elites, royalty. Much as Luther, Locke presented the case that we did not need any entity as an intercessor when it comes to our rights of life, liberty, and property.
It would be on July 4, 1776, that a nation would be born based upon the Natural Rights theory of John Locke, something unique in the world. Jefferson would begin by invoking Locke, the father of classical liberalism, the advocacy of the rights and freedoms of the individual, their sovereignty over the institution of government. Much the same, Luther and Locke set the conditions for Jefferson, as did the acts of rebellion with HMS Gaspee and Lexington of June 9, 1772 and April 19, 1775, respectively. The question is, how many Americans know this history and its relationship to our founding? Certainly not the folks who voted for open Marxists this last Tuesday in New York, certainly not those who voted for Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Consider, 250 years ago, General George Washington and the Continental Army were fighting in and around New York against the British Army. Now, a new crop of Redcoats rules in New York City.
Your American homework assignment for this week is simple: read the entire Declaration of Independence. It is imperative to realize that it is a document similar to that of Martin Luther in that it lists protests and grievances against King George, just as Luther listed his grievances. As you read the Declaration of Independence, you may see a resemblance of some of the listed usurpations to today. Here we are, 250 years later, still contending with an ideology that masks “taxation without representation” under the modern guise of “paying your fair share.” More onerous regulations and restrictions on our freedoms and liberties. Undermining our Judeo-Christian faith heritage. And no, you will not find Separation of Church and State in the Declaration of Independence. We have sitting U.S. senators, like Tim Kaine, who say our rights do not come from God, but from the government. We have candidates for congressional office possessing membership in groups that seek to eradicate Western civilization, and even the eradication of America. Sadly, they fail to understand that Western civilization gave us Martin Luther and John Locke, along with great Christian theologians who enabled our first Great Spiritual Awakening, figures like Reverend George Whitefield.
As we march towards America 250 at the end of this week, think about America 200 and what has transpired over the past 50 years. Ask yourself, have we continued to honor our founding principles and fundamentals? Heck, in 50 years, we have lost the understanding of what a woman is! Maybe we should have been doing our American homework assignment each year over the past 50? I was around for America 200, and I have seen what has happened in the longest-running Constitutional Republic that the world has ever known in the last 50 years. I will not be here for America 300, but my daughters may; certainly, my grandsons will. We must do our homework assignment and instill in them the tradition of doing the same as we go forward.
Lest we will be victims of Alexander Fraser Tytler’s cycle, “A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship. The average age of the world’s greatest civilizations has been 200 years. These nations have progressed through this sequence: From bondage to spiritual faith; From spiritual faith to great courage; From courage to liberty; From liberty to abundance; From abundance to selfishness; From selfishness to apathy; From apathy to dependence; From dependence back into bondage.”
Spiritual faith brings forth great courage, and from that courage comes liberty. However, ask yourselves, where is America 250 in this cycle? Let us not revert from independence to dependence and ultimately back into bondage, which is what the Marxists and their Islamist allies seek.
Happy Independence Day, America, now and forevermore!
May we always be Steadfast and Loyal."
Read this, compare it to our currrent principles, then you can boast of the 250 Years of the American Experiment. We need to return to that great country.
I would add it is our shared obligation to protect our land and give back to the earth as much as we take from it so that we leave our descendants a livable planet with abundant resources.