Posted on 11/11/2014 12:41:21 PM PST by Kaslin
NEW YORK -- At a dinner sponsored by the Calvin Coolidge Memorial Foundation last Thursday (I am an unpaid national advisory board member), there was a debate about wealth redistribution. A team of Canadian students who think government should "spread the wealth around" faced off against a team of American students who think government has no business doing any such thing.
The theme continued when former Sen. Phil Gramm (R-Texas) debated Chrystia Freeland, a member of Canadian Parliament. While all of this was informative, civil, interesting and at times entertaining, the final speaker, CNBC commentator Larry Kudlow, may have uttered the most profound thought of the evening.
While Kudlow takes the traditional conservative position when it comes to economics, he said what would help individuals as well as the nation the most is for people to "get married." He said it loudly, and the super-sophisticated New Yorkers in the room fell momentarily silent. When the shock wore off, many heads began to nod.
Kudlow's point was that marriage gives people a reason to work, a home one hopes is stable, and children for whom two parents feel responsible.
Sociologists have reached the same conclusion over many years. In her book, "One Marriage Under God: The Campaign To Promote Marriage in America," sociologist Melanie Heath writes, "Married people" -- for whatever reason -- "are happier, healthier and better off financially."
The point I took from the speakers at the Coolidge dinner was that the real power to influence a life does not lie in or emanate from Washington, D.C., whichever party is in power. Instead, it comes from the millions of personal decisions each person makes for his or her own life.
How many politicians today would dare to admonish people who are living together to get married? And yet for not just economic reasons, doesn't it seem the wisest course for most to take when one considers the benefits? Cohabiters may look at their divorced parents as an excuse not to marry, but that is an excuse, not a sufficient reason. One might better consider successful marriages, instead of failed ones, and emulate what made the good ones work.
At the Coolidge dinner, the organization's chairwoman, Amity Shlaes, passed out buttons that said "Coolidge in '16." Although the 30th president died in 1933, his ideas and philosophy of life are being given new life by events like these. If his ideas worked -- and Coolidge's did because they were born from a Puritan ethic that founded and sustained America well into the 20th century, making the 1920s roar economically -- why not reconsider those ideas, updating them as necessary and applying them to solve today's problems, rather than skipping from one failed policy to another?
Back to marriage. The Coolidges had an unusual relationship, but it worked for them. Grace was vivacious and outgoing, her husband quite the opposite. And yet there was genuine love.
Few men have ever uttered more noble words about their wives than what Coolidge said of his: "She has borne with my infirmities and I have rejoiced in her graces."
Larry Kudlow seemed to be suggesting -- and I would agree with him -- that you don't get that kind of affirmation outside of a committed marital relationship, which also makes for stronger families, economies and nations.
One of the best POTUSes EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Would love to see a Presidential Library for him some day.
Time to play “Guess which person in the picture is a Secret Service Agent”.
It would have lots of “Quiet” signs!
One of his greatest strengths.
He realized the Good Lord gave us one mouth and two ears for a reason.
What a contrast to the current occupant of the WH.
“At the Coolidge dinner, the organization’s chairwoman, Amity Shlaes, passed out buttons that said “Coolidge in ‘16.”
Her book on Coolidge was pretty good. Got some good insight into the man. We sure could use him today.
I know! I am currently reading it!
Fantastic book. Fantastic president!
Shows you exactly how strong the American economy can be under the right policies.
Well, he’ll look at least as good in HD as Hillary does...
This is exactly what’s needed.
After seeing the C-SPAN First Ladies, Influence and Image episode covering Grace Coolidge last year, I have become inclined to believe she was one of the best FLOTUSes EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kinda makes one want to vomit in disgust over the absolute mockery being made of the title of First Lady at present.
Grace Coolidge, WB.
Oh sure!
He does have library, it’s run by state of MA.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvin_Coolidge_Presidential_Library_and_Museum
Mr., we could use a man like Calvin Coolidge again. He and Reagan, the only great Presidents since Lincoln.
He was POTUS when my Grandmother came to the USA; she loved him.
This was supposed to be the original line in the lyrics to "Those Were The Days" on "All in the Family." I don't know why they changed it to Hoover, since he is not a President people look on with fondness.
My Grandma (1925) and her sister (1923) were born during his Presidency. Republican family in North Dakota. Their father hated that cockroach FDR for stealing his gold.
I remember you telling me you thought it SHOULD be the line.
But it was and they changed it? Obviously done on purpose to make Archie look stupid.
The guy behind the guy in the white sweater is my guess.
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