• Home
  • Illinois News
  • Illinois Politics
  • US Politics
  • US NEWS
  • America First
  • Opinion
  • World News
  • Second Amendment
Sunday, July 6, 2025
Illinois Review
  • Login
  • Register
  • Home
  • Illinois News
  • Illinois Politics
  • US Politics
  • US NEWS
  • America First
  • Opinion
  • World News
  • Second Amendment
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Illinois News
  • Illinois Politics
  • US Politics
  • US NEWS
  • America First
  • Opinion
  • World News
  • Second Amendment
No Result
View All Result
Illinois Review
No Result
View All Result
Home Illinois News

Thorner/O’Neil: To avoid future failures, the wisest look to the past

Illinois Review by Illinois Review
October 23, 2019
in Illinois News
Reading Time: 7 mins read
A A
6
26
SHARES
431
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

1477027464

You might also like

Chicago AM560 Axes Local Morning Radio Personality Amy Jacobson, Keeps Florida-based Host in Cost-Cutting Move

JB Pritzker Receives 2% in Presidential Poll, Ranks Lowest in Minority Support Among Democrats

Trump’s Jobs Boom Skips Illinois—Thanks to Pritzker’s Tax Hikes

By Nancy Thorner & Bonnie O'Neil - 

It has been said that ultimately history has proven to be the greatest teacher.

That seems a worthy claim, because it allows us to examine the strengths and weaknesses of former generations, as well as current ones, to determine what has proved to be the more effective laws, who have been the more admired officials, and which world leaders proved to be successful and those who did not.  

History deals with facts; it reveals reasons for successes and the causes of failures. While it is not a perfect way to determine the best path for our future, it is undeniable that history does provide important facts to help our present generation avoid mistakes made by past generations to set the best course for America’s future.

This popular quote has been attributed to writer and philosopher George Santayana: “Those who fail to remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”  Although each generation has the advantage of having history to provide facts and evidence of what has proved successful or problematic, too often the same mistakes are repeated.  The definition of insanity is often described as "to do the same thing again and again, believing there will be a different outcome.” 

When man goes his own way

People not only engage in confrontations with their neighbors, but so do nations throughout the world with even greater consequences.  Rather than find ways to mitigate differences for the sake of all who may be impacted, bravado, arrogance, pride and feelings often take the place of caution and common sense.  

There are many examples in history showing how mankind is prone to make the same mistakes over and over again, such as former world leaders Bloody Queen Mary, Vladimir Lenin, and Adolf Hitler, who became tyrants and mass murderers of their own people. 

It is only through the presentation of honest and unbiased facts that the American people will be equipped to elect officials who believe in what our Founding Fathers set forth, a Constitutional Republic, and who likewise ascribe to the principle of equal justice under the law.

We are fortunate to live in the United States where even our worst leaders are considerably more altruistic than in some countries, yet here in the United States we do have leaders who dislike our system of government and who are advancing a soft coup because of their hatred of everything this nation and President Trump stands for.

As to the importance of honest and unbiased facts, consider these words President Ronald Reagan used on several occasions,  “Trust but verify.”   History proves every generation has produced a rogue leader such as Adolf Hitler, often men with powerful personalities who began with good intentions, but once given power over their people began to become self-absorbed. Some even became paranoid about hanging on to their power. 

When man provides positive achievements

Despite this dark side of mankind that has existed throughout history, there have always been men whose ideas spurred positive achievement that advanced and benefited humanity. An important example was the invention of the automobile that was scorned and had many who opposed it.  It provided us with the ability to travel long distances and eventually led to the amazing vehicle by which we could explore the moon. Other important advancements, among many, were the invention of the printing press that was developed in hiding to print the Bible when certain religious leaders objected to lay people having their own Bibles, the compass for navigation, and the electric light bulb.

These inventions might be compared to established ideals in that they are the result of passing on knowledge and essential information from one generation to the another, a process both admirable and helpful to mankind.  Unfortunately, the same rationality has not been applied to solving our political problems. In a nation with so many positive accomplishments, both past and present, it is regretful that a degree of compatibility or civility is not possible among elected government officials or in our own private lives.

The United States is not perfect, neither are its citizens or our elected officials, but it would be unreasonable to deny the amazing form of government our forefathers managed to set forth as represented by our Constitution and Bill of Rights.  At the time, Benjamin Franklin issued this challenge to future generations about their responsibility to keep and guard the principles under which this nation was founded: “A republic . . . if you can keep it.” 

The crisis of today

Those of us who were born in the United States should be thankful that our early leaders were wise men with the foresight to create this nation's form of government which remains as modern and up-to-date — as avant-garde, even — as it was in 1787.  Yet of grave concern today is a crisis which questions legitimacy of our Constitution.  Half of Americans believe we live under the old Constitution, with its guarantee of liberty and its expectation of self-reliance. The other half believe in a “living constitution” — a regime that empowers the Supreme Court to sit as a permanent constitutional convention, issuing decrees that keep our government evolving with modernity’s changing conditions. 

There are nations who do not allow their citizens to participate in fair elections. Even though our Constitution grants citizens the right to vote to elect their officials, too many citizens do not take advantage of this benefit.  Worse yet, upwards to a few million individuals who are not citizens violate our laws by voting illegally.  Then too, deceased people remain listed on voter rolls to precipitate voter fraud.  

Mr. Franklin's warning must be taken seriously.  It is the responsibility of every citizen to take voting seriously by keeping informed, studying history, and responding to our elected officials when we have concerns or questions about specific laws, statements, and/or concerns.  Closed minds are dangerous, so it is wise to listen to the arguments on both sides of important issues to be able to make wise and informed decisions. 

When being grateful is replaced by anger

We should be grateful for our wise forefathers who realized the importance of differing opinions, yet at the present time there is a push by the Left to replace the Electoral College with the National Popular Vote to elect this nation's president, which ignores the Constitution and would shift electoral power to only big-city voters.  Small states and rural communities, what many call the "fly over states", would have no voice. 

The fact remains that our system of government is designed to be fair and for the most part it is exceedingly effective. Even so, instead of being grateful to call America their home, half the people in this nation — who are the luckiest people in the world — believe this country needs to be radically transformed, both politically and economically.   Many Americans actually yearn for Socialism without an understanding of what Socialism really is, nor do they realize that Socialism has never succeeded anywhere in the world wherever is has been tried. 

Fate of nation is in our hands

This democratic republic has been able to deal with the peaceful transference of power for 200+ years and with it came prosperity for its citizens.  Even those living in what we refer to as poverty have luxuries that those in most other countries would regard as wish list items. How then could discontented and angry Americans believe they are living in a racist cesspool where everyone who isn’t a white heterosexual male is being oppressed?

It was no accident.  It took a concerted effort by educators, members of the media and liberal leftist politicians, over the course of many years to subvert truth and to bamboozle people from an early age to believe, as in Orwell’s prophetic “1984,” that black is white, weakness is strength, up is down, emotions trump facts, that there are more than two genders and that slavery was not only invented in America but existed nowhere else on earth. The Bible predicted this would happen when good is evil and evil is good in Isaiah 5:20.

It is up to all who believe in our Constitutional Republic to do their part to discredit the naysayers. It is essential that you vote and do bring others to the polls to do likewise. 

Related

Share10Tweet7
Previous Post

GOP candidate emerges in IL’s 15th CD

Next Post

Cook Co dentist files religious freedom complaint against IL abortion law

Illinois Review

Illinois Review

Founded in 2005, Illinois Review is the leading perspective and source of conservative news, opinion and information in Illinois. Follow Illinois Review on X at @IllinoisReview.

Recommended For You

Chicago AM560 Axes Local Morning Radio Personality Amy Jacobson, Keeps Florida-based Host in Cost-Cutting Move

by Illinois Review
July 1, 2025
0
Chicago AM560 Axes Local Morning Radio Personality Amy Jacobson, Keeps Florida-based Host in Cost-Cutting Move

By Illinois ReviewIn a shocking cost-cutting move Tuesday, Chicago’s AM560 The Answer terminated longtime morning host Amy Jacobson, as the struggling conservative station grapples with declining relevance –...

Read moreDetails

JB Pritzker Receives 2% in Presidential Poll, Ranks Lowest in Minority Support Among Democrats

by Illinois Review
June 30, 2025
0
JB Pritzker Receives 2% in Presidential Poll, Ranks Lowest in Minority Support Among Democrats

By Illinois ReviewIn one of the first nationwide hypothetical polls for the 2028 Democratic presidential primary, Illinois Governor and billionaire JB Pritzker ranks at the bottom, receiving the...

Read moreDetails

Trump’s Jobs Boom Skips Illinois—Thanks to Pritzker’s Tax Hikes

by Thomas Mccullagh
June 26, 2025
0
Trump’s Jobs Boom Skips Illinois—Thanks to Pritzker’s Tax Hikes

Illinois is missing out on Trump’s U.S. manufacturing boom. While other states welcome new factories, Pritzker’s tax hikes and regulations keep businesses out—and force longtime employers to leave.

Read moreDetails

Opinion: We’ll Save You If We See You Burning

by Janelle Powell
June 21, 2025
0
Opinion: We’ll Save You If We See You Burning

By Janelle Powell, Opinion ContributorIn a dazzling display of bureaucratic brilliance, the City of Chicago has rolled out a new policy for the Chicago Fire Department that essentially...

Read moreDetails

Caught Off Guard: Pritzker Left Speechless on Women’s Restroom Question Amid Sanctuary City Testimony

by Illinois Review
June 12, 2025
0
Caught Off Guard: Pritzker Left Speechless on Women’s Restroom Question Amid Sanctuary City Testimony

By Illinois ReviewIllinois Gov. JB Pritzker testified Wednesday before the U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee alongside fellow sanctuary city governors – occasionally appearing visibly stunned and...

Read moreDetails
Next Post

Cook Co dentist files religious freedom complaint against IL abortion law

Please login to join discussion

Best Dental Group

Related News

IL Freedom Caucus calls on Lurie Children’s Hospital to cease gender services for kids

October 27, 2022

Beckman: Is the Brigham Young University racial slur controversy another hoax?

October 27, 2022

Salvi polling shows closer race

October 27, 2022

Browse by Category

  • America First
  • Education
  • Faith & Family
  • Foreign Policy
  • Health Care
  • Illinois News
  • Illinois Politics
  • Opinion
  • Science
  • Second Amendment
  • TRENDING
  • US NEWS
  • US Politics
  • World News
Illinois Review

© 2024 llinois Review LLC Editor in Chief Mark Vargas Publisher Thomas McCullagh Chief Counsel Scott Kaspar

Navigate Site

  • Checkout
  • Home
  • Home – mobile
  • Login/Register
  • Login/Register
  • My account
  • My Account-
  • My Account- – mobile

Follow Us

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Illinois News
  • Illinois Politics
  • US Politics
  • Health Care
  • US NEWS
  • America First
  • Opinion
  • TRENDING
  • Education
  • Foreign Policy
  • Second Amendment
  • Faith & Family
  • Science
  • World News

© 2024 llinois Review LLC Editor in Chief Mark Vargas Publisher Thomas McCullagh Chief Counsel Scott Kaspar

Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?