The Gospel of Mark describes an incident in which our Lord Jesus Christ was traveling through a field, and His disciples plucked a few heads of grain to eat. Some Pharisees pointed out that harvesting grain on the Sabbath was against the laws of Moses. Jesus corrected them by reminding them how David, when being pursued by King Saul, ate the bread that was meant to be set aside only for the priests.
And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”
Mark 2:27 ESV
In the world of politics, we often get caught up in the minutiae of the letter of the law. And to some extent, we must—law gives structure to society and defines the bounds of acceptable behavior. Yet it’s easy to forget that the law was made for citizens, not citizens for the law. The First Amendment guarantees our rights to speech, assembly, religion, and more—but it was never meant to be a suicide pact. I recall Jesse Kelly posing the question a couple of years ago: Do people have a constitutional right to advocate for the overthrow of our government and the institution of a communist dictatorship?
Food for thought this Sunday.
As you know, the Gem State Chronicle is reader supported:
- Paid subscribers via Substack get bonus notes with some articles, giving me an opportunity to share behind-the-scenes thoughts with supporters, as well as early access to podcasts.
- Do you have a small business you want to advertise? I’ll put your ad on the top of the Chronicle homepage, on the article sidebar, and will shout it out on any podcasts I release during the sponsorship. I’ll also write an article on behalf of sponsors, whether about a particular issue or just sharing their story. Send me a message and we’ll get it done. Take the time to visit my regular sponsors, Lynn Bradescu’s Keller Williams Realty and Money Metals! I appreciate the support!
- I’ve relaunched the Merch Store with a couple of new branded items. Let me know if you have any ideas for items you’d like to see made available.
This week at the Chronicle…
On Monday, I laid out a restatement of principles regarding my mission and the purpose of this platform.
On Tuesday, I noted the passing of mathematician and satirical songwriter Tom Lehrer.
On Wednesday, I shared some ideas on how the Legislature might finally succeed in cutting spending.
On Thursday, I discussed the new ballot initiative to eliminate sales taxes on groceries.
On Friday, I examined three gubernatorial appointments, and what they reveal about our system.
On Saturday, I published Savanna DeHay’s latest article, examining the health benefits of castor oil.
I also published op-eds by Kootenai County GOP chair Brent Regan, Idaho GOP chair Dorothy Moon, and Attorney General Raúl Labrador.
Whether we agree or disagree with our elected officials and influential political figures, I think it’s important to hear what they have to say. The Gem State Chronicle is a resource for as much information as possible to help you be more effective and engaged.
If you would like Gem State Chronicle to publish your work, please submit it to [email protected]. We are pleased to provide an outlet for a wide variety of figures in the world of Idaho politics to share their own messages.
Speaking of resources, I’ve done a ton of work on Idaho Insider these past few weeks. Each legislator’s profile now includes more information than ever, including telephone numbers that allow you to call with one tap. I’ve also begun working on the Executive Branch profiles, so check them out. My intention is for Idaho Insider to be the best one-stop source of information about our government and tools to help you be a more engaged voter and citizen.
In other news…
Over at Money Metals (a regular sponsor of the Gem State Chronicle), Mike Maharrey discusses the incredible durability of gold (both as an investment and a physical object!)
Curtis Yarvin always has interesting things to say. This week he published an article on sovereign debt and how the United States might escape the massive bubble it’s currently in.
The pseudonymous author of the Conundrum Cluster published a terrific essay last week that evaluates our current political situation. Like me, he has harsh words for activists who are more interested in screaming on social media than accomplishing legislative victories.
Jared Henderson posted an insightful video about the cheating crisis in higher education. Both students and professors are using AI to get around actually having to do the work themselves. Yet it’s worth asking, as Henderson does, what the purpose of college really is:
If I write the name “Sydney Sweeney” in this article will it get boosted by the algorithm? Anyway, an interesting discussion between Auron MacIntyre and J. Burden:
Tom Woods and Michael Malice got together for an insightful conversation about AI, the future of democracy, and Ozzy Osbourne:
Finally, Beau Dade at the Lotus Eaters hosted a fellow calling himself Apostolic Majesty for a deep discussion into the long term effects of Napoleon’s rule. This is the sort of discussion you usually have to pay for, so check it out:
Upcoming events…
If you’ll indulge me just a little bit, the District 14 Republicans are hosting a barbecue fundraiser on Saturday, September 13. Come for food, fun, and to support our precinct committeemen. Your $50 ticket buys dinner, and also goes to support our PCs in outreach to their neighborhoods. We’ll also have silent auction items and a dessert dash. Click here for more info or to buy tickets.
Young Republicans in the Treasure Valley are planning to shoot each other with paintballs later this week. RSVP to Ada County GOP youth chair Ashley Mujagic for details.
It’s fair season. The Canyon and Gem County Fairs are over, but Ada’s (the Western Idaho Fair) is coming up, as are many others throughout the state. Make sure to find your local Republican volunteers and candidates.
Thank you all for your support as I continue to bring you news and analysis that empowers you to make positive change in Idaho. Make sure to subscribe, follow me on Twitter, and follow the Chronicle on Facebook, Telegram, YouTube, and Rumble. Have a great weekend!
About Brian Almon
Brian Almon is the Editor of the Gem State Chronicle. He also serves as Chairman of the District 14 Republican Party and is a trustee of the Eagle Public Library Board. He lives with his wife and five children in Eagle.
