WhatFinger


Nancy Salvato

Nancy Salvato is the President of Basics Project, a non-profit, non-partisan 501 (C) (3) research and educational project whose mission is to promote the education of the American public on the basic elements of relevant political, legal and social issues important to our country.

Most Recent Articles by Nancy Salvato:

I’m a Writer, Not a Financial Planner

Like many Americans, I searched for a new job in 2010. Although I wasn’t unemployed at the time of my search, I concluded that it was in my best interest to find a job with a company that offered more stability and in which my job skills would continue to be valued. When I was offered a position which fit my criteria, with room to grow, I opted to take it. This meant no longer living near family and friends, which would be hard. Thankfully, they were supportive of my decision and agreed this would be best. There was one other hurdle. I would need to sell my home.
- Monday, December 6, 2010

Eternal Principle

Marcus Tullius Cicero, who was born in 105 B.C. and was beheaded by Antony's soldiers in 43 B.C, writes in On the Laws , “Law was neither a thing to be contrived by the genius of man, nor established by any decree of the people, but a certain eternal principle, which governs the entire universe, wisely commanding what is right and prohibiting what is wrong.”
- Monday, August 30, 2010

A Brief History of the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict

It was around 1400 B.C., when Moses led the Hebrew slaves out of Egypt into Palestine, the "promised land". After the Romans destroyed Jerusalem in 70 A.D., the Jewish state came to an end and the Hebrew (Jewish) people were dispersed. In the 1890's, Jews driven by Zionism to establish a modern Jewish nation-state and flocking back to their ancient biblical homeland in British controlled Palestine, eventually became embroiled in a modern day conflict between themselves and Palestinian Arabs.
- Friday, June 4, 2010

Should the Ends Justify the Means?

Watching the most recent episode of 24, it was infuriating to watch President Allison Taylor tell Jack Bauer to stand down instead of agreeing to have him question Dana Walsh about the assassination of President Hassan, rationalizing her actions by saying that the peace process she was negotiating between the Russians and the Middle East is for the “greater good.” She essentially told him that the ends justify the means and that those in the employ of CTU are to serve what she believes to be in the nation’s interest, not only ignoring her oath to the Constitution of the United States but demanding his fealty, or allegiance to her.
- Wednesday, April 21, 2010

News Fast

Sometimes, reading the news can be so frustrating and frightening that it can affect my mood. In his book Eight Weeks to Optimal Health, Dr. Andrew Weil suggests taking a news fast one day a week.
- Friday, April 9, 2010

The Shot Heard Round the World

“By the rude bridge that arched the flood, Their flag to April's breeze unfurled, Hence once the embattled farmers stood, And fired the shot heard round the world.” -- Ralph Waldo Emerson
- Saturday, March 20, 2010

Counting the Votes Before They Are In

Everyone can identify with foreshadowing, you know what I'm talking about, the part in a book or a movie or a play when you have that sense of foreboding that something isn't quite right, that the characters are celebrating too early.
- Monday, March 1, 2010

‘Excuse Me…Can You Help Me Out with Some Change?’

Every evening on my way to Union Station, the same set of street hustlers are hanging about, soliciting for a handout. Some line the sidewalk, perched on the foldable camping chairs one would expect to see toted by soccer moms en route to children's' organized sporting events, not associated with placards that read homeless or jobless.
- Monday, December 21, 2009

For the General Welfare, or an Encroachment on Rights?

Taking Metra usually affords me a solid 20 minutes to read on my Kindle during my commute home and I relish that pause from responsibility to research many of the topics on which I write. Tonight's train ride, however, provided an unanticipated diversion during which I mused on a variety of scenarios that left me pondering.
- Monday, December 14, 2009

The Turkey That Is Obamanomics

Thanksgiving day progressed in somewhat the usual manner, sleeping in; savoring our coffee; reading the news; putzing around on the computer; and at least one of us (me) working out in anticipation of moderating the inevitable consequences of splurging on an inordinate amount of really good food.
- Monday, November 30, 2009

An Abridgement of Constitutional Rights

“We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America...”
- Friday, November 20, 2009

Political Science 101: Power Breeds Corruption

Chicago is known as “The Windy City” not because it is windy (although anyone who tries to use an umbrella during a heavy rain in the Loop knows how difficult that can prove) but because of the blowhard politicians it has produced throughout the centuries.
- Friday, September 18, 2009

M-O-N-E-Y & Influence

If you want that girl Listen, son Don't you sit around and cry Because, love In this world Ain't nothing you can't buy -- Lyle Lovett, Money Money may not really buy love or make the world go round, but it certainly does help society to function efficiently. Money, which is assigned a value, is the item of exchange we use if we want to purchase something.
- Friday, September 18, 2009

Two Americas or One Nation with Liberty & Justice for All

Fundamental law is the key to maintaining the rights and freedoms of every citizen in the United States of America. It is questionable how many people actually understand what is considered fundamental law, or why it is referred to as such. The US Constitution and the Bill of Rights -which was promised as part of the ratification of the US Constitution in order to ensure its passage-, are both considered to be the fundamental law of the United States. These documents, along with the Declaration of Independence are commonly referred to as our founding documents – the Charters of Freedom.
- Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Setting New Standards with Online Education

“The full-time residential model of higher education is getting too expensive for a larger share of the American population.” (The College of 2020: Students) Is it any wonder “more and more students are looking for lower-cost alternatives to attending college?”
- Monday, July 6, 2009

Circumnavigating the Rule of Law

The last I heard, the United States was not a signatory to the Law of the Sea Convention. Yet back in 1996, under President Clinton, we became signatories to an agreement with the Commonwealth of the Bahamas "concerning a cooperative Shiprider and Overflight Drug Interdiction Program for Joint Operations," known as the 1996 Shiprider Agreement.
- Thursday, May 28, 2009

In Just 100 Days

January 20, 2009, Barack Hussein Obama became the 44th president of the United States. Our most recently elected president has been presiding in what is commonly referred to as the "honeymoon period", the beginning of a new president's term in which the chief executive enjoys generally positive relations with the press and Congress. During this first hundred days, or "honeymoon" a new president uses good will to his advantage, trying to push through an executive agenda while generally being forgiven for what could be considered novice mistakes. April 30th marks the end of President Obama's first 100 days in office. What has been accomplished in since his inauguration?
- Monday, April 27, 2009

Defining Article 2, Section 1 in Context

According to Article II, Section 1 of the United States Constitution, no person except a “natural born citizen” (citizen at birth) shall be eligible to the office of President.
- Monday, April 6, 2009

A Constitutionally Illiterate Congress

The definition of a citizen is one who is ruled and can rule in turn. We must have the capacity for both under the law. All citizens must be able to take the following oath of office:
- Monday, March 23, 2009

Natural Born Citizens

This is a commentary in response to James Taranto's recent column in which he takes yet another opportunity to use his bully pulpit to jab at the vast numbers of people who take painstakingly seriously the idea that no person except a natural born citizen shall be eligible to hold the office of President.
- Saturday, March 21, 2009

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