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Are Americans exceptional — compared with people of other countries? We often see or hear this question around this time of year. I usually change the subject. To the question of whether our country is exceptional. It is, I think. Exceptional in how it was created. Exceptional in who created it. The Founding Fathers were […]
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Are Americans exceptional — compared with people of other countries? We often see or hear this question around this time of year.
I usually change the subject. To the question of whether our country is exceptional. It is, I think. Exceptional in how it was created. Exceptional in who created it.
The Founding Fathers were exceptional. For their times and for all times. Exceptional in that they discussed at length whether to revolt. So many revolutions were simply eruptions. The thinking came later. With our founding, the thinking came first.
The founders endlessly debated what type of government to create. And how to bestow various powers. They debated how to keep a president from becoming a king. How to give power to courts, but how to restrain what courts could do. The founders also deliberated carefully over how to give a Congress power. But again, how to restrain that power and the powers of the other branches with checks and balances. It’s an exceptional concept that functions to this day.
To be inspired by this, the Founding Fathers had to be exceptional. To create and sign the Declaration of Independence, they had to be extraordinary. For they declared that power came from God to the people. Not to the king or ruler. It came to the people. They then bestowed the power upon their ruler — whom they could remove.
That was an exceptional concept in their era. Or in any era. Many people in many countries have not embraced it to this day. Many millions believe the Divine grants power to their rulers. The rulers then choose what power and freedom to grant to the people.
The founders knew history — ancient and recent. They knew the thoughts of many philosophers. They studied what had worked for people in governments of old. And what had failed.
They were exceptional in having this knowledge. Exceptional in using it, and in weaving that knowledge into the documents that created this country.
They were exceptional to think of enumerating our inalienable rights and of spelling them out in documents.
Many of the founders were exceptional in their achievements, and in the power of their thinking. Madison, Adams, Jefferson, and Washington were no ordinary men.
My favorite is Benjamin Franklin. To me he is the consummate American. He honored education, but was self-taught. He was inventive, innovative, and entrepreneurial. Franklin was a home-spun philosopher, humorist, scientist., an exceptional diplomat, and an accomplished lover. He was pragmatic and extremely practical. Franklin refused to be chained by custom and tradition. He was ever an optimist.
Had he lived in Britain, he would never have thrived as he did on American soil.
The founders created an exceptional foundation for a country. That foundation allowed and encouraged the structure we have built since the founding. They created an exceptional atmosphere or environment. One in which people were free to think, free to speak, and free to own and buy and sell under protection of law.
The founders were not perfect. They were not so exceptional as to grant women and blacks freedoms they have today. That would have been too revolutionary to have been comprehended by people of their era. But at least they created a structure in which those freedoms could be won, over time.
Are Americans exceptional? The better question for me is whether the structure in which Americans live is exceptional. To me, it is. It was created by exceptional men of exceptional thought and courage.
Here’s to our founders.
Tom Morgan writes about political, financial and other subjects from his home near Oneonta. Several upstate radio stations carry his daily commentary, Tom Morgan’s Money Talk. Contact him at tomasinmorgan@yahoo.com
ABC Creative Group recently hired MAT MORSE as web developer. He graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology with a bachelor’s degree in new media.
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ABC Creative Group recently hired MAT MORSE as web developer. He graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology with a bachelor’s degree in new media.
Pinckney Hugo Group has hired ED PRUE as a senior account manager, BRYAN SCHUMACKER as a motion graphics designer, ALEXA CAPOZZI as a junior art director, KATHERINE RANKIN as an assistant account manager, and JULIA THOMAS as an assistant account manager. Prue previously was a senior marketing manager at Bankers Healthcare Group and a senior
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Pinckney Hugo Group has hired ED PRUE as a senior account manager, BRYAN SCHUMACKER as a motion graphics designer, ALEXA CAPOZZI as a junior art director, KATHERINE RANKIN as an assistant account manager, and JULIA THOMAS as an assistant account manager. Prue previously was a senior marketing manager at Bankers Healthcare Group and a senior account manager for Latorra, Paul & McCann, according to his LinkedIn profile. He has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication from the Jandoli School of Communication at St. Bonaventure University. Schumacker previously worked as a producer at WCNY. He has a bachelor’s degree in broadcasting and mass communication from SUNY Oswego. Capozzi has a bachelor’s degree in graphic design from the University of Buffalo, Rankin has a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from Boston University, and Thomas has a bachelor’s degree in public relations from SUNY Oswego.
SANDY KALBACH has joined Solvay Bank in its Trust & Investment Services Department as vp and trust manager. She brings more than 30 years of experience in the banking industry. During her career, Kalbach held senior positions at four banking institutions, including Solvay Bank, where she served as trust officer from 1998-2002. She holds a
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SANDY KALBACH has joined Solvay Bank in its Trust & Investment Services Department as vp and trust manager. She brings more than 30 years of experience in the banking industry. During her career, Kalbach held senior positions at four banking institutions, including Solvay Bank, where she served as trust officer from 1998-2002. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from SUNY Oswego. ALYSHA HARLOST has been promoted to banking officer and consumer lending manager at Solvay Bank. She joined the bank in 2014 and has made significant contributions to its consumer lending programs. SARA PREVILLE has been promoted to banking officer and human resource manager. She joined Solvay Bank in 2012. Her expanded role includes benefits administration and recruitment activities.
NBT Bank has promoted DEBORAH COLLIGAN and VERONICA KENNAN to assistant vice presidents. Colligan, human resources shared services manager, joined NBT Bank in 2013 with the bank’s acquisition of Alliance Bank where she was human resources representative. She earned her associate degree at SUNY Morrisville and Professional in Human Resources designation from the Human Resources
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NBT Bank has promoted DEBORAH COLLIGAN and VERONICA KENNAN to assistant vice presidents. Colligan, human resources shared services manager, joined NBT Bank in 2013 with the bank’s acquisition of Alliance Bank where she was human resources representative. She earned her associate degree at SUNY Morrisville and Professional in Human Resources designation from the Human Resources Institute of the Society of Human Resources Management. Colligan also attended the Human Resources Management School at the University of Wisconsin Madison Graduate School of Banking. Kennan, business banking center manager, joined NBT Bank in 2010. She previously was a credit department administrative manager at Wilber National Bank, now Community Bank, in Oneonta. Keenan earned her bachelor’s degree in political science and theatre arts at Loyola Marymount University.
TOM DOWNES has been named assistant director of Online Programs at University College (UC). He joins UC from Syracuse University’s (SU) College of Engineering and Computer Science, where he served as an instructional technologist. Prior to his work in the College of Engineering, Downes served as an online learning analyst with SU’s IT Online Learning
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TOM DOWNES has been named assistant director of Online Programs at University College (UC). He joins UC from Syracuse University’s (SU) College of Engineering and Computer Science, where he served as an instructional technologist. Prior to his work in the College of Engineering, Downes served as an online learning analyst with SU’s IT Online Learning Services. He received his master’s degree in education from SUNY Oswego and a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Cortland.
BCA Architects & Engineers has appointed THOMAS J. CATALDO, BRYAN T. COWELL, ANDREW T. GARLOCK, MICHAEL J. MITCHELL, and JOHN A. SOKOL as associates of the firm. Cataldo graduated from Clarkson University with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 1988. He has been with BCA since 2009. He came to BCA with 20 years
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BCA Architects & Engineers has appointed THOMAS J. CATALDO, BRYAN T. COWELL, ANDREW T. GARLOCK, MICHAEL J. MITCHELL, and JOHN A. SOKOL as associates of the firm. Cataldo graduated from Clarkson University with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 1988. He has been with BCA since 2009. He came to BCA with 20 years of experience in the industrial and manufacturing sector. Cowell, a LEED green associate, graduated from Alfred State University with a bachelor’s degree in architectural technology in 2004. He has been at BCA since 2005. Garlock, also a LEED green associate, graduated from Syracuse University with a bachelor’s degree in architecture in 2012. He has been with BCA since 2013 and was an intern at the company during college for three summers. Garlock is licensed in New Jersey and Virginia, as well as New York state. Mitchell graduated from Alfred State College in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in surveying engineering technology. He has been at BCA since 2007 and was an intern at the firm during college for two summers. Sokol graduated from SUNY Delhi with an associate degree in applied technologies in 1991. He has been with BCA since 2016.
Shumaker Consulting Engineering & Land Surveying, D.P.C. has promoted THOMAS R. ELLERSON to party chief/senior engineering technician within the Shumaker Survey Division. He has more than four years of experience providing survey/mapping services as a field survey instrument operator and CADD/mapping technician at Shumaker.
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Shumaker Consulting Engineering & Land Surveying, D.P.C. has promoted THOMAS R. ELLERSON to party chief/senior engineering technician within the Shumaker Survey Division. He has more than four years of experience providing survey/mapping services as a field survey instrument operator and CADD/mapping technician at Shumaker.
TAMMI KING, director of staff development /infection control, has joined the staff at Valley Health Services (VHS). In her role, King is responsible for implementing, tracking, and overseeing nursing and non-nursing educational instruction, infection control maintenance/prevention, and employee health.
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TAMMI KING, director of staff development /infection control, has joined the staff at Valley Health Services (VHS). In her role, King is responsible for implementing, tracking, and overseeing nursing and non-nursing educational instruction, infection control maintenance/prevention, and employee health.
Christ the King Retreat and Conference Center has hired CHRISTINE L. LAURI as the new Retreat and Conference Center manager. She replaces Marianne Carbone, who has retired after 20 years of service. Lauri previously worked for Syracuse University as assistant to the associate VP. Her previous nonprofit experience involves working for the Girls Scouts of
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Christ the King Retreat and Conference Center has hired CHRISTINE L. LAURI as the new Retreat and Conference Center manager. She replaces Marianne Carbone, who has retired after 20 years of service. Lauri previously worked for Syracuse University as assistant to the associate VP. Her previous nonprofit experience involves working for the Girls Scouts of America. Lauri holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Columbia College.
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