Craig Parkinson has taught for 36 years in Iowa. He taught History and Physical Education in both high school and middle school and has coached many teams primarily as the Head Foo...mehr sehenCraig Parkinson has taught for 36 years in Iowa. He taught History and Physical Education in both high school and middle school and has coached many teams primarily as the Head Football Coach. In 2007 he was inducted into the Iowa Football Coaches Hall of Fame. He has traveled extensively around the United States and has taken a Classical Civilization tour to London, Paris, Cairo, Rome, Athens, and a cruise in the Aegean Sea. He was a re-enactment soldier in Sgt. Floyds Honor Guard, Lewis & Clark's Corps of Discovery 1804 as Patrick Gass. This is his first book after writing professional journal pieces for Scholastic Coach, "How to Defend the New Three Point Shot," and "Outlawing the Cluster Onside Kickoff," for the Iowa Football Coaches Journal. He is married and father to four wonderful adults and has one granddaughter. He is currently completing a book tentatively called "Racism/Based on a False Premise.'' Known as a personable and innovative teacher/coach, Parkie, as he is usually known, has tried to use some of these traits to generate an atmosphere of healthy political discussion of facts instead of confrontational argumentation of sound bites. Using historical background as evidence, he shows how his theory of political preference of national/federal control competes with state/confederation control. Through natural growth of our country, our government has also grown. The question still remains should we have a larger federal government or a smaller confederation? This book contains many historical references that show the entire picture unlike the way traditional textbooks may gloss over the issues. It is for the ordinary citizen and it is designed to get the readers interest and stimulate them to come to their own conclusions after investigating the facts. From the beginning of our country we have been struggling with who controls the power in our government. Is it the individual, the states or the nation? This internal conflict drives the political discussions of today and will continue to drive them in the future. This book gives a fresh and entertaining look at the many examples of how this basic premise has ruled our politics. We go back and forth as a pendulum using cycles of elections and public opinions and sometimes even wars to change directions. We are exposed to so much politically charged information that it makes choices difficult. Maybe that is why so many people are turned off by History and Politics. This is a thumbnail version of our history and its effect on current politics. It is not to persuade you to particular beliefs but to charge you to think with an open mind, gather the facts, and then make reasonable, rational and educated choices. James Otis, a Patriot from Boston in the 1770's said, "If heaven I cannot bend the hell I'll stir." I hope this book stirs you in many good ways! Craig Parkinsonweniger sehen