MSI Press Blog

Jerry Aveta, author of  When Liberty Enslaves ,  says that people are too busy to understand the essence of politics in a video on the Faithforthetimes TikTok account. Book Description There is a common experience between our experiences today and those before the Civil War many years ago.  The effect of the intersection of faith and politics during these two experiences has had on our elections and our governance is uncanny in their similarities.  Both times an election insurrection was stopped by the sitting vice president.  Both times had people of the same faith on both sides of the social issues of the day claiming God’s favor and willing to divide the nation over those competing positions. Part 1 of this writing focuses on the Civil War era and how liberty centered around the issue of equality.  Some people of faith believed all men were equal, some did not. Part 2 focuses on our present times and how liberty centers on the sanctity of life concernin...

  Jerry Aveta, author of  When Liberty Enslaves , answers the question, "What is something a politician has said that made you pay attention?" in a video on the Faithforthetimes TikTok account. Check it out here:  What is something a politician has said that’s made you pay attention?... | TikTok Book Description There is a common experience between our experiences today and those before the Civil War many years ago.  The effect of the intersection of faith and politics during these two experiences has had on our elections and our governance is uncanny in their similarities.  Both times an election insurrection was stopped by the sitting vice president.  Both times had people of the same faith on both sides of the social issues of the day claiming God’s favor and willing to divide the nation over those competing positions. Part 1 of this writing focuses on the Civil War era and how liberty centered around the issue of equality.  Some people of faith bel...

Jerry Aveta and Irit Schaffer in San Juan Bautista Before the month of September passes into the rearview mirror and out of sight, we should share a magical moment on the first Saturday of the month in San Juan Bautista, California. Jerry Aveta (author of When Liberty Enslaves ) and Irit Schaffer (author of Good Blood ), both authors of award-winning books, joined MSI Press editor for a stroll through history, which comes alive in SJB on the first Saturday of each month.  The stroll was followed by dinner at Jardines de San Juan, a beloved local restaurant whose reputation spreads well beyond the local hills. The next day, Jerry conducted a book signing at the local VFW. Vets and townies came out to talk to him. For more posts about MSI Press staff life, click HERE . Order any book's print edition at 25% discount with coupon code FF25 at  MSI Press webstore ! Want to read our books and not have to pay for them? Ask your local library to acq uire  the ones you are interest...

  In today’s polarized climate, the Constitution is often invoked not as a shared foundation, but as a rhetorical weapon. Phrases like “constitutional rights” or “freedom” are hurled in debates with little regard for context, precedent, or nuance. This isn’t just bad faith—it’s bad history. And it erodes the very discourse that sustains democracy. ⚖️ The Danger of Absolutism Extremist movements tend to speak in absolutes: “The Constitution says…” (without citing case law or historical interpretation) “Freedom means…” (without acknowledging competing rights or responsibilities) “We’re just defending liberty” (while undermining institutions that protect it) This kind of rhetoric shuts down conversation. It replaces inquiry with ideology. And it turns a document meant to unify into a tool for division. 🧩 The Constitution as a Collaborative Text The Constitution was never meant to be interpreted in isolation. It’s shaped by: Judicial precedent : Centuries of case law that refine its m...