[GOPJ]

... wood of the USS Constitution and it was a mixture of the very hard white oak that gave the ship it's ability to bounce cannon balls off its hull -- and live oak (from Georgia) were used in its vertical beams to give it strength.

...

Great Britain and France had great fleets and experience. America countered with its superior shipbuilding technology and ingenuity.

Ingenuity comes from a system - like ours - that values merit OVER rank and status.It's why our 'elites' are attacking the system that made us strong.

[poconopundit]

Ingenuity comes from a system - like ours - that values merit OVER rank and status.It’s why our ‘elites’ are attacking the system that made us strong.

* * * *

Absolutely true. And most of the big name entrepreneurs — Bezos, Gates, Zuckerberg — have forgotten where they came from. They became elites and now furiously protect their monopolies that run roughshod on competing businesses.

Now if there was true competition, these elites would have to fight with others for resources and markets. That’s healthy — makes them responsive to their customers.

The same goes for governments. Imagine a merit based government! There you go. An idea 21st century Constitution-makers can chew on.

If your government doesn’t meet certain measures of merit we can limit their term or just kick them out — ALL OF THEM.

Trump won a ton of merit badges — an Eagle Scout! We got our money’s worth from HIS government. Now we got to fight like hell to get our country back from the elite tyrants.