Happy belated birthday, Benny

Wow, I can't believe I missed Ben's birthday. He is probably my favorite of all our founding fathers. Yesterday (Jan. 17) Ben would have turned 300 years young. I say young, because of all the founding fathers, Benjamin Franklin is the one who would be most at home in today's world - except of course for what our George is doing. His George didn't want a monarchy - our George does.


In honor of Ben's birthday, I thought I would throw out some of my favorite Ben Franklin quotes.

• "All wars are follies, very expensive and very mischievous ones."



• "Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."



• "Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."



• "Certainty? In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes."



• "Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing."



• "Guests, like fish, begin to smell after three days."



• "Honesty is the best policy."



• "We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately."



• "There never was a good war or a bad peace."



• "Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise."



• "The greatest monarch on the proudest throne, is oblig'd to sit upon his own arse."



• "Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote."

Ben didn't just write and talk, he also invented. His inventions include:

• Bifocal glasses



• Lightning rods



• Franklin stove



• Odometer



• Swim fins



• Waterproof bulkheads for ships



• The glass harmonica

In addition, Franklin founded the first public library, and he helped establish the first fire department. In my opinion, it was Franklin who really helped us win the Revolutionary War. By negotiating a treaty with France and bringing the French into the war as our ally, the tide turned and we won the war. If there was ever anyone who deserved a National Holiday, it is Franklin. Unfortunately, MLK day is too close to Ben's B-Day - of course, if we did give him his own day, Ben could also be responsible for the country's first five-day weekend!