By Gary Stibel, Scott Liell and Thomas Paine


Whenever the Fourth of July rolls around, many of us pause to reflect upon the people, events and ideas that we commemorate with all those backyard BBQs and fireworks displays. This year, as many an American family or business faces greater challenges and uncertainty than we’ve seen in generations, it is especially fitting for us to spend a few moments recalling a time centuries ago when this country was used to thinking of itself as an...