The Rat In The Corner – Iran, Health Care, etc.

To paraphrase Henry Kissinger:  Never back a rat in to a corner – he will come out fighting.  Always leave your opponent an escape route – a means by which they can save face.  President Obama recently used a phrase much as this when referring to Iran.  He said something like, “We are trying to […]

Is Ten Percent Too Much For Health Care?

President Obama is having his fourth news conference as I type.  He is suggesting health care will cost us ten percent of our national budget if we do not gain control over costs.  Is that a bad thing?  How do we measure the health of our population against other priorities? When President Eisenhower left office […]

Obama Apologies – Appropriate? Or Not?

Does President Obama apologize unnecessarily for America?   President Obama faces the world with legitimate humility, humbled by the embarrassment of the past administration.  President Obama is working hard to remove the plank from our own eye before trying to remove the splinter from adversaries.   We live in a harsh and brutal world, a world of […]

Obama Speech in Cairo, Egypt 6-4-09

President Obama spoke in Cairo, Egypt.  The text of the speech follows the video. I am honored to be in the timeless city of Cairo, and to be hosted by two remarkable institutions. For over a thousand years, Al-Azhar has stood as a beacon of Islamic learning, and for over a century, Cairo University has […]

The Rise And Fall of 20th Century Fundamentalism

Fundamentalism is always reactionary, always combative, always fearful, and often militant.  The term originated with American Protestantism and gained momentum in the early 20th Century, but may now be aptly applied to a variety of religions and politics.  According to Merriam-Webster fundamentalism is “a movement or attitude stressing strict and literal adherence to a set […]

Obama on National Security, Text and Video, 5-21-09

We are proud of our President for being mature, honest, moral, and non partisan.  President Obama continues to do as he said he would do – he looks for practical solutions while protecting our safety and the integrity of this great nation: Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy Remarks […]

Obama’s Notre Dame Speech

Thank you, Father Jenkins for that generous introduction. You are doing an outstanding job as president of this fine institution, and your continued and courageous commitment to honest, thoughtful dialogue is an inspiration to us all. Good afternoon Father Hesburgh, Notre Dame trustees, faculty, family, friends, and the class of 2009. I am honored to […]

The Radical Right’s One Per Cent Solution

We have recently done a series of posts, with progressive concern, about the danger posed to this country by the Extreme Radical Right Wing.   What is the Radical Right Wing?  If we are to believe the media ratings companies like Nielsen – and we look at the ratings for Rush Limbaugh and Shawn Hannity – […]

Boy “Scouts Train to Fight Terrorists…”

The New York Times has a stunning article in their May 13 edition on the Explorer Boy Scout Program.  The Explorer Program has twelve specific areas of training – training youth for future careers.  Who can argue with that?  The Times is reporting on a new Explorer Program to train youth to fight terrorism and […]

New Ideas From the GOP?

Here we go.  The GOP has showcased three of their finest minds in an attempt to re-brand the old cow.  Jon Stewart is probably the best at highlighting nonsense – or perhaps he just has a great staff with good video editing capabilities.  Let’s check out the new ideas of the Republican re-branding. Check out […]

American Soldiers as Christian Evangelicals – Hunt for Jesus

No one would deny a soldier the right to faith – even if we wanted to.  Is there anything wrong with having military chaplains?  Not at all.  I have a copy of a Navy Hymnal from 1941 – and it seems to me that each solider is better off, is even a better soldier, if […]

The Concept of “Small Business” in 2009

When I was a child growing up in an Ozzie and Harriet neighborhood we had neighborhood grocery stores, hardware stores, gas stations with neighborhood mechanics, and a small bakery. All of these businesses were mom and pop operations. All were a joy to visit. There was always a friendly face and a genuine desire to help the customer. The environment of that time was one of mutual respect and support. As Joe DiMaggio might say, “Nostalgia is not what it used to be.” America has changed – and the mega corporations drive the economy.

Radical Fanatics Are A Threat To America’s Safety

There is not a nickel’s worth of difference between the Left Wing Radicals of the 1960’s and contemporary Right Wing Radical fanatics. Both groups talk of revolution. Both groups oppose the government of The United States of America. Both groups have representatives who intentionally terrorize America. Both groups are responsible for the fear and hate and divisiveness that grips our country in troubled times.

When The Bully Runs The School

Abusive bureaucrats ultimately lead to an angry, embittered, skeptical, and frustrated populace.  The current issue hitting the Supreme Court is a case where a thirteen year old girl was strip-searched by school authorities.  This is exactly the sort of case that gets all of the attention – it is great headline news – and the […]

Feral Children – Raised by Republicans

New opportunities for scientific research into nature and nurture continue to present themselves. At issue today, after thirty years of degenerate evolution of the Republican Party, is the social and intellectual skills of feral children raised by Republicans.

There are common traits now understood by anthropologists. The commonality originates in a nurturing environment of isolation, confinement, and strict conformity toharsh rule.

Warning to Readers – this post shifts from humor to very serious and graphic depictions of human behavior.

Indicting George Bush for War Crimes

This writer is convinced that our former President, George W. Bush, committed war crimes. Specifically, the President authorized torture by water boarding and other means of interrogation – in violation of the Geneva Convention. Our country is a country of law. Situational justifying the breaking of law is a common defense in the lower courts. It does not work there – and it should not work for the President. But our life is more complicated in 2009.

The Phenomenon of Modern Guns

My age is classified in the category of Senior. Does that by itself suggest anything about my understanding of modern guns? No, it does not. Just checking for any preconceived bias. By chance I have owned guns in one form or another for about 35 years. In 1976 I shot Marksman on a police combat course with a four inch stainless steel Ruger Security Six 357 Magnum. That was a mouthful, but it points out that modern guns are very different than the arms defined in the 2nd Amendment. And that was 35 years ago. Modern guns of the 21st Century are just plain scary.

Sunday Is For Religion, Tuesday Is For Politics

We obviously have a system that promotes a separation of Church and State. The week begins with Sunday at Church – then we take a day to cool off and return to a mentality of sanity, so we can go vote. Most elections are held on the first Tuesday of November or April. Church is always on Sunday, no matter which month. And that is how America works – faithfully keeping religion separate from politics.

The Big Disconnect Between Haves and Have-Nots

A really fascinating dichotomy occurs when community leaders have to go to the public for support on tax initiatives.  Our example is of a microcosm of modern America – the town of St. Joseph, Missouri.  We live in rural northwest Missouri, just outside of Punkin Center, and we watch the local economy.  The St. Joseph […]

Taxing Tobacco

Tobacco taxes our health care system with many chronic ailments. And tobacco is taxed by the government. On Wednesday, April 1, 2009, the federal tobacco tax on a pack of cigarettes will go up $.62, from $.39 to $1.01. This must surely be a good thing, right? Well, like other efforts at social engineering, it cuts two ways.

Creating Countries in Our Own Image

President Obama has upped the ante in Afghanistan. He is sending another 17,000 troops to the beleaguered nation to ‘take the fight to Al Quaeda.’ One of the criticisms of past military efforts in this erratic region of the world is in defining the mission. Well, what is the mission? It is two fold: We want to punish those who attacked our country on 911, and we want to make sure they do not attack us again.

Monetary Worth of Bush and Cheney

It seems to this writer that when George W. Bush entered the White House he had a net worth of about $21 Million.  I don’t recall ever hearing the worth of Dick Cheney.  When a public servant enters an office like President or Vice President they put their assets in a blind trust.  Someone else […]

Bernie Madoff, Adequate Sorrow, Adequate Punishment

Madoff had his day in court.  He will have more.  Madoff plead guilty to eleven felony counts of fraud – of stealing from trusting customers.  But Madoff did not just steal the jewelery like a common burglar, he took the whole house, the car, the children’s teddy bear, and the family retirement account.  In his […]

Capitalism is Stronger with a Christian Alloy

Capitalism is the iron of our economy.  Long ago men found they could melt iron ore and produce new weapons and new tools.   Iron improved the lives of everyone and would eventually launch the industrial revolution.  I have cast iron pots and pans even today.  But iron was found to be brittle and easily broken.  […]

Of Bankruptcies and Health Care

My friend, Frank, has big problems – financial problems. Like so many people today, his youth was consumed with self gratification. I remember those days – living like there is no tomorrow. Now he is fifty years old, has marginal labor skills, and the financial shock of an encounter with modern health care.