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.

Promoting the Liberal Myth

There seems to be a mythology of the liberal cause. The term ‘Liberal’ is used as a noun to describe a secret sect of devil worshipers. The implication is something like this: Liberals meet in secret places, conduct secret rituals, and are the root of the new world order meant to destroy freedom and prosperity. Liberals prefer socialism to capitalism. Liberals prefer dictators to democracy. Liberals want to reward terrorists. Liberals think Labor Unions should run businesses. They are like the Freemasons, except they are more organized and more evil.

Mortgage Conundrum – Who Deserves Help?

Last week 60 Minutes did a segment on an elderly woman who seems to be the victim of predatory lending. The bias of the program was clearly designed to support the case of the woman and to discredit the lending agency. This problem is not so simple.

Non Combat Troops – An Oxy Moron

We should take all ‘non-combat troops’ out of Iraq. That is one of the compromises proposed as a resolution to the conflict in Iraq. The suggestion is that American troops will not be dying in Iraq. That sounds pretty good to most of us. But is there such a thing as ‘non-combat troops?”

Identity Confusion

Who am I? Sounds like something Descartes might have asked – but I am not nearly so complex a creature as Descartes. There are a few things that are certain. I know I am a father and a grandfather. But those are mere biological truths (I defer here to Descartes). But the ideal of world politics, of a world community, of being an active participant in my world – leaves me a bit confused. I am just trying to figure out if I am liberal or conservative, Democrat or Republican. It seems to me that the question is most often defined in terms of economics – and sometimes in terms of culture.

Delusional Politicians, Pelosi, Boehner, Blago

These folks are really off the rail, sidetracked, stumbling over old rhetoric. I am talking about politicians who somehow think that worn out political tactics can continue to fool the public.

The most obvious is the Illinois Governor. The Illinois Senate is holding impeachment hearings for unethical practices by the Governor. The Governor, known now simply as Blago, is tooting his horn in any parade that will have him. Blago made the rounds of the New York based talking head shows – he claims he is a martyr, being nailed to the cross of injustice by local politicians who want to rape the Illinois treasury. It is only Blago who stands between the corruption of the Illinois Congress and the safety of America. Just about everyone is entertained – and not convinced.

Economic Illiteracy

Illiteracy. Generally we think of this word in terms of simple reading and writing. Some have changed the phraseology to ‘functional illiteracy.’ I suppose this means that a person knows the alphabet, can discern some words, and can perhaps sign their name. People are ‘functionally illiterate’ when their comprehension of reading impairs their ability to function in a complex society. If we apply this axiom to our economy, we might easily conclude that most of us are economically functionally illiterate.

Detainee Hypocrisy of Politicians

Sam Brownback (an appropriate name for this man) is busy covering his tracks. He is a Republican Senator from the great state of Kansas. Senator Brownback ran for President and brought the morque of the Republican candidates down about 20 points. (Morque is the scale of combined morals and IQ). Senator Brownback is in a big toot about potentially having the detainees at GITMO being moved to the Federal Prison at Leavenworth, Kansas.

Risk Adverse Politicians

The art of politics is often seen as the art of compromise, the art of the deal.  Politicians ask themselves, “How might I explain decisions made, and please 51% of the people?”  The job of the politician is viewed through two lenses – what is best for the country, and what is best for the […]