Well, the conventions have come and gone, and at least one of them went pretty much as expected, pretty much as conventions always do now. For the most part, the conventions have become highly scripted, choreographed, and controlled; little more...
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The American Work Ethic and Neo-Slavery (Part Two)
The human condition is at it's heart a balancing act. We are essentially animals, and as such we have needs and drives that are powerful motivators of our behavior. Yet beyond these animal impulses there exists at our core a rational,...
The American Work Ethic and Neo-Slavery (Part One)
You will forgive me if I don't address the "gaffe du jour", whether it be Todd Akin's bumbling regarding "legitimate rape", or Joe Biden's vocal equivalent of blackface as he warned of the Republicans putting "y'all back in chains",...
Ryan’s Week
Just over a week ago Mitt Romney surprised everyone by naming Paul Ryan as his choice for a running mate. The pick was a surprise on a few levels. It was early. Veep choices usually come just a few days before the...
The Consent of the Governed
The Declaration of Independence speaks of certain unalienable rights that are endowed to all men by their Creator, among these being Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. The next line explains the founders' understanding of the purpose of Government,...
Killing John Wayne
As a sophomore in college at USC the iconic actor John Wayne, then known by his real name, Marion Morrison, or his preferred childhood nickname, "Duke", was a self-described socialist. This political persuasion did not last for long, and before leaving...
…Somebody Else Made That Happen
It is the hallmark of great men that they are intellectually considerate of thoughts beyond the realm of their own limited minds. Likewise, their study of history is unconstrained within the short span of their own brief lifetimes. The small minded...
Big Government is Too Small, The Lesson of The Bonsai
The art of Bonsai has always fascinated me. It is said to have developed when men noticed tiny replicas of full grown trees growing on cliff sides, and reasoned that the harsh conditions of falling stones clipping branches caused the trees...
Echoes of Pyrrhus
The Greek general Pyrrhus had just won a bloody victory over the Romans at the battle of Asculum in 279 B.C. Upon being congratulated for his victory, the seasoned general commented, "One more such victory, and we shall be undone!". From this...