Who should get the Bailout?
During the financial crisis of 2008, Wall Street banks received massive taxpayer subsidies to stay afloat. They were “too big to fail,” a policy based on the belief that these companies, if they folded,… Read More
Life & Politics Blog
Our Lives are full of Decisions
There it sits, huge, bright and shining, consuming the landscape like the sun rising over a distant horizon. It glares at me, a decision to be made, one too long deferred. The familiarity of… Read More
Whom shall we mourn?
There was recently a tragic event that took the life of a venerable citizen of our country. Kobe Bryant, a beloved basketball icon and an individual who tried to give back to his community.… Read More
Musings on a year gone by
I suppose it is inevitable that as a new year approaches, we would undertake a retrospective of the one gone by. However, in reality the difference between January 1st and any other day of… Read More
New Family Traditions
Our Thanksgivings have been changing. This year was a milestone. My parents are deceased, as are Barb’s. Neither of us is from this area. We have a blended family with five kids. They are… Read More
Do We have a Mental Health Crisis?
I have recently watched an email thread among my West Point classmates discussing the suicide epidemic among veterans, particularly combat vets. Why do so many people appear to have mental impairments? Moreover, why do current conditions seem… Read More
What is more important, the Message or the Messenger?
Our understanding of politics is muddled by confusion between policy and image, between the message and the messenger. In today’s debates, one side despises the President because he is a repugnant human being and… Read More
What do we do with the Homeless
Several weeks ago, while sitting outside at a local downtown restaurant, we observed a man stumbling down the street. His course veered off towards the benches in the median and with a blood-curdling “thump”… Read More
Stupidity has its own rewards
“Could-a. Should-a. Would-a.” The mantra of someone who just screwed-up. My mantra over the weekend. I could have worn a pair of hiking shorts with deeper pockets. I should have left the other keys… Read More
Who should pay the bill for bad decisions?
It is time for a serious discussion about personal responsibility. At this point, I will warn the reader that some of my commentary may seem insensitive, but we need to to address the problem.… Read More
