Today, I read two things in the “Opinion” section of the Waterloo Courier that reinforced a concern that I’ve had for quite awhile now. That concern regards a fundamental misunderstanding that many Americans have as to the nature of our Republic (a representative democracy), and that misunderstanding is corroding our nation. A columnist wrote: “People are…
The Wrong Direction
If you’re a political speechwriter the easiest thing to write for your candidate to say is, “I don’t like the direction America is heading.” It’s a chestnut we hear every election cycle because a lot of people never seem to like the way we’re heading. It’s what candidates generally say when they’re running against a…
“My name is Oil”
I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: “I don’t hate oil. I don’t hate Big Oil and the contribution that industry has made to our economy, and for the jobs that continue to be created. What I don’t like are dangerous emissions and hazards from the procurement, processing and burning of oil.” The…
Run, Gary, Run!
I’ve been running for office for 9 days now. What have I learned….? I’ve learned that everyone knows what you need to do to win. I’ve learned that county central committees don’t call each other to determine if they overlap. I’ve learned that being a candidate means that, sadly, you can no longer write a…
The Stick
My father was a child of the Great Depression. He grew up in a family with 7 children in an abandoned caboose with no electricity or plumbing. He had only had one pair of overalls and ratty old shoes to wear to school every day. It was, after all, the Depression and everyone was poor in…
Have a Koch and a Smile!
Republicans have voted against Obama’s jobs bill…voted against a Consumer Financial Protection Agency to curb the fraudulent practices that contributed to the recession…voted against a bi-partisan budget…voted against ending tax breaks that did nothing but line the pockets of Big Oil…they voted against the “Buffet Rule” that would essentially lower marginal tax rates but also…
The Pursuit of Truthiness
It’s not easy to find the truth. Even when you do research by looking for unbiased views to form a clearer perspective, the information available, although vast, can be based on conflicting analysis, points of view and political influence. The other day someone mentioned to me as we talked about the financial situation in…
Follow me! I know a shortcut!
Shortcuts. We all take them. If there is a shorter, faster way to get to our destination why wouldn’t we take it? We don’t get into a car to maximize the time we spend in cars; we want to minimize our time getting to the destination. Even when our cars are comfortable and have the…
The Bridge From Selma
Today marks the 50th anniversary of “Bloody Sunday,” the violent assault at the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma on marchers protesting black voter suppression. I don’t need to use hyperbole here, nor is this a liberal-biased perspective; history, through its black and white lens, reveals clearly the systemic racism that led African-Americans to march for their right to…
An Empty Bag To Stand Upright
The assertion is often made that entitlements, which are, of course, taken from our taxes, “enable” poverty and that perpetuating circumstance is the goal of liberals. To counteract this cycle, many people propose that we (tax payers) take a position to inspire the poor to better themselves, because taking responsibility for their plight and hard…