“If you do not have economic freedom, you are not free.” This is not my quote, but came from a gathering I attended some years ago. I do not remember who said it, but it has stuck with me for many years, — decades in fact. I was reminded of it, again, when reading Proverbs […]
The Barbary Wars of the early 1800s were America’s first encounter with Islam. Barbary corsairs and crews were engaged in the capture of merchant ships off the Barbary Coast. This not only involved the capture of ships and property, but also the taking of crew members for ransom and slave trade. The North African Ottoman […]
Having grown-up in the 50’s, 60’s, and early 70’s, I was the product of the times, and can say beyond a shadow of a doubt, — that I was a self-absorbed idiot, — pretty much a pleasure seeker wondering aimlessly through life, — a harmless fun-loving guy. A mental diet of TV, sports, pop music, […]
“The most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth to it whomever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men —.” I have pointed out to friends on more than one occasion that the basest of men/women will rule over us. Politics can attract the worst and corrupt the best. […]
“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrant shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.” That […]
I picked out a submarine sandwich from the deli along with a pint of whipping cream and rushed to the checkout. The cashier rang up $11 for the two items. She glanced at me and said, “Isn’t that awful? Eleven dollars for that!” To which I responded, “I remember getting a dime from my Dad, […]
Contracting is very competitive. There was a rather humorous expression in the business that echoed in my head when bids were announced and projects awarded. It went something like this, “Contracting is the only business where the winner is the loser.” If one were a smart operator, this was not true, of course. But, it […]
While talking to people on the opposite end of the political spectrum, I am constantly reminded that we think of “liberty” in two different ways. It is the reason that we seldom agree on public policy issues or initiatives before us. Here are a few examples. Where Christians view faith as liberation through surrender, restraint […]
“Do you want the blue pill or the red pill?” This was the question posed by Morpheus to Neo in the hit movie, The Matrix. The blue pill would leave Neo in the illusion, that is his life, — while the red pill would suspend the illusion, revealing the reality of his existence. Neo is […]
The experiences of my youth have molded me into a fiscal conservative. Though no man is an island, there had been a number of times in life where the only thing that could be counted on was my own entrepreneurship, ingenuity, and effort. Thank God I live in a country that gave me the freedom […]
There are times when things just do not add up. When they don’t, you try and get answers. When you receive non-answers, — in other words, answers to questions you did not ask, — as your original concerns remain unanswered, — that is a real head scratcher. I wrote my Congressional Representative a number of times […]
This past month, the President of the University of Missouri, Tim Wolfe, resigned. Also, Chancellor, R. Bowen Lofting, announced his intentions to step down at the end of the year. This, after students protested “racism” on campus. National Public Radio (NPR) reported that students regarded it as a “surprising David-and-Goliath-type victory”. Are they kidding! It […]