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John Livingston

Virtue vs a Cycle of Oppression

Does it seem to anybody else that we are being ruled by a group of people who no matter how one measures their “virtue” they are weak and not very accomplished in their own right? Back in the second century BCE the Greek military hero and Roman historian Polybius, wrote about. The “Kyklos”—cycle of governance. […]

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John Livingston

Pragmatism in Defense of Liberty is No Vice

I haven’t seen so many Democrats this mad (and scared) since the Republicans freed the slaves. I haven’t seen so many people hate a President like the various progressive and RINO factions in our country today hate Donald Trump, since the Democrats, Peace Democrats, and Copperheads expressed their hate for Abraham Lincoln from 1858 until […]

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John Livingston

My Doctor, My Lawyer

I was involved in a litigation conference several days ago. My entire adult professional life was in the world of operating rooms and intensive care units. Sitting in a room with attorneys and the various parties involved in litigation is something that is part of their everyday lives, but the process is almost surreal from […]

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John Livingston

Happy Easter

Today I am writing on Palm Sunday. For followers of Jesus the events from Jesus triumphant entry on a Donkey into Jerusalem until his ascension into Heaven forty days after his resurrection are the essence of our Christian faith. If there was no resurrection, the whole story was a hoax. If there was not an […]

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John Livingston

It’s All Connected

Christians and those who follow traditional Hebrew theology understand very basic principles. God made us. God made us in His image. We cannot change the form or spirit in which He made us. To think otherwise would be to put ourselves above God and put us at odds with His Will. I spent the last […]

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John Livingston

‘The People’s Business’?

I have tremendous respect for people who expose themselves and their families to the rigors of a political campaign and the sacrifices that are made while serving in the legislature, or as a government appointee. Putting their ideas and political philosophies on the line takes political courage. I am more often than I wish left […]

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John Livingston

Idaho’s Hospitals – Audits Yes – Unions No

Why do we continue to listen to “experts” who have continually proven to be wrong in their predictions and prognostications? Last week I wrote that “bigger is not better” in many cases. How often have the “experts” in the fields of medical education and public health missed the mark over the past 10 years? The […]

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John Livingston

Political Truth and Consequences?

I again have not seen Democrats so mad at those who disagree with them since Republicans freed the slaves! Think about what has been revealed to us over the past week because Republicans finally have control over the House of Representatives. In testimony before two Congressional Committees yesterday: When Chuck Schumer and Mitch McConnell joined […]

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John Livingston

Bigger is Not Always Better

Everything is getting bigger. In my profession, the doctor-patient relationship has been all but destroyed by “vertical and horizontal integration” with hospital systems buying up medical practices and then employing physicians and physician assistants and nurse practitioners. Then the hospital systems are bought up by insurance companies or vice versa, and then the mega company […]

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John Livingston

My COPY BOOK Memories and Realities

Growing up I had trouble learning to write. Dyslexia is a gift and a curse. My Quaker grandmother came to the rescue with a discipline that many people today have never heard about. She gave me a “Copy Book” when I was still in kindergarten and insisted that I write in it every day. My […]

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John Livingston

What Would Jesus Say about today’s Politics?

Jesus was a politician but not the type of politician we think about today. Politicians, Kings, Emperors, dictators, and tyrants all leverage the power they have at their disposal to promote themselves and preserve their own personal paths to political ascendency. Jesus rarely weighed in on political issues except to attack political and economic systems […]

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John Livingston

A Mob of Mangy Meritless Mooches

A new phrase in the lexicon of political commentary was introduced by Andy Kessler in the March 5th, 2023, Wall Street Journal that I hope I never forget. In an article entitled THE RISE OF KICKBACK CAPITALISM he states that “we have entered an era that has created a mob of mangy meritless mooches”. Technically […]

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