Malign Neglect or Depraved Indifference?
On September 22, the United States recorded its 200,000th death from Covid19. Since then, the death rate has accelerated so that in eight short weeks another 50,000 men, women and some children have died. At this rate–and we have no reason to assume that it will decelerate–by Inauguration Day, January 20, 2021, we will have…
Read MoreWhat’s on the Ballot?
This will be the last time I bother you before the election. I trust everyone has voted or has a plan for voting. Without fear of exaggeration, I think we all realize that this really is the most important election of our lifetimes. For the first time in our lives in this election we are…
Read MoreHigh Anxiety
Some years ago, in a moment of dark humor, I blamed Jerry Springer for the profusion of violent “reality” shows on television. I was convinced, among other things, that the increased use of coarse language could be traced back to him. Words like “asshole” and “pissed off” started occurring with some frequency on television dramas…
Read MoreComing Out of the Shadows
I haven’t written for a while because, like many of you I suspect, I’m feeling overwhelmed by events. Simply too much is going on to stay on top of it even if I attempted to write every day which would be an imposition on you (assuming you read what I write) and a burden for…
Read MoreYou Are Not Alone
Once upon a time we had leaders who found ways to inspire us rather than denigrate various parts of our population and warn us that we were going to be overrun by evildoers if we didn’t let the powers that be work their will. Ordinarily, we might count on the good sense of the American…
Read MoreOne Strike and You’re Out?
Something is going on in America. The thought posse is out, scouring the countryside for wrong thinking. It’s the French Revolution all over again with all kinds of Madame and Monsieur Defarges, on high alert for anyone who says or thinks the wrong thing. Never mind “I disagree with what you’re saying, but I’ll defend…
Read MoreNow Is the Time
One recent afternoon, while messing around in the kitchen, I watched a Grade C movie—The Phenix Story. It’s about John Patterson, who ran for Alabama attorney general after his father is murdered by a criminal syndicate operating in Phenix City. Patterson and his father are intent on ridding Phenix City and Alabama of corruption. Patterson…
Read MoreOn Wearing a Mask
Without a doubt, wearing a mask is inconvenient, uncomfortable and often annoying. As a matter of public health and safety, however, experts agree that covering one’s face when in the company of others will help contain and diminish the spread of the coronavirus. There’s more at stake here, however, than public health. Some significant…
Read MoreRace Matters
A friend asked me recently if I ever wrote about anything other than Donald Trump. The short answer is no, I’d like to, but it’s hard to get around him to write about anything else. Sooner or later he manages to make everything, every story, every incident, about himself. Now, speaking of Donald Trump, the…
Read MoreObamagate—A Reality Check
Before this nonsense gets too far along, let’s get one thing perfectly clear: Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn (USA, Ret.) admitted under oath—twice—that he lied to the FBI, a federal offense. He lied about a conversation he had before assuming office as national security advisor in which he reportedly told the Russian ambassador to the United…
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