Succinct Guide
A SUCCINCT GUIDE? TO UNDERSTANDING? THE CAMPUS PROTESTS To stay sane (it’s a relative concept), I needed to write something. So I slipped on my sarcasm shirt (given me by a friend) and let loose. To say that I am thoroughly depressed — by the absence of civil debate, by the boisterous few (another relative […]
Gun Reform and the Legal Liability Ledger
This essay has three components. The first is a list of gun reform suggestions from the best article I have read on the subject. The second is an extended discussion about legal liability. The latter includes both commentary on specific gun decisions and the growth in liability decisions elsewhere that are establishing new legal ground […]
Four Corners
At a certain stage in life, even as you might attempt to swallow the phrase, it will slip from your mouth: “back in the day” – and your conversational partner will immediately recognize that a walk down memory lane is about to commence. They may smile politely, perhaps stifling a grimace in the process, or […]
Batteries Not Included
Ah yes, the existential question: who am I? And its accompaniment: why am I here? Resolving the second question will require a different essay and the finest effort of the newly formed AI community. One can envision an ultra-fast search for answers that will take us factually back to our very origins and philosophically through […]
A Short History Primer
Once upon a time, we had slavery. It was an excellent business strategy because it drastically reduced labor costs, thereby increasing profits. Once upon a time, women could not vote. Another excellent idea as they could then focus their energies on making babies and putting a good hot meal in front of their families. Once […]
Gun Survey Response Data
This survey of twenty questions created by the author was sent to 63 people, of whom 28 responded. Some chose more than one answer. Some struggled with understanding whether their response was about “what is” or “what should be.” The instructions could have been clearer. Results are being posted on my blog and being sent […]
A few steps toward Reform
Thoughts from a Layman Publications which inform my daily reading, in hard copy if the truth be told, are the “Wall Street Journal” and the “New York Times.” I hereby request forgiveness for not littering everything below with footnotes; besides, an occasional thought is unique to the undersigned. Weaving every discussion item into a logical […]
Immigration Reform
Prior to a few days ago, I would have suggested that if you wanted to have your head hurt about the complexities of immigration, reading the schematic and article, “How to Fix America’s Immigration Crisis,” by Steven Rattner and Maureen White in the “New York Times” of January 14, 2024 was perfect. Briefly there was […]
College Bills
There is much discussion these days about why people are turned off by college. Perhaps it is cost, debt, and uncertain job prospects. While agreeing with the essential criticism of the business known as higher education, hopefully in this period of deeper analysis of both conventional routes and alternative pathways to a career, the baby […]
UBI: A Brief Update
Like Churchill’s description of democracy, maybe a UBI is a terrible idea, but better than the others. INTRODUCTION A few years ago, after reading a book with a catchy title, “Basic Income,” I became intrigued with the ’concept of a Universal Basic Income (UBI) program. Subsequently I organized a small group discussion that focused on […]