I’D LIKE TO WRITE TODAY ABOUT the very definition of the words “liberal,” “progressive” and “left.” There are lots of people who would describe themselves as one or more of these, and people can, obviously, define themselves however they want; but I think a better definition of “liberal” or “progressive” might help progressives to focus […]

“From the beginning and no doubt till the end, history has been and will continue to be shrouded in Munchausen memories. Too often fact has taken a back seat to fancy.” — Milton Gross and Dan Daniel GROWING UP, WEEKENDS OFTEN MEANT a trip up to Glendora and visits with cousins Ken and Rick. One […]

FOR REASONS I WILL ATTEMPT TO EXPLAIN, I am deeply torn about what I will write on this day, five days before Christmas, that rich day of joy and celebration. It is a day with meaning extending far beyond its wonderful family gatherings and exchanges of gifts. It is a time for our fullest expressions […]

NO, NOT ABOUT EATING PEOPLE; I’m saying he was right to ask this question of Clarice Starling: “First principles, Clarice. Simplicity. Read Marcus Aurelius. ‘Of each particular thing ask: What is it in itself? What is its nature?’” The quote is from (or more accurately, inspired by) Marcus Aurelius’ “Meditations,” regarded as one of the […]

I’VE ALWAYS LOVED THE NEW TESTAMENT STORY of the miracle of the loaves and fishes. Jesus’ disciples look at a great crowd that had gathered to see Jesus, and when Jesus proposes that the crowd be fed, his disciples point out that there are five loaves of bread and a few fish, far less than […]

I OPEN WITH A HEARTRENDING PORTRAYAL AND SUMMARY of the state of the American economy as viewed from the right — and from the private corporate perspective. First, and most crucial, is the unequal struggle for survival. On the one hand we have embattled private enterprise, confronted with crippling taxation and government interference and controls. On […]

“(T)he nation is not, in fact, ‘broke.’ … So there’s no need to scramble to slash spending now now now; we can and should be willing to spend now if it will produce savings in the long run.” — Paul Krugman THE ABOVE ADVICE FROM KRUGMAN, Nobel prize winner and former economic adviser to Enron, […]

IT MAY SURPRISE SOME OF MY REGULAR READERS TO LEARN that I’m not a particular partisan for our current president. He’s preferable to any conceivable Republican currently in the bullpen, and he is a skilled communicator and crafty politician — but Barack Obama’s presidency, in my opinion, has been a big missed opportunity. Given the […]

By Dennis Lund You know my heart keeps tellin’ me You’re not a kid at thirty-three You play around you lose your wife, You play too long, you lose your life Some gotta win, some gotta lose Good Time Charlie’s got the blues — Danny O’Keefe CHARLIE MANSON’S NAME, WHICH UNFORTUNATELY CONTINUES TO COME UP PERIODICALLY, […]