Important Note:
Opinions are fun. My friends tell me I am someone with lots of opinions and that's fine since I don't get mad at others when they disagree with me. In this same spirit I am interested in hearing yours views as long as you are able to share your views without boiling over. I look forward to hearing from you. I tend to write in the form of short essays most of the time, but contributions do not need to be in this same format or size. Some of the content here will date itself pretty quickly, other content may be virtually timeless, this is for the reader to judge.
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A good sandwich and a ballot
Posted at: Jan/08/2013 : Posted by: mel
Related Category: Politics & Gov, Watching America,
I still remember the day well. During a cold January morning, the intercom in my high school chemistry class while sparking static requested that my teacher send me to the front office. Without hesitation my teacher pointed a finger at me and told me to get going. Not being unfamiliar with trouble, there was the usual array of sarcastic comments such as “what did you do this time” as I weaved b.....read more…
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What happened to Government?
Posted at: Dec/03/2012 : Posted by: mel
In these days of capitol gridlock, never-ending filibusters, budget deficits and fiscal cliffs I am frustrated by what appears to be the total dysfunction of our elected officials. It seems clear that the Senate, the House of Representatives and the President don’t seem able to sit down and agree to anything except that they disagree. I am not one who dwells in the past with rose colored memorie.....read more…
What’s the big deal with polls?
Posted at: Nov/06/2012 : Posted by: mel
It is election season 2012 and it is virtually impossible to turn on the TV, the radio, look at a blog or new site and not be barraged by polls. Me, I love numbers so it is hard for me to tune out what is being reported. Nevertheless, the more I pay attention, the less I feel any of it makes any sense. Do polls report the leanings of society? Do polls really influence candidates? Are polls se.....read more…
What makes a ‘great president’?
Related Category: Historical Insights, Politics & Gov, Watching America,
As today is Election Day 2012, it seems only fitting to ask this question. We have all grown up being taught that “anybody can grow up to be President.” Despite these motivational words to our children, I’m not entirely sure it is true. It clearly takes a person who is smart, tough and driven just to campaign for the office. Once in the Oval Office, the pressures of the job take over. We have.....read more…
Do Politicians live on a different planet?
Posted at: Jun/28/2012 : Posted by: mel
There have been a lot of articles recently discussing the wealth of those we elect to Congress. As we continue to mire in recession, this becomes an important issue. Our Congress is intended to be a “representative body”; between their accumulated wealth and their acquired benefits many of our elected officials appear to have less and less in common with the citizens they are charged with repres.....read more…
The Tea Party, Constitution and a Case of Heartburn
Posted at: Oct/01/2011 : Posted by: mel
Related Category: Perspectives, Politics & Gov, Watching America,
The other night, after having far too nice a dinner, I awoke at 2:00 AM with a serious case of heartburn. I love going for beer and a burger with friends, but this is almost always the outcome. A meal like that never used to be a problem for me 25 years ago. Initially I tried channel surfing in the idle hope of finding a distraction to my discomfort. The weight loss infomercials did not captu.....read more…
How Broken Can Things Get?
Posted at: Aug/22/2011 : Posted by: mel
I know, it’s the summer of 2011 and things look pretty bleak. European debt problems for many countries seem insurmountable. China is continuing to hold back their currency keeping their labor cost artificially low. American unemployment continues to remain high with no relief in sight. Wall Street, the equity side of our economy, is behaving more like one of those county fair rides that are i.....read more…
Maybe we should be spending?
Posted at: Jul/11/2011 : Posted by: mel
Related Category: Economics, Politics & Gov,
I can’t begin to guess the number of times I have channel surfed in recent months only be barraged by either “You can’t spend your way out of a recession”, or “you can’t borrow your way out of debt.” In our modern era of rapid fire media, both lines make excellent “sound bites”, but I am beginning to question how relevant either line is despite being very clever. The more I ponder this, the more.....read more…
What do you want from Government?
Posted at: May/12/2011 : Posted by: mel
Related Category: Perspectives, Politics & Gov,
Ultimately, as we debate the issues of our national budget, debt, deficit, what we are really saying is “what do you want from government?” All of us as we look at our personal budgets weigh the difference between our desires and our limited financial resources to make choices. Some of our choices are easy, eat out less often, skip the European vacation, etc. Some of the choices are harder, rep.....read more…
What did the US Census Count?
Posted at: Apr/04/2011 : Posted by: Mel
Related Category: Politics & Gov,
In 2010 under the direction of congress a census was conducted in America. This is an event that recurs every 10 years as described in the U.S. Constitution. This is specified in Article-1, Section 2 of the Constitution as written in 1790. The census is further defined in the fourteenth Amendment which was ratified in 1868. The U.S. census as inserted into the constitution in 1790 was not a new.....read more…
