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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Guns, Violence and Common Sense
Posted at: Apr/18/2013 : Posted by: mel
Related Category: Common Sense, Politics & Gov, Society, The Law, Watching America,
Nothing creates a passionate outcry faster and louder than the killing of children. From the Columbine High School massacre in April of 1999, to Sandy Hook Elementary School in December of 2012; these are tragedies of the first order. We are instantly stirred to fervently ask “what can we do to prevent this from ever happening again.” In the wake of this tragedy, lots of things are getting blame.....read more…
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Carnage, Courage and Choice
Related Category: People, Society, Watching America,
On April 15, 2013 a tragedy occurred on Boylston Street in Boston. Roughly 27,000 runners participated in the 2013 running of the Boston Marathon. As one of the most prestigious marathons in the world, runners participate from across the globe. For an event of this caliber, the fastest runners will cross the finish line in roughly 2 hours and 20 minutes with an average pace of 5-1/2 minutes.....read more…
Where to pin a medal?
Posted at: Mar/21/2013 : Posted by: mel
Related Category: Perspectives, Politics & Gov, Watching America,
In case you had not heard, one of the last acts by outgoing U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta was the announcement of the creation of a new medal now available to members of our armed services. To be eligible for this award, military service members must have done something significant while operating drones or launching cyber-attacks against our enemies. This new medal is called the “Distingu.....read more…
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…
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…
There are too many people in Jail!
Posted at: Aug/15/2012 : Posted by: mel
Related Category: Society, Watching America,
The United States leads the world at incarcerating its own people. As a percentage, we lock up more of our own citizens than any other country on earth. This growing population includes an increasing number of nonviolent inmates for longer and longer sentences. As budgets become tighter and tighter, federal, state and local programs including education are forces to sustain more cuts to keep al.....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…
What makes America Great?
Posted at: May/17/2012 : Posted by: mel
Related Category: Historical Insights, Perspectives, Watching America,
I know, this question has been asked and answered by thousands before me. Nevertheless, I have felt compelled and challenged to write this since I started writing two years ago. This has been confusing for me because every time I felt I knew the answer, I quickly followed that thought with doubt after being dragged in a new direction I did not anticipate. I have a different tact I am going to t.....read more…
