Oftentimes one person has a lasting effect on our lives. A teacher who made a difference in us. As you entered your teens that person who treated you as an adult early on. Each of us has a story. Mine was not a teacher but a butcher in a small neighborhood grocery store with a … More Looking Back, Moving Forward
How did our world, our country, get so crazy? So much turmoil and incivility finds its way to the front page of our local newspapers and TV station news daily. Is a return to “normalcy” on the horizon or just a headline or two away? Years ago, a popular song, titled “The Morning After” echoed … More The Morning After
Every 100 years or so we reclaim our decency and our constitution. Abolishing Slavery, keeping people down was most inhumane, followed by the Know Nothings dislike of Irish Catholics in the 1800’s. The 1860’s and a civil war had our government announcing that Slavery was over, all are emancipated. Stating all people are free did … More No Time To Rest, Be Wide Awake
Often, I hear or read of people moving to places like Idaho for Freedom. I have even heard some say to get away from the “occupied zone.” I assume that refers to our large urban areas with more traffic and higher costs. I understand the sentiments these attitudes convey. Idaho is a beautiful place with … More Freedom Is More Than A Word
Owning a home has long been the America dream. Has that possibility vanished? If not gone it now requires us to be older. We can buy a house as soon as we can afford one. 10 years ago, at 31 years old, you could afford to buy a house, today to have the income needed … More Housing Costs: The Blame Game
The age of Trump if there is such a time has passed him and his followers by. He is all over the media reports doing this and that with this executive order or another. Any President issuing an executive order draws attention and calls for a response. Better orders result from discussing proposals with Congress, … More The Age of Trump
Is the world changing or is it just us? Thinking back to the 1970’s I fondly recollect viewing “All in the Family” with everyone’s favorite conservative, Archie Bunker. The show would open with the song “Those were the Days.” The voices of Archie and Edith kind of singing “Girls were girls and men were men, Mister … More The Country That Never Was
The age of Trump if there is such a time has passed him and his followers by. He is in all the media reports doing this and that with this executive order or another. Any President issuing an executive order draws attention and calls for a response. Better orders result from discussing proposals with Congress, … More The Age of Trump
This article is written specifically with the State of Idaho in mind. Idaho is a state that refused to expand Medicaid after the passage of the Affordable Care Act. It was later approved using the Initiative Process and having it placed on the state ballot. Despite that approval several legislators try to repeal it or … More Medicaid Expansion Isn’t Broken
Affordable housing remains the single most significant issue facing our nation today. In prior times of high housing costs and high interest rates we created means to make affordable housing available. Providing financial assistant for a down payment helped but now the actual down payment requires a substantial amount. Various mortgage scenarios VA, FHA, Variable … More Affordable Housing Is Possible
Phil's Personal Perspectives 