If we have learned anything, it should be to be a learner, not a scholar. I respect scholars and appreciate their writings. Those who help us to better understand our world are essential. It is understanding why things, good or bad, happen that enables us to become better citizens in our Democracy. Understanding why different … More Winning Without Money
Government agents cannot shoot citizens dead on our streets for taking an IPhone video of their actions. Peaceful protests are allowed in our country in fact throughout our history such protests have been encouraged. Has government decided that the solution is in the use of physical force? Are these tactics acceptable? Have we changed as … More Wisdom Is Lacking
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
Much is written about election integrity. Since 2015 we have been advised that our election system is rigged. This is despite many court cases, reviews by Republicans and Democrats, attorneys, and judges, etc., all attesting to the integrity of our election process. If we do not accept that, then that is our problem and may not be a problem with … More An Expandable Table
I honestly never thought Donald Trump would be re-elected. His life history was so demeaning of others and his non political activities I thought disqualified him in the eyes of many. My expectations were not realized. His actions since being elected have been simply crazy in my opinion. His aligning with Elon Musk along with … More Where have our leaders gone?
Several years ago around July 4th I was visiting Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Sitting at Independence Point enjoying the view a man comes up on an electric three wheel scooter called a roundabout not the ones we see today. He wore a light jacket with a Vietnam War reference on it. Judging by his age he … More Arlington Matters
Wars often have an accidental beginning. History demonstrates this to us. Do our leaders acknowledge that? In my earlier days perhaps motivated by self interest I studied the US entry, as a nation, into the Vietnam conflict. Did our leaders actually visualize a monolithic communism, comprised of various countries, spreading their unified tentacles across the … More Containment Forgotten/Accidental Wars
A couple of friends asked if I would join them to watch the movie “Boys in the Boat.” Having spent most of my life on the East Coast, this movie was not particularly significant to me. Now, residing in the Pacific Northwest its importance in this region became obvious. In 1936 in this part of … More Winning The Race, Losing The Gold
Grumbling about federal control of local lands is nothing new. Understanding how the federal government came into possession of land does matter. The US government owns about half of western lands. This is partly due to the fact that much of the territory in the western United States is either mountainous or dry and infertile … More Public Lands for Profit or Public?
Phil's Personal Perspectives 