Politics and Government Archives - Page 14 of 33

Revisiting An Old American Curse/Blessing

By Bill Clontz October 11, 2021 October 12, 2021 1 Comment

Getting Individual vs Community Balance Has Always Been Tough – Now We Seem Lost

Schools of American Thought

America has an interesting, to put it mildly, mix of philosophies about how we relate to each other, the country, and to ourselves as individuals. As we cruise deeply into the 21st Century the two main approaches to such relationships seem in sharp contrast, contributing to much of the current social and political tension.

Terms like Rugged Individualism, Natural Law, and Community Responsibility are wielded like shields – or as swords. Let’s take a relook at our approach to each other as a nation.

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Go Big or Go Home

By Bill Clontz September 27, 2021 September 28, 2021 Leave a Comment

Many Key Decisions are Coming due NOW at the Same Time.
The Results Will Shape America Beyond Our Imagination

What a Calendar We Have Over the Next Few Weeks

We all know of periods in history wherein big decisions came due, and consequences followed. But I personally cannot remember a time when so many were coming up in so short a time. This is not the complete list, but the big items at least. They come in three categories:

Legally and Legislatively Mandated for the Next Few Weeks

Funding Government Operations
Extending the National Debt Ceiling
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill
The Advanced Infrastructure Bill

Immeasurably important to the Kind of Country We Would Be

Voting Access and Rights Legislation
National Police Reform (likely already dead,

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California Dreaming

By Bill Clontz September 18, 2021 September 24, 2021 Leave a Comment

The Badly Failed Gubernatorial Recall Brings Wider – But Not Too Wide-Lessons

Ah, California

Like my earlier post on Texas, California is not unknown to me. I have lived there twice, have relatives that have lived there and have done business there. It really is a place apart in so many ways. It often is a trendsetter; what happens there eventually spreads around the country. It is big enough, in population, culture, and economics, to carry real weight. So, we pay attention to California as something of a harbinger of our future.

Not to mention that all sourdough bread I have had since leaving California is a pale imitation of the good stuff.

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Texas- Something in the Drinking Water?

By Bill Clontz September 18, 2021 September 21, 2021 5 Comments

The Lone Star State Has Driven Off the Edge of Rationality

Texas is Not Unfamiliar Territory to Me

I wanted to note at the outset of this post that Texas is not unfamiliar territory to me. I lived there for about a year some time ago, in a pretty rural area in the central part of the state. In the years since, I have had business dealings and travel through the state on several occasions. I have had friends who live there, including some more recent transplants and long time, native residents. So,

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If I Were King for a Day

By Bill Clontz August 21, 2021 August 31, 2021 9 Comments

A Short List of Things to Make the World a Better Place- In My Humble Opinion

Ever Play “King for a Day?”

We all did this as kids. Let’s do a grown-up version. If I were granted the power to do anything, including some fanciful things, this is my short To-Do list of a dozen items as it stands today. Enjoy!

Physiology

An Engine Check Light for People– We are far enough along in science and medicine now that we should have one of those all-purpose trouble lights just like in our cars.

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A Few Words About Afghanistan

By Bill Clontz August 21, 2021 August 27, 2021 11 Comments

Events Like This are Big on the Human and the Historical Scale. Here, A Few Personal Notes

Everyone Is an Expert – NOT

It did not take long for the chorus of “I knew this was coming” to sing in full voice. In fact, a lot of what transpired certainly was predictable, but not all of it. I am, shall we say, a bit doubtful about all the Monday morning wisdom now in print and on the airways.

Similarly, I am less than impressed with all the “wisdom” of those who get the dynamics of history but are not actually burdened with decision making,

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Next Round in the Contest!

By Bill Clontz August 18, 2021 August 20, 2021 Leave a Comment

Up for Today: Social Democracy/Democratic Socialism

Part Three of a Four-Part Series on Choosing a Socio-Economic System for America

First, A Note on Afghanistan

Several people have asked me if this space will address what has happened in Afghanistan. The answer is yes, but not just yet. This one has a couple of personal connections for me, and I am going to take a little time sorting them out.

In addition, there is a lot of information coming in – some of it dubious. Some of it important – that also needs to settle out.

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Let the Contest Continue!

By Bill Clontz August 15, 2021 August 17, 2021 Leave a Comment

Next Contestant: Socialism

Part of a Four-Part Series on Choosing a Socio-Economic System for America

Ah, Socialism. The One People Love or Hate – And Seldom Understand

We started this little review and exploration of systems with capitalism. This time around let’s take a quick look at socialism. No one has any strong feelings about this one, do they? Oh, well, OK– maybe we do.

Remember our analogy for evaluating these systems- this is a bit like buying an automobile. Socio-economic systems carry a lot of the same characteristics we look for in automobiles.

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