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On the Role of Government

It's been a while since the last time I posted, and a lot has happened that was worthy of a post. The number of things I never thought would be acceptable in politics but now seem to happen on a daily basis is mind-boggling, and worse, they have a numbing effect. My biggest fear is how we're dropping our bar as a nation and getting used to this new "junior high" governing style. So I took time off from the blog, as I often do when I feel myself falling into a more tribal state. Now here I am again to extend a hand to anyone willing to read with an open mind, and since there are many people more qualified than I am to dissect the pros and cons of legislation, I will not focus on that. What I want to write about is something that doesn't require you to be a scholar or an expert and that is human decency, ethics, leadership and all the ancient bits that are at the heart of politics. Let's call this Politics 101. I actually hold politics in high regard and conside...
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The Germans 1933-45

Each act, each occasion, is worse than the last, but only a little worse. You wait for the next and the next. You wait for one great shocking occasion, thinking that others, when such a shock comes, will join with you in resisting somehow. You don’t want to act, or even talk alone; you don’t want to “go out of your way to make trouble.” Why not?—Well, you are not in the habit of doing it. And it is not just fear, fear of standing alone, that restrains you; it is also genuine uncertainty. Uncertainty is a very important factor, and, instead of decreasing as time goes on, it grows. Outside, in the streets, in the general community, “everyone” is happy. One hears no protest, and certainly sees none. You speak privately to your colleagues, some of whom certainly feel as you do; but what do they say? They say, “It’s not so bad” or “You’re seeing things” or “You’re an alarmist.” And you are an alarmist. You are saying that this must lead to this, and you can’t prove it. These are the beginni...
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American Values

American values are of a universal nature. Our belief in a right to individual freedom and our commitment to justice, the pursuit of happiness, and equality are the values that comprise the fabric of our nation. These values have found fertile ground in the minds of everyone who dreams of a better world for everyone. We share in common this spirit of progress and reason, which compels us to protect those who are most vulnerable, and it is also in this spirit that we must continue to move forward into the future. Some have forgotten this simple lesson. They are suspicious of anyone who does not look like them and assert that the beliefs of certain people are not compatible with American values. The values of this country are not found in how we dress, what we look like, our faith, or how we speak. The values of our country are found in our treatment of each other. They're reflected in our willingness to accept that even though we may not always agree with each other, as long as we ...
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