Author Archives: RF_Alum

AARP Opposition to Changes in Social Security

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The AARP organization is asking for people to sign a petition addressed to President Obama and their representatives in Congress to not change the way the cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) are made for Social Security. President Obama has said he would be willing to accept using what is called the “chained” consumer price index to calculate the COLAs in the future.

cpi-basketI’ve read a few descriptions of why the COLAs should be changed. One is that retired people don’t have some of the expenses involved in standard inflation calculation. For example, retired people typically aren’t looking for a new home, so an increase in the price of housing doesn’t need to be used to calculate their new benefit. Another reason is that people can shop around and buy a less expensive substitute. An AARP explanation of chained CPI gives the example that if beef prices go up people can buy more chicken.   Continue reading →

The Lord Willing and the Creeks Don’t Rise

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This is another folksy expression in the book “The Bean Trees” by Barbara Kingsolver. There are some disagreements whether the expression is about the Creek Indians or whether it is about the more mundane level of water in the creeks. My Missouri relatives used the term “crick” instead of creek, so I go with the reference that says the saying referred to flooding and not the Creek Indians.

Killing or Capturing bin Laden

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An article in the October 2012 edition of the ABA Journal titled “Detention Dilemma” describes legal problems created by continuing to hold detainees at the Guantanamo Bay detention facility in Cuba. One very interesting part of the article is an argument whether “…the balance between gaining detainee intelligence and the high cost of defending detention decisions has precipitated a shift away from detentions and toward targeted killings.” The article then says, “Taking the judge at her word–that the high court hinted at the need for more killings–would be profoundly unsettling.”

The official policy seems to have accepted the “hint” given by the high court. We are killing terrorists with drones instead of trying to capturing them. Another point for that argument is given by the accounts of the night bin Laden was killed. Those accounts lead me to believe there was no intention of taking him captive. He was said to have been killed when he raised a hand and his rifle was nearby. Continue reading →

I Swan

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This expression is used several times in the best-selling book “The Bean Trees” by Barbara Kingsolver. I had forgotten the expression, although I heard it many times from my Missouri female relatives as a kid. The Phrase Finder explains that it is either a euphemism for “I swear,” or a derivation of a northern England phrase from the 1800s “Is’ wan,” or literally “I shall warrant” or “I’ll be bound.”

Carbon Dioxide Solubility in the Oceans

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Al Gore is shown marching in front of a large graph showing atmospheric temperature and levels of carbon dioxide in the movie “An Inconvenient Truth.” He smiles and observes that the two lines look related. He proposes that carbon dioxide from burning hydrocarbons has caused the small amount of warming over the last century. Those who don’t believe man is the cause of this warming are called “deniers” who ignore the scientific facts. I proudly accept the name “denier,” but point out that I do not deny nor ignore the scientific facts. What Mr. Gore neglects to mention is that the warming shown by the graphs occurs decades before the carbon dioxide levels increase. The warming therefore could not have been caused by increases in atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide since the warming comes first. Mr. Gore has to deny the scientific facts to defend his theory.   Continue reading →

The Forgotten Man

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forgotten-manThis book by Amity Shales sparked significant controversy. There was praise from Conservatives and attacks from Liberals and Progressives. Conservatives have believed that Roosevelt’s policies extended the Great Depression and the Progressives believe he saved the country. I find the arguments to be misplaced. My family considered themselves Roosevelt Democrats despite the fact their personal beliefs often were what could be called Libertarian. I’ve done considerable reading in attempt to understand this disconnect, and found “The Forgotten Man” to be a balanced presentation of the history of that time. It is full of fascinating information, and I give it a strong recommendation. I admit that I inherited my parents Libertarian beliefs and little of their trust of FDR’s expansion of government. Continue reading →