Things that Matter

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cover - things matterThis book was a wonderful Christmas present and contains a collection of the brilliant writings of Charles Krauthammer.  Dr. Krauthammer’s personal story is, in my judgment, even more fascinating than his book. He was “playing hooky” from classes as a medical student when he suffered a broken neck diving into a private swimming pool. The university was convinced to provide him classes at his hospital bed, and he finished his doctorate in psychiatry. He did not learn to handwrite for three years and he remains confined in a wheelchair. He was named by the Financial Times “…the most influential commentator in the nation.” Liberals, Conservatives, and Libertarians can all learn from this book, although I expect Conservatives and Libertarians will be more comfortable with what they read.

Chapter 1 titled “Marcel, My Brother’ is touching. Marcel is described as a brilliant doctor and professor of medicine. He was four years older than Charles, and was a magnificent athlete. When Marcel’s friends were organizing pick-up games they all understood the rule:  “Charlie Plays. The corollary was understood” If Charlie doesn’t play, Marcel doesn’t play.” The chapter was written ten days after Marcel died. It is a powerful chapter.  The words convey the love and respect Charlie felt for Marcel and a sense of the depth of emotion from the loss. I can’t imagine a more powerful first chapter. Continue reading →

Playing Hooky

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The expression, which apparently had the original spelling “hookey,” is commonly used to express missing some scheduled event without permission. Mark Twain used it to describe how Tom Sawyer “took his flogging, along with Joe Harper, for playing hookey the day before.” The Urban Dictionary says the term is probably derived from the Dutch term “hoekje” for the game of hide and seek based on the word “hoek,” which means corner. The expression evolved into playing hooky to describe children skipping school. There is an alternative origin based on the verb hook meaning “to steal.” However, “hook it” didn’t make it into common use until playing hooky was already in use.

The Evils of the Permanent Political Class

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ExtortionExtortion , by Peter Schweizer, presents a depressing thesis: while special interests “are influencing and distorting our government in the search for favorable policies… a deeper, more sinister problem [exists]: politics is corrupting money.”

Members of what Schweizer calls the Permanent Political Class use their power to extort money from businesses.  Both parties, and the executive branch as well as the legislative branch engage in Mafia-like practices.  “Campaign money and lobbying contracts are ‘protection money’… donors feel victimized.”

This is not a new problem. Schweizer traces this problem back to the late 1800s, and also notes that Dante placed corrupt politicians in the eighth circle of hell.  But the book concentrates on recent and current events. Continue reading →

Clean Your Clock

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Wordwizard.com has several explanations from different sources for this expression, which is used to describe defeating someone decisively. As William Safire explained in the New York Times, the phrase begins with “clean,” which was applied to the victims of thieves or gamblers who had been drubbed, defeated, and/or wiped out. The “clock” probably comes from the fact a clock has a face, and “clock him one,” refers to hitting him in the head. Brewer’s Dictionary of Modern Phrases & Fable has a similar explanation saying that the expression has a military origin from World War II, and that, “A person’s face is probably their face…” Cassell’s Dictionary of Slang speculates it might be railroad jargon referring to applying the airbrakes and bringing the train to a sudden stop. “The ‘clock” in question is the air gauge, which on halting, immediately registers zero and is thus ‘clean’.”

Global Warming Debate

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climate change blue marblePonderer has presented compelling arguments in recent commentaries about global warming and the impacts of carbon dioxide emissions from man’s activities. We have had a frequent back and forth discussion on the subject, and Ponderer has provided data-based responses to my skepticism. I trust Ponderer’s integrity and intellect (both scientific and personal) completely, so why do I continue to cling to my “denier” status (although with less conviction than before)?

I’ll begin by explaining that Dr. Petr Beckmann was a patient of the medical practice where my wife worked as a nurse, and she told him I worked at the Rocky Flats plant that manufactured parts for nuclear weapons. He agreed to meet me and a colleague to discuss his pro-nuclear energy views, and I found him to be a fascinating man. I signed up for his “Access to Energy” newsletter and became more impressed with his brilliance the more I read. Continue reading →

The Next Economy and America’s Future

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aftershock 1Aftershock – by Robert B. Reich

There are many ways to learn about Reich’s views on the economy.  He starred in a recent documentary, in theaters last September http://inequalityforall.com/.  A lengthy interview with Reich regarding the movie is here.  He has also been interviewed in many places; I recently heard him on the Commonwealth Club radio program.

I suggest you read his book.  It is current (copyright 2010, 2011, 2013) and, especially in the appendix, has informative graphs that present well on my e-reader.  The short book (136 pages in the main body) is so packed with information that it makes for a long review.

Reich says the basic bargain of America is that workers receive a proportionate share of economic growth; that wages correlate with productivity.  He disputes Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly who called him a communist who secretly adores Karl Marx: “I’m not, and I don’t” Reich says.  “Inequality is inevitable and desirable.  It gives people incentive… But at some point inequality of income and wealth becomes so wide as to harm society.” Continue reading →