Consider the phrase “climate change.” (Or “global warming” or “global climate disruption,” as it’s also known…) Don’t think about it in the current cultural context. Just think about that phrase – on its own. Climate change is obvious. The climate is changing every single microsecond of every single day. The earth’s climate is probably the single most complex and dynamic concept man can attempt to contemplate – with the possible exception of humanity itself. What is “the earth’s temperature?” Think of the earth in terms of cubic square feet. Imagine the earth covered in one layer of one foot…
Conservatives have many friends who are scientists
Conservatives are often accused of being anti-science. Some say this because of the religious wing of the Republican Party and their belief in creation over evolution. In fact, it may actually be the other way around. (As an aside, I’m not sure why no one has ever seen the obvious compromise that God created evolution.) Take global warming. There’s more than enough evidence to suggest that mankind has little affect on our climate. There’s even more concrete evidence that says the earth’s climate is an ever-changing and dynamic organism that has been undergoing extreme heating and cooling since well…
Religion: It’s not so bad…
Conservatism is often equated with the “Religious Right.” While there certainly are conservatives who lead with their religion, the two are not the same. One’s dedication and adherence to religion varies from person to person. And being religious is certainly not a domain solely-owned by conservatives. In 2020, when one thinks of a religious person, they often think immediately of the religious right. But it is silly to think there aren’t liberals who attend church services under all variations and denominations of religion. Personally, I believe in God, though I don’t much need organized religion. Like many conservatives, I…
Free Tibet?
It’s not too uncommon to see people driving around with “Free Tibet” bumper stickers. They see Tibet as the pinnacle of peaceful existence and want it freed from Chinese takeover. The ironic thing is that there was another country that was taken over by a far more hostile regime. The regime killed over 300,000 of it’s own people with weapons of mass destruction in the form of poison gas. The regime harbored and encouraged terrorists and routinely rounded up its people and made them “disappear.” The regime even tried to overtake neighboring countries. Finally, one day, that regime went…
Wal-Mart: good for the little guy, bad for liberals
Many want Wal-Mart to go away because it’s destroying the Mom-and-Pop shops that give towns their character. I see the point. Having nothing but a large, boxy Wal-Mart as the main hub of a town does tend to erode the town’s personality and make it look like all other towns. But aside from the aesthetic issue, Wal-Mart is doing something you’d think liberal politicians would be proud about. They make it possible for low-income families to afford many conveniences and goods they would otherwise not be able to purchase. For some families, they are making it possible to buy…
The big shoelace industry must be stopped
Whenever anyone wants to demonize an industry they believe is making too much money, they simply refer to them as “Big…” This serves to create the impression that the industry in question, say “Big Oil,” is a huge, out-of-control, monopolistic conglomerate colluding to destroy all that stand in their way for the sole purpose of megaprofits for its CEOs. Much the way a small, one-shop business is pure and beautiful until it gets successful enough to have 2,000 franchises world-wide, somehow the CEOs of these “Big” companies are talented and driven workers and managers until suddenly they’re put at…
In politics, names are not important
There’s been plenty of coverage around the idea that our society has never been more politically divided. It’s hard to know, given the context of history, how much worse it is than other times. It sure seems like it was probably worse during the Civil War. But we’re definitely not unified right now. One of the things that brings us down is the inclusion of politicians in our conversations about politics. When you’re talking about policies, actions, and statements, you’re talking about ideas, and the execution of those ideas. It’s fertile ground for debate and innovation. When you think…
Great regulations in American history
I’ve read many books and taken many courses about American History. Never have I run across a section on the great regulations in American history. America did not become the greatest nation on the earth through government regulations. Quite the opposite. It was by turning people loose and allowing them to pursue their ideas, without restraint, that made us the superpower we became. We don’t need someone to tell us how much water we can use in the shower, how much salt we can put on our food, what food we can eat, how high we can mow our…
The conservative view on taxes
One of the main tenets of conservatism is to let the free market run free. It’s self-correcting. It goes in waves. There are highs when production improvements and massive innovation take hold and drives the economy. There are lows as we transition from one form of production to another or when some sort of product revolution is beginning. Essentially, that’s the conservative plan – there is no plan. (That’s obviously an oversimplification, but you know what I mean, right?) There doesn’t need to be one because the economy runs best when it’s left to the natural forces of capitalism,…
When romance meets cleanliness
A few years back, I thought I would go the classic romantic route for Valentine’s Day. I thought ahead, called a flower shop, and ordered a few bags of rose pedals. Before my wife got home, I laid out a route that went from the front door to the bedroom. (Like I said, classic…) It ended up being more fun than I thought and looked pretty great. I was excited to see her reaction when she got home. And excited, her reaction was. Before I could even say, “Happy Valentine’s Day,” she was already into, “What the hell is…