The Peace Pipe

“This will give you peace of mind,” the ad said. “What is peace of mind, anyhow,” Mort wondered. Every automobile and appliance Mort had purchased ended up disappointing him, even the expensive ones. To Mort, the saying, “you get what you pay for,” usually meant that paying more only bought more headaches, more hassle, more … Continue reading The Peace Pipe →

Real Harm

“The only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others.” – John Stuart Mill My last post touched on the concept of elder abuse – exploiting people in their declining years. It should be clear that abusing the young … Continue reading Real Harm →

Perfectionism

There was an incident in third grade. The teacher called my mother. I was caught red-handed. I made a small mistake on a worksheet. I didn’t like how it looked. So, I tore up the paper, threw it in the trash, and asked for a new worksheet. Twice. Three times. So, mom and I had … Continue reading Perfectionism →

A Child’s-Eye View

When I was in elementary school, my parents gave me several “How and Why Wonder Books.” These books introduced the fundamentals of weather, stars, rocks and minerals, insects, reptiles, birds, rockets and missiles, flight, and many other topics. I was fascinated by the book, “Atomic Energy.” So much so that a couple of years later … Continue reading A Child’s-Eye View →

180

We sometimes hear people say, “I’ve changed my opinion 360 degrees on that.” It’s likely they mean 180 degrees, or enough to reverse course, not spin completely around. I’m sure most just want to say they’ve changed their minds, so it’s not a big deal. However, it seems to me it’s a bigger deal when … Continue reading 180 →

Kids’ Stuff

Let’s review a few rules many of us used to learn. Most of these are in the tradition of my parents and fellow Pennsylvanians. I’m concerned that the instant gratification and solipsism of our time might have already taken their toll on what was once considered common knowledge. I also worry about what might happen … Continue reading Kids’ Stuff →

The Cheese Stands Alone

Everything we do is part of a vast chain of events. Sometimes things work out to our advantage. Sometimes not. There are no guarantees. While we might want to minimize suffering and give our children a better world, the outcome of all our efforts is at best uncertain. We might long for stability, peace, and … Continue reading The Cheese Stands Alone →

Musings on Pogo

“We have met the enemy, and he is us.” This line, from the comic strip, Pogo, by Walt Kelly, signaled the stark realization that we are responsible for the condition of the Earth. While it may be tempting to blame multinational corporations or "big government" for any damage, we accept it as the price we … Continue reading Musings on Pogo →