The older I get, the more trouble I have in choosing between opposing arguments. I do not think it is because of my advancing age, although that could be a factor in the decision. No, it is because I can see the merit in both sides. But there is one ongoing divisive disagreement in which I have no trouble deciding – both sides are right! I am thinking of the Republican argument to cut almost all government spending, with the major exception of defense, vs. the Democratic mantra of spending without limit. They are both right, with certain caveats. But how can such opposite beliefs both be right? Let me explain. The problem is that both parties believe that their propositions are right at all times and in all situations. They are not; there is a proper time to apply each of their beliefs. According to the Preamble to the Constitution, one of the jobs of the federal government is to promote the general welfare, and one does not need a great leap of imagination to realize th...
My alarm clock goes off every morning at eight, except for the few times when I have a breakfast date. Usually I wake up about an hour before that, or at least I partly wake up. It is important that I remain in a “not quite awake but not quite asleep” state, because I consider that time as the germination period for whatever seeds happen to have blown into my head.