Economists tell us how the economy goes, but God tells us how it should go. Christians know what God hates: oppression of the poor, stealing, and covetousness. The rich must not oppress the poor. The rotten deals between big business and big government are an odor of death in Heaven’s nostrils. Big government will always be in the hands of looters and moochers with the money to buy favors. Both parties reward donors with graft, favorable regulations, and special laws... Read more
If Muslims choose to build a mosque or study center in America, anywhere, even near Ground Zero, they should be allowed to do so. This would be hard for many Americans, but liberty for people to live their faith as much as possible is a deep American value. We learned this value from the long dialogue that began in Greece and continued in Philadelphia with the constitution of 1789. We have perfected that document as we worked out the heritage... Read more
Socrates was killed for asking the wrong questions in a city that could not handle open minded investigations. John the Baptist was killed by politicians who did not like having their corruption and immorality pointed out. Tyrants never enjoy having their actions questioned and they particularly resist explaining them. Americans must live by the lessons of Socrates and the Baptist: Question everything. Examine everything. Dare to challenge anyone especially our rulers. Free woman and men demand to know not just... Read more
Morality uses medicine, but so does immorality. When I was a little boy, I knew a man who had been given “medical treatment” by the State of New York in the name of science. The brain surgery he received had more to do with his race and secular attitudes toward humanity at the time than any illness. It left him permanently unable to live in society. At the same time, I know medical doctors and nurses who take their time... Read more
When stuck in life, a basic policy has been: “ask Dad, he knows.” He told a story the other day that needs sharing. It reminded me of some home truths. I hope it does the same for you. I had a great uncle whose nickname was ‘Whit’. When he was young, he had something wrong with his eyes. The country doctor treated him, but he was left with poor vision. His brother gave him a home and he earned his... Read more
Standing in the entrance of Disneyland, I have often seen small children crying when their parents try to take them through the arches that lead into the main part of the park. At first I was puzzled by this strange reaction to the Happiest Place on Earth until it happened with my own children when they were small. My wife and I discovered that the children were heartbroken to leave the most beautiful place (from a child’s perspective) that they... Read more
Americans too often worry more about what we call people than how we treat them. We may cringe when people are hateful, rightly so, and demand more loving language, but this is not enough. We need deeds not words. Recently, I heard a young person use the term “retard” to describe another human. The term “retarded” has outlived any usefulness, having turned into an insult. A different and more important problem is how we treat differences in mental acuity. I have... Read more
Like the knowledge that you will be hanged in the morning, bad economic times concentrate the mind wonderfully, but with the added advantage of being able to do something with what you have learned next week. What should we learn from hard times? If my bad finances are the result of foolish or wicked behavior, there is an obvious lesson to learn. Assuming that high returns can come without high risk is foolish. Spending your spouse’s retirement fund on a... Read more
It is bad enough if bad information costs you the value of your 401-K, but worse if it costs your soul. Being told you are wrong is important at any time, but hearing that you might be wrong about critical areas is vital. Who wants to be wrong about the big questions of life? No friend would see such a major mistake being made by his pal without expressing his opinion and giving warning. This is especially true in the... Read more
Seventy-three years ago one little boy was disappointed. He got a very nice suit of clothes, what used to be called “church clothes,” but they had short pants. He had been hoping, trusting, that at ten he was ready for long pants, but his mother decided otherwise. Given the financial conditions of the times, where one wore out clothes before replacing them, that was going to take some time. Why did my dad want long pants for his birthday? Long... Read more
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