Episode 8 of “Homage to Luxenben” (formerly “Stelzer’s Travels”)
What Matilda had told me before bears repeating here. One cannot begin to appreciate the Luxanders’ culture without first acquiring some knowledge of their history. And, as she said, the pageant captured a thumbnail sketch of that history in dramatic form. Given its importance, then, by rights its entire Semi script should be inserted here for the reader’s edification. Space, however, does not allow so, with apologies, I can do... [Read More...]
Ideas from Abroad
In the business world, if your competitor comes up with any improvement in his operation-be it a better product, a more expeditious manufacturing technique, etc.-you had better match it quickly if you hope to stay in the running. And the same holds true in the competition between states to attract business activity and investment. Legislators habitually look over their shoulders to see what’s working elsewhere in the country that might benefit... [Read More...]
A Few Brief Observations
So much of the Constitution has, in effect, been nullified by Congress future copies would more truthfully reflect its current interpretation were they redacted by blackening out their obsolete passages. Thumbing through such a copy would give the reader a realistic picture of what we have lost and what we have left to defend. * * * Whether it’s a matter of preventing drugs from Mexico entering the US, guns from the US equipping... [Read More...]
Obamacare Makes Me Sick
On March 23, 2010 President Obama signed a bill dealing with medical issues that might have reasonably been called a “health-care add-on bill” or a “health-care supplemental bill” or, even more accurately, a “health-care stupefyingly muddled bill”. But it was not. Instead it bore the title of “health-care reform bill” and, that being the case, I would have thought that it contained, in fact, some... [Read More...]
Is Islam a Religion?
President Obama recently supported the erection of a mosque near ground zero because they have “the right to practice their religion as everyone else.” With due regard to the President, I question his identification of the Muslim belief system as a religion entitled to the same privileges afforded legitimate faiths. They aren’t like everyone else. Calling Islam a religion doesn’t make it one. Before it can be considered... [Read More...]
A Gang of Four of Our Very Own
During the disastrous Chinese Cultural Revolution, day-to-day governmental policy, ostensibly under the control of Mao Zedong, was largely determined by an extreme leftist faction that became known as the Gang of Four. By their effective control of the Communist Party, these four individuals were largely responsible for the turmoil that characterized China’s decade-long period of despair. Within a month after Mao’s death, the gang... [Read More...]
Freeing Americans to be American
No question. The United States has dug itself into quite a hole. The size of the hole could be expressed in any number of ways but one will suffice here. Our national debt as of August, 2010 is about $13.4 trillion and, since there are some 310 million of us, every American man, woman, and child owes an average of over $43,000. But, you say, not to worry. The government has a plan to deal with the problem. And indeed it does. It is bound... [Read More...]
Episode Seven of “Stelzer’s Travels”
AUTHOR’S NOTE: This installment and those that will follow deviate somewhat from the version of “Stelzer’s Travels” originally self-published in 2006. Hopefully, the changes, recommended by an editor, have resulted in a tighter, more marketable story. In any case, the segments hereafter will be under the book’s new title, “Homage to Luxenben.” Let me quickly add that the first six installments that have... [Read More...]
An Open Letter to Israel
Before any hard information could be verified, all the news sources I rely on-the television network channels, National Public Radio, CNN, and the major newspapers-were unanimous in their immediate condemnation of Israel for its takeover of the Mavi Marmara on the morning of May 31. As the reports had it, nine unarmed, peaceable Turkish activists had been brutally murdered by Jewish commandos without cause. Such phrases as “public relations... [Read More...]
In support of the Securities & Exchange Dismission
An investor visiting Washington, DC and chancing upon the handsome building at 100 F Street would discover on its façade, in the government’s restrained lettering, that its occupant was the “Security and Exchange Commission.” And were he to doubt its legitimacy for any reason, underneath its name the building bore the Great Seal of the United States complete with eagle, arrows, and olive branch. Widening his gaze, the visitor could... [Read More...]