Answering the News

As noted in a prior posting, it’s almost amusing when extremists start using words like “tyranny” and “loss of freedom” when describing actions the politicians they elected start to act, not just rationally, but truly for the greater good.   The view from an extreme is always narrow—extremely narrow, of course—and that view when applied to the state and nation is when freedoms are lost and tyrannies take hold; not when fact-based truths are applied, but when they are ignored.   That would be one real takeaway not just of the minor protests across America’s state capitals yesterday (April 16), but in the words on the op-ed page of Dan Huffines, former Texas Senator and current lover of ignoring reality. One must ask how adhering to facts to make a decision is being driven by emotion?  Huffines claims Governor Greg Abbott shutting down the Texas economy for safety reasons is an emotional one; the facts, however, show coronavirus spreads by human contact, and re...

It’s  almost  amusing to watch protestors angrily denouncing the actions of the extremist politicians they elected.  Not quite amusing; more a sad, wan smile playing about the lips in resigned disgust. Angry calls to end the tyranny, too, are a dismaying reflection most if not all liberals, but also moderates might feel, but (more) ironically, not from the same position as the extreme rightists demonstrating in front of some capitals and governor mansions across America yesterday.  Their definitions of freedom and tyranny seem to be made up to fit the moment, and applied only to themselves. They see it as a loss of American freedom to have the government close down businesses.  They say the people should have the right to decide how best to protect themselves; that the “media” is over hyping the crisis and it’s suspicious that mega-rich big box stores are considered essential while local businesses have to close. And that’s the butter-rich...