My ranking of Presidents, revisited

 On January 20, 2009, while the country was inauguating another President, I wrote the following (updated, rearranged, recast to include Biden, Obama, Trump): 

Presidents of my lifetime, ranked in terms of which ones I would most like to have dinner with: Biden, Nixon, Reagan, Bush II, Ford, Johnson, Bush I, Obama, Carter, Kennedy, Clinton, Eisenhower, Trump.
Vice Presidents that did not become President, ranked same way: Pence, Rockefeller, Cheney, Gore, Quayle, Humphrey, Harris, Mondale, Agnew.

President I would most expect to:
Leave a fat tip: Bush I
Leave no tip: Johnson
Understand Atlas Shrugged: Reagan
Misunderstand Atlas Shrugged: Trump
Have read the Bible: Kennedy
Have a well worn and tattered Bible on their desk: Ford
Write a hot check: Trump
Have a bad drug habit: Carter
Change his own oil: Bush II
Be a closet Communist: Eisenhower or Obama - tie
Have a glass of grape koolaid in his hand: Bush II
Have a gun in the glove box: Obama
Pass gas and blame his VP: Kennedy
Pass time as a short order cook at Denny’s: Ford
Cut me off in traffic: Eisenhower
Cut in line at Disney World: Clinton
Leave Denny’s with a pocketful of Sweet N Lo: Nixon

Best and Worst Presidents of my lifetime: Ford and Trump

Second Best and Worst Presidents of my lifetime Reagan and Carter

Best and Worst Vice Presidents of my lifetime: Pence and Agnew.

Some of these were close calls. Both Bushes had some wonderful accomplishments, as certainly did Clinton, Johnson and others. As for the dinner list, it had nothing to do with who I liked the most, more of who would I learn the most from and/or change my perspective on things. No one has seen more than President Biden. 

I am writing/revising this on day 51 of the war with Iran, so my perspective on the Trump Administration is tainted by a series of negative events. He has mocked my Saviour. Killed people in the Middle East. He has ridiculed the Church that Christ founded, the Catholic Church. 

On the other hand, the stock market has reacted favorably to all this calamity and my personal wealth has increased a bit, which cannot help but tilt my greedy human view favorably his way. 24 hours from now this can all change, the tenor of the market is always unpredictable. The word of the President is also quite unreliable. While I am ashamed of this president as you likely are as well, I also feel sorry for him. A man deep in quicksand that he seems to like. So unhappy. No friends, isolated, without love. A miserable existence. My America is much better. 

Some of my friends become better people as they age and some become worse. Surely he was a better man at age 7 and age 9 than at 79. May the Lord have mercy on us both. 

I miss apathy

 When I was much younger, in the 70's, those of us who were politically minded would often lament the apathy of the masses. "Why is it no one cares about the problem of (fill in the blank)?"

I could not really understand how people could go about their lives without having an opinion on the latest major bill before Congress, our next Governor, our next President, the latest foreign crisis. 

I think I miss those days. 

Today it seems too many of folks have too strongly held opinions on too many things. Perhaps it is because so many of the issues of today have a moral aspect, that those who traditionally kept silent, now feel the need to speak. 

In many cases the opening of mouths reflects an inner emptiness. It reflects an inate human desire to be part of something much bigger than yourself, to matter, to be engaged with big things. Technology has given my friends, and me, a global microphone, and some demand to be heard. 

But wait a minute. Is it really this way, or am I falling into an American myth? I have been told that the country is torn apart and that our relationships with our family and neighbors is burdened by the ripping of the American weave that binds us together. Yet, I do not know one soul who spouts their political views via social media. If I do, I am not aware that they do so. I conduct a relationship with them completely oblivious to their views on any issue. I may suspect how they vote, but I don't know, for it is something I never discuss with them. 

These are the topics that my friends and I engage in... the new construction in our towns, stock prices, the Holy Eucharist, the state of professional and amateur football in Minnesota, weather, hospice care, the St. Louis Cardinals, vacation plans, family events, church events. That covers 90% or more of my talking and listening. 

So, back to apathy. I think we could use a little more of it. Don't care about the thing the invisible guy on your phone sez you should care about. Taking care of your family is always more important. And no, they are not the same. Supporting Invisible Guy's favorite issue is not a way to show your family you care. 

Try trusting those in authority. Come on, and not just those you agree with. Most of them are better people than you are led to believe. 

Trust more.   

Random thoughts on Covid

 I have nothing to add to the debate about whether folks should get vaccinated. This post is mainly for posterity, maybe my great-great-grandkids will read about it and use this post in a school assignment on early 21st century American history. 

I have relatives in the current hotspots of Arkansas and Missouri. I lived about ten years in both states and have an understanding of the mindset that makes people detest being told what to do, for whatever reason. I understand the mistrust of government. It is an easy path for elected officials to make this an issue of personal responsibility and choice. 

But those who oppose vaccines don't mistrust the government in all things. They trust the USDA that the meat they eat is safe. They trust the FDA that aspirin is safe for a headache. They trust the NTSB when they investigate a plane crash. When the National Weather Service says a tornado is likely in their area, they trust that information, even if it later proves incorrect. If they have a legal dispute most take it to the court system, believing there is a good chance that if they are right they will prevail. In all of these situations we are trusting government scientists and government legal experts in matters we know little about. 

But there is something about the nature of this particular vaccine that they feel so strongly that some are willing to take a chance and skip it. That is their choice, that is how we have set this thing up. They repeat that cry of rebellion that we all shouted in our childhood, "I don't want to do it and you can't make me!" Some times that rebellion is right, but in this case it just seems foolish. What is gained?

We all know that government does make us do things. That is what governments do. In the most extreme example, in wartime the government makes men fight and sometimes die to preserve the government. It is not matter of choice, they have to. And they do it. 

The government makes me stop at red lights. It is not a matter of choice. It makes me pay for goods before removing them from a store. It makes me wear clothing in public. It makes me pay taxes even if the money is used for things I don't approve of, a law that bugs all of us at some point. It makes me feed and clothe my children. Why? Because the public good takes priority in these matters over my personal preferences. It doesn't matter what I want to do, the government says I have to. By and large these are good common sense rules that enable us to live together somewhat peaceably. They are also rules that we have agreed to by majority rule, an idea that we don't talk about much any more. 

The government is content to do whatever it can to persuade. Bit by bit that seems to be helping the stragglers, but it won't get all. There won't be a mandate, but as my Dad used to say, "Son, I can't make you do that, but I can sure make you wish you had". 

Life is going to get much harder for those who refuse to vaccinate. It is going to become more and more inconvenient. Airlines, stores, restaurants, and other places where people gather in tight spaces will act. There will be mandates. They will be specific, not general. 

And they will wish they had. 

Advent in time of Pandemic

 What does Advent mean to us during a time of pandemic? Or perhaps a better question is, What is different about our celebration this year? Advent hasn't changed, but we have, at least a little. One year ago we were in the midst of the angst and cynicism of a presidential impeachment. That had an impact on our celebration, though it should not have. One year from now there will be some new thing to distract and detach us from the glorious tradition. 

Perhaps we cannot help but look at this time differently or in some new way. Despite the added free time on our hands I believe the temptation will be to think of the season less. There was something about the busyness of Christmas seasons past that made us want  to make sure that we did not leave out the Christ story and message. I sense that focus is missing this year. 

This Advent should be like all others. A time to contemplate the anniversary of the coming of Christ. A season full of reminders. The refreshing of the Church calendar. Immaculate Conception. St. Nicholas Day. The journey to Bethlehem. The colors and candles of the four Sundays. Midnight Mass. All pointing to the most important thing that ever happened in human history, God incarnate. His coming to earth in human form. 

Christmas 2020. Gone are the parades, the hauling of kids to see Santa, the corporate parties, the Christmas pageants and concerts. No distractions, no excuses. Come Christmas! 

Must I Vote?

It has been several years since I felt really good about the presidential election. Why is that? Must I vote?

Each four years both major candidates are probably good and decent, by current  standards. Every once in a while one breaks the mold, but generally these are people who have given their lives in public service. We should respect and honor such folk. We need more of them. 

One of my litmus tests for a President is that they be a good example to children. When my kids were little I wanted them to be able to look at Reagan, or Bush I or Clinton or Bush II as people they should be like. Not that they would agree with all their policies. More as like a father figure to the nation. A man of honor, trustworthy, loyal to America, faithful, credible, devout. 

I  still hold to this standard. I don't think it is a particularly high or unfair standard. I'd like a President that is an example to my granddaughters and grandsons on what a good man is like. One that reinforces the example of their own fathers, and not one that contradicts that example.  

Years ago I thought that in such situations it is good to vote for the least bad of two choices. That is wrong. I must not vote if I believe a candidate is bad, regardless of the degree of badness of the other fella. 

In truth, I do not know these men. Had I a day to spend alone with each of them, which one would I select to "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution" ? (Alternatively, which one would I enjoy spending a day fishing with? In my lifetime, as I think about the nominees of the major parties, the ones I would like to fish with are Eisenhower, Goldwater, Humphrey, McGovern, Carter, Bush I, Dole, Gore, Bush II, Clinton II.  They all seem like normal people that you wouldn't have to continually engage in conversation. They could just sit in the boat and not need the noise of human mouths, or whine about who forgot the sunscreen. Some years I skipped, sorry Nixon and JFK. But I digress. ) 

I will not have that opportunity so my only choice is to take them at their word. I will assume that both believe exactly what they have said and that there is no intentional falsehood in their words. 

Their political parties do not make this easy. The party I most identify with rejects the beliefs I hold most dear. The party I could inch toward, masquerades as an arm of the local, water-body-named, evangelical church. Neither party is comfortable with orthodox Catholicism. 

I have a right to vote, meaning I get to decide. Do I have responsibility to do so? Yeah I guess. Voting is a way of telling the world that I endorse our form of self government. To vote breathes a little life into it, makes it stronger. 

Do I have an obligation to vote? That is a bit stronger term. Am I obliged? Meaning if I don't vote, do I believe I have done something wrong? Do I owe my country this form of allegiance? I have pledged my allegiance many many times before you my fellow citizens. I have done so in schools and in the public square. I have done so without thinking too much about it. My motives were not always pure. I often pledged my allegiance simply to fit in, to be one of us, heck yeah i'm an American. Just like you. Hand on my heart, hat off my head, yes sir. 

So am I going to vote, just like I promised? Probably. I may not feel good about it but my feelings are largely my fault. When I was a political activist I loved voting. I mean it. Like lay awake at night on election eve, liked it. Be the first in line at the polls, liked it. Wear candidate button to the polls, liked it. That was because I knew the guys on the ballot. I didn't need their ads. I knew what they really believed and what they were like on the weekends and in their homes. That part of my life is over but I'm going to do my best to take that attitude with me to the voting booth. 

That I pledge. 

I did not watch the debate

 The last presidential debate I am certain I watched was in 1992 between Bush, Clinton, Perot. I remember it quite well as I was on location working with one of the campaigns and standing behind the cameras at Washington University in St. Louis. I may have also watched one of the Bush-Gore debates as well. 

However in the last twenty years or so, it seems that the debates have slowly declined in importance and information content. Wouldn't it be nice to have a thoughtful discussion between our former Vice-President and our current President on say; HIV in sub-Saharan Africa, the various territorial claims to Antarctica, foreign relations with Venezuela (to pick three important topics that no one is discussing today)? 

Take a moment and read the transcripts of the 1980 Carter-Reagan debates. I prefer reading the transcripts to watching videos as it forces one to think about their words over the style of their delivery. What you find are two men who disagree very strongly with each other. They probably didn't like each other. Yet, they presented their views with dignity, in a gentlemanly fashion, with respect for their opponent. 

Their different views made sense. Each position had some value and merit. In their time they were considered important, but no one would have thought in 1980 that the voters of 2020 would look back on them with admiration. Yet we do, not because they were that great, they weren't, but because of how far the tone of current public debate has declined.  

The politics of running

This week I went for a long run on one of the many state trails. This one runs along the Minnesota River from Chaska to Shakopee Minnesota. 

It was two days after the death of a famous politician.

Along the trail there were little signs with directional arrows and rules such as "no motorized vehicles", "stay on the trail", "clean up after your dog", and the like. 

On each of the signs someone had placed a sticker, "Rest in peace, politician's name". Someone felt that while I am out running on this beautiful trail I needed to think about their hero. No, I did not. I could write much on what sort of person would do that, but since I once was that sort of person, I won't. Anyway, whomever you are, you briefly interrupted my solitude, but you won't interrupt that of others. The stickers came down, sign by sign, one by one. 

...and he left the woods better than he found them.  

I'm not a statistician, but... Governor Wald's claims seem a little bizarre

Our local CBS station reports this from our governor's press conference. It was earlier today and when he also announced the lockdown order.

"Walz said that if the state did nothing to slow the spread of COVID-19, projections show that upwards of 74,000 people in this state could potentially be killed by the virus."

That's a scary figure, and I'm sure intentionally so. As of this writing, according to Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Research Center, 21,181 people in the whole world have died of the virus. Total. All of Italy, all of China, all of Spain, all of every country in the world.

I guess here in Minnesota we are just particularly vulnerable.... that over three times as many people will die here as in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD. Fortunately for us all we live in a state that can't stand to do nothing, for both problems huge and tiny.

The virus is serious, but so far our death total here is 1. (Minnesota Dept of Health)

Neither the cheerleading of the President, nor the doomsdayism of the Governor is helpful.

A year from now we will commemorate the anniversary of this terrible event. I'm sure someone will drag out that 74,000 figure and crow about how wonderful it is that deaths were so far below the forecasts of today.

In DC, dim bulbs are always in fashion

When the new light bulbs came out I thought they were a great idea. Bought a bunch of them. Decent lighting and money saving in the long run. Great innovation. It was easy to see that they would eventually replace the old bulbs.

But some people couldn't let consumers decide. The government had to mandate that the old bulbs go away. Tomorrow they are no more. So for people like me who can afford to pay a little extra its not big deal. For the very poorest however, the cheap bulbs at a quarter a piece, would always be the way to go. So much for the compassion for the poor that the government claims. It wasn't there when this mandate (aka "efficiency standards") came out under the Bush Administration and it isn't there today.

One of the fundamental problems of liberalism is this smug self-righteousness. The attitude that not only do we have ideas that are better than yours, but we are better people than you because of them. And we will make you accept them.

I was glad to buy the new bulbs when it was my choice, not so happy when I found out my choice had been taken away. So today I cleaned out the stock of 60 watt bulbs at Fleet Farm. I have 164 of them that should last me for a few years, or until Atlas finally shrugs.

The nanny state never sleeps

 The DFW airport is always on the lookout for children on ("shudder" "shreak") stairs. Yesterday this was seen near gate D10.

There was, of course, no construction in sight, and even if there had been.....

I wonder who has this job, and how many people have had it in the last year.

Thank you, IRS

Thank you IRS for checking up on the various organizations that want non-profit status. I work with non-profits every day. The overwhelming majority are wonderful groups of caring, dedicated people committed to improving society. But every once in a while one or two of them have me scratching my head.

I always wondered if anyone checked to verify the validity of 501(C)3 applications. I'm glad to find that the IRS does. They asked the kinds of questions I would ask; when do you meet?, who are your members?, what do you discuss?, explain how this is educational, can I have a sample of your material?, your meeting minutes?, donor records? These are all legitimate questions that help verify that someone isnt carrying on a taxable enterprise under the guise of a charity.

And if conservatives were targeted more than liberals, well my gosh folks, grow up! The liberals are in charge. They own the joint. Doesnt it make sense that everything would tilt in their favor? Things will change in an election or two. Political pestering, certainly. Political persecution, hardly.

He can listen to my phone calls as much as he wants

I did not care if the last president listened, and I do not care if the new guy does. There is nothing illegal going on in my life, as far as I know. You'll find it somewhat boring. Have at it. Here's what you'll find out that you might not otherwise know. If this helps sniff out the bad guys, i'm all for it.

1) I"m not very nice to people at 800# call centers (not something i'm proud of, I'm very rude at times)
2) I call my mom every Friday.
3) I do not answer the phone.

Bring it on, Mr. President, and this goes for the next guy too.

High speed trains, convention centers, stadiums, and other fiascos

Every place I have ever lived wants to build a high speed rail somewhere. Anywhere. Pine Bluff to Little Rock, Little Rock to Memphis, St. Louis to Kansas City, Minneapolis to (giggle) Rochester. Fortunately none of them were ever built.

Just like stadiums and other centers of secular worship, these things are almost free. The logic is the same for all of them. Sure there are a few tax dollars involved but Oh the jobs they create. Follow the logic and we can eliminate every social ill by just building more stuff.


ZIP RAIL – Rochester-Twin Cities


The Southeast Minnesota Rail Alliance proposes the construction of a true high-speed ZIP Rail line travelling at speeds of 150-220 mph between Rochester and the Twin Cities. Preliminary studies estimate that the construction of this corridor will cost $973 million. A study by the Rochester Area Economic Development Inc. estimated this project would inject nearly an additional $1 billion into the Minnesota economy each year.

The Gun

I read the Second Amendment tonite. There's been a lot of talk lately about what it means. Both the extreme right and left seem to know exactly what it says, but it always just confuses me. I can always read it two ways.

I'm not much of a hunter. If my math is right I go about once every 20 years. But I've always been around guns a fair amount. In college my room mate and I used to go shooting quite a bit and I always enjoyed killing a few cans or putting holes in the side of a rusty old junker. Most of my friends and relatives own guns. Back when JCPenney sold guns, and I was a young management trainee, I even sold a few and for a while could talk gun pretty good.

I don't care about the politics of it, but I think every one of my gun owning friends should continue to own guns. But anyone who is tempted to buy their first gun this month due to some new found fear of the government, probably shouldn't. They're too easily riled up, too easily tricked. They'll puff out their chests and brag for a day or two about taking a stand for their second amendment rights, and then put the gun away where it will gather dust for a decade or so. It will never be used for hunting, or self defense, or target practice. 

Power preys on fear.  Fear of guns from the left, fear of not having them on the right. 

The power of free

During lunch today I walked by the event shown in this picture and muttered aloud, "people standing in line.... at Arby's?" I should have known. The idea of getting something for free is a powerful motivator. It will make people do the oddest things, like stand in line for a free turkey sandwich. (In the interest of full disclosure, I am a former employee of Arby's and have not eaten there since leaving the company in the mid 1970's.)

Of course while it is free to these people in line, they know it isn't really without cost. The owner is paying the cost of the sandwich, ( the ingredients and labor to assemble and distribute) in hopes of gaining customers who will buy something else on this, or some future, visit.

Lots of other things aren't free. Someone else is paying for them. We know that. But when it comes from the government, as middleman, it's harder to make the connection to those who provide these things. It makes people do the oddest things, like vote for the people in office, as though they had something to do with creating these free things. Free prescription drugs, free school lunches, free flu shots, free digital cable adapters, free money, free armaments. Thank the unborn, and even the unconcieved, if they survive to their delivery date, they may get to pay for this, or like us, hand it off to someone else. 

My email to the TSA

Dear TSA


I suggest your web content editors pass 7th grade english before you turn them loose on your website.

From the TSA website

"Expensive reels or fragile tackle such as fly's should be packed in your carry-on baggage."

..........................................................................

I guess I should be thankful that they are not flying planes. Those details can be a mess. http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/editorial_1188.shtm

Independence Days Remembered

The thing is, they're not. Remembered. There are only a handful that I clearly remember. July 4, 1976, 1981, 1982, 2010.


In 1976 most people were doing something really big, it was the bicentennial. I was stuck in Strafford, Missouri with the family of my on again - off again girlfriend. We heard some politicians, pastors, soldiers and other civic leaders speak. Somewhere I still have the program. I remember thinking, "what am I doing here?".

1981 and 1982 I remember because I helped shoot the fireworks for the city of Pine Bluff, Arkansas (another "what am I doing here" experience) I was a new dad. Both years our daughter, a toddler, cried at the sounds. By the second year she was 18 months old and enjoyed looking up in the sky. I was in the Jaycees and we sponsored the fireworks. Not a lot of regulation back in them days. Just a dozen guys standing in a field by the convention center, drinking beer and launching coffee cans of chemicals high into the air. The fire chief did come by to check on us, if I remember right.

Last year I was in Buenos Aires on the 4th. The only reason I remember it is because it was last year and it was the first time I was not in America on Independence Day. Went to a great restaurant, Las Lilas. That was about it. It was just another day in Argentina. In another ten years I will have completely forgotten about it because absolutely nothing special happened that day.

There were of course others but they all run together. The ones near our neighborhood in St. Louis. The ones here in Minnesota. Good times with family and friends that run togther to form one big Independence day memory.

What I learned today from the president and congress

The message from my president and my congress, as per the recent tax related announcements....

No citizen will ever be asked by this president or this congress to make a sacrifice of any fashion, except perhaps to die in military service.

We do not take responsibility for fiscal matters.

If we give you money you will think we are governing.

A sign that the end of western civilization draweth nigh

Think about all the stories of recent months on bank overdraft charges. The discussion of course has been that banks are gouging consumers and the little guy must be protected. How terrible what the banks are doing, why, its almost criminal!!

Hmm. I seem to recall that writing a check when you don't have enough money IS a crime. A real one that you can go to jail for in every state.

What world is this where writing a hot check is some sort of badge of honor? You pass bad paper, a type of theft, and it's someone else's fault....or maybe just following an example set in Washington.

(In the interest of full disclosure the company I work for is owned by a bank. I am also a former, but long-since-reformed, writer of hot checks.)

Sage advice from my fellow bloggers at the White House

 I have edited for brevity but not distorted the point of each item below....Don't think about your major, your roommate, the job market for your chosen career, the quality of your chosen institution. Here's what's really important...

From the White House Blog

Top 5 Things You Should Know Before Heading Back to College
Posted by Julia Simmons and Sophia Solomon on August 09, 2010 at 02:24 PM EDT

1. The President has invested more than $40 billion in Pell Grants....The great thing about Pell Grants is that they are free and clear....
2. If you’re under 26 years of age, may be already be able to get on a parent’s health insurance plan – and all plans will allow this in September.
3. Community colleges are a great alternative, and they will receive an extra $2 billion over the next four years..... 
4. If you attend one of America’s 105 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) or 225 Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), your school might get a cut of $2.55 billion in coming years.... 
5. The Department of Energy...will dedicate $19 million in funds for its undergraduate and graduate fellowship, scholarship, and traineeship programs. 

 Did I really get this from the White House? or was it The Onion, or simply a joke posted by Republicans hacking the White House blog.