Two-hundred and thirty-one years ago the U.S. Constitution was signed making America a Constitutional Republic. It is hard to understand why so many U.S. citizens continue to call our political system a “democracy.” “Thus, a constitution that limited the power of government was necessary to preclude elected officials from imposing tyranny on the people.” This […]
Elections are evidence that both pandering to personal self-interests and appealing to every bodily organ but the brain are effective strategies. Politicians who are able to camouflage their desire for power in altruistic catch-phrases that appeal to emotion, ignorance, and naïveté are usually going to be victorious over those who tell the hard realities… a.k.a. […]
Have you ever been sitting at an outdoor cafe watching people walk by, or walking down a crowded sidewalk, when the thought suddenly flashes in your mind, “None of these people know you. How significant are you, anyway?” I know that it’s happened to me many times. The thought may be fleeting, but it’s an […]
In the last two years, the Republican had a once in a generation opportunity to enact a thoroughly conservative agenda and to diminish the Democrat Party as a political force. Unfortunately, through fecklessness and lack of true conservative convictions, they have now squandered that opportunity, likely for good. Republicans took the House from the Democrats […]
Governor Kate Brown’s top health care administrator is requesting that the legislature increase taxes on beer, wine, cider, cigarettes, cigars, and vaping pens. If approved, the taxes would result in $784 million in new revenue for the state over the next two years. Health officials claim that this is a “public health” measure designed to […]
ABC’s Shark Tank may be coming to the Portland region—not in the form of a reality TV special, but as a taxpayer-funded project that positions the Metro regional government to act as a venture capital firm. Rather than investing in the success of growing businesses, however, the Sharks at Metro plan to fund temporary pilot […]
According to a column written by leftists Peter Leyden and Ruy Texeira, America is hopelessly divided into two opposite camps, camps which have become so polarized that there is no common ground or possibility of compromise between them. I agree with their thesis. The chasm between them is created by the stark differences in […]
One of the most pernicious distortions of the plain meaning of the Constitution is the conceit that U.S. citizenship automatically belongs to anyone born in America. It doesn’t. A correct interpretation and application of the 14th Amendment makes this clear. This amendment, ratified in 1868, was enacted for one simple purpose: to grant citizenship to […]
In the spirit of the upcoming Halloween season, I thought I would tell the story of the most horrifying and spine-chilling experience that I endured for the better part of the 57 years I’ve spent on this earth. Hold onto your hats folks, cuz this is not just another “generic” campfire story designed to scare […]
A friend of mine enjoys camping in the middle of the woods, alone and far away from people. It doesn’t matter to him if it’s clear, raining, or snowing. He loves to wake up to a cool morning, smell the fresh air, build a campfire and cook his breakfast. Myself, I prefer waking up in […]