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MY BLOGS
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The Rational Optimist
http://www.rationaloptimist.wordpress.com/
Commentary of Life, Society, Politics, and Philosophy
LATEST ARTICLES ( 1303 )
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(Part II) Conservative Or Republican?
MillThe political philosophy called “liberal” originated in 19th century Britain, with thinkers like John Stuart Mill; it stood for individual human... Read more
Posted on 04 July 2018 CULTURE, POLITICS, SOCIETY -
The Grotesque Odious Party (Part I)
Recently on the NewsHour it was noted that Trump’s approval percentage among Republicans has reached record highs. “Yeah,” I said to myself, “because people lik... Read more
Posted on 02 July 2018 CULTURE, POLITICS, SOCIETY -
Luck and Life
I’m a very lucky man, having (at 70) health, wealth, love, and wisdom.WAMC radio’s Joe Donahue interviewed Janice Kaplan about her book, How Luck Happens:... Read more
Posted on 29 June 2018 CULTURE, POLITICS, SOCIETY -
Are Humans Smarter Than (other) Animals?
Around 1900, “Clever Hans” was a famous German horse with seeming mathematical ability. Asked “what is four times three?” Hans would tap his hoof twelve times. Read more
Posted on 27 June 2018 CULTURE, POLITICS, SOCIETY -
Modern Life: the Big Challenge We Face
Tom Friedman’s latest book made my head spin. It’s Thank You for Being Late: An Optimist’s Guide to Thriving in the Age of Accelerations. He’s a bigger... Read more
Posted on 23 June 2018 CULTURE, POLITICS, SOCIETY -
Fear and Loathing in the Sultan’s Court: The Mapmaker’s Daughter
A twelve year old Venetian girl is grabbed as a slave, from her home island, and carried off to Constantinople, capital of the Ottoman Empire, in the 1500s. Read more
Posted on 20 June 2018 CULTURE, POLITICS, SOCIETY -
Breath Debt — Poems by Therese L. Broderick
(Page Publishing, 91 pages, $12.95 + 2.50 shipping; order from author, Box 8600, Albany, NY 12208 or Paypal to [email protected]; also purchasable from Amazon... Read more
Posted on 19 June 2018 CULTURE, POLITICS, SOCIETY -
Concentration Camps. In 2018. In America. For Children.
“First they came for the Jews . . . “Eighty years ago, on the deck of ship passing the Statue of Liberty, stood my mother, a refugee from the Nazis. Read more
Posted on 16 June 2018 CULTURE, POLITICS, SOCIETY -
Blog Termination Rescinded
DONALD J. TRUMP@RealDonald Trump Frank Robinson and myself had a very good meeting, really really terrific. We showed him a video how great it could be for him... Read more
Posted on 15 June 2018 CULTURE, POLITICS, SOCIETY -
Reader Poll: Trump’s Top-100 Hit Parade
What is Trump’s greatest hit (upon America)? Find below a top-100 list. Vote for your selection, in the comments section. Feel free to add other items, since... Read more
Posted on 11 June 2018 CULTURE, POLITICS, SOCIETY -
Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown
Envy is something deeply embedded in the human condition. It comes from the kinds of minds evolution endowed us with. Alone among animals, we are able to... Read more
Posted on 10 June 2018 CULTURE, POLITICS, SOCIETY -
Cynthia Nixon for Governor — What is Wrong with “progressives”
I switched enrollment from Republican to Democrat when the GOP went off the rails, to the dark side; I wanted to use my primary vote to keep at least one party... Read more
Posted on 08 June 2018 CULTURE, POLITICS, SOCIETY -
Code Red: Guest Column by Thomas Friedman
I’m not one for reblogging and sharing what others say, preferring my own words. But I’m making an exception for Thomas Friedman’s May 29 column, which expresse... Read more
Posted on 05 June 2018 CULTURE, POLITICS, SOCIETY -
Are Smartphones Bad for Kids?
One of the earliest ancient inscriptions has been translated as reading, “Kids today don’t behave well or respect their elders like they used to.”This essay... Read more
Posted on 03 June 2018 CULTURE, POLITICS, SOCIETY -
Trump’s “spygate” — Biggest Scandal in Political History
In a personal conversation, journalist Lesley Stahl asked Trump why he says bad things about the press. He answered candidly: “I do it to discredit you all and... Read more
Posted on 31 May 2018 CULTURE, POLITICS, SOCIETY -
Suffer the Little Children: America’s Crime Against Humanity
Remember when “for the children” was a staple of political discourse?The Trump administration is now implementing a policy of taking children away from... Read more
Posted on 28 May 2018 CULTURE, POLITICS, SOCIETY -
Burned Alive in Venezuela
I have strong beliefs. I know many people with different strong beliefs. I don’t lean left, but most who do are good people, sincere in wanting human progress.... Read more
Posted on 25 May 2018 CULTURE, POLITICS, SOCIETY -
The Leaker-in-chief Condemns Leakers
The uncanny pattern continues: every insult, accusation or smear Trump flings at others applies more to him than to them.Now he’s fuming against leaks and... Read more
Posted on 21 May 2018 CULTURE, POLITICS, SOCIETY -
Adventures with Technology
Turning on the TV, we’d see a gal from cable company Spectrum talking about the all-digital story. I’d click past her, thinking we were all set with a big moder... Read more
Posted on 19 May 2018 CULTURE, POLITICS, SOCIETY -
Stories We Tell Ourselves
Why do people accept little pieces of paper in exchange for goods and services? The paper has no intrinsic value. U.S. currency used to carry a government... Read more
Posted on 14 May 2018 CULTURE, POLITICS, SOCIETY