Living in Society
Politics mostly social commentary.
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We are at the point of summer where if I see you in person, I’m likely to give you a cucumber. Two if you’ll take them. Last night at a meeting of mostly grey-haired friends, the box of cucumbers was empty when I left. Those who took one seemed to want and like the vegetable.… Read more
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Is democracy the default state of humanity? In The Hidden History of American Democracy: Rediscovering Humanity’s Ancient Way of Living, author Thom Hartmann presents the case that democracy is our default state, overcome only by the intrusion of dictators, popes, and kings using the power of great wealth, control of media, or the force of… Read more
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A group of local political activists got together at a restaurant on Thursday. What characterized us was our average age of about 70. We worked together on many campaigns and are apparently ready to work on another. In 2004, this was an asset. In 2023, it is a liability. Where are younger political activists? They… Read more
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Our local daily newspaper printed the entire Declaration of Independence in this morning’s edition. I didn’t read it again yet appreciate the gesture. Even though “men” were “white men” in the document, and slaves, indigenous people, and women were not included in the lofty talk about “the separate and equal station to which the Laws… Read more
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It was a long process to create a habitat where Monarch butterflies would stop on their annual migration, lay eggs, and provide images like the one above in our garden. Both milkweed bugs and Monarch butterflies are creatures of a very specific set of conditions. Without those conditions, neither would exist as they do. So… Read more
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Like for many, news of the federal indictments handed down by a Florida grand jury in the stolen classified documents case involving the 45th president reached me at home. Republicans, with few exceptions, spoke with one voice, saying the Department of Justice had been weaponized to attack President Biden’s main competition in the 2024 presidential… Read more
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Two days after a full moon, in pre-dawn darkness, it was difficult to see it rained yesterday. It hadn’t rained long, just enough to get the ground wet and start water flowing toward the ditch. It was not enough to seal cracks in the ground caused by a lack of moisture. The ditch near the… Read more
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Members of our community gathered for events over the Memorial Day weekend. I did not know most of the people I encountered, yet felt a part of it. I did recognize most of the veterans in the American Legion color guard at Monday’s service. We don’t neighbor the way we used to when I was… Read more
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In 1820 most countries started out on a relatively equal economic footing. Translation: People and regions were poor around the globe. Author Jeffrey D. Sachs described this world: Life expectancy was extremely low; children died in vast numbers in the now rich countries as well as the poor countries. Many waves of disease and epidemics,… Read more
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I’ve turned from society to soup. Not sure how I feel about that, yet the soup smells pretty darned good. The leafy green vegetables were harvested the same day, many of the vegetables were grown in the kitchen garden last season then preserved, and lentils and barley came direct from a super market. This soup… Read more
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