Category Archives: Political Science

Touching on Joe Biden

I try to keep this blog non-political, and this blog post is no exception. It’s neither to support Joe Biden nor to denounce him. It’s just about my own personal experiences and thoughts. As most people know, Biden is preparing … Continue reading

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We Are What We Are

We are what we are. The only question is what we choose to do about it. When I worked on Capitol Hill, I knew a political writer who was a nasty, hateful person. Then he became a Christian. And — … Continue reading

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A Retro Idea to Improve the Net

In 1949, the legendary American comedian Groucho Marx resigned from the Friars Club of Beverly Hills. His reason? “I don’t want to belong to any club that would accept me as one of its members.” A lot of people are … Continue reading

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Don’t Be Seduced By Hate

We’re all a mixture of good and bad impulses. That’s not new. Alexander Pope observed in 1734: “Virtuous and vicious every man must be, Few in the extreme, but all in the degree, The rogue and fool by fits is … Continue reading

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Confucius Said: “Consider the Source”

I admit it: the ancient Chinese sage Confucius didn’t really say “consider the source.” At least it’s not in The Analects of Confucius, a collection of his teachings that were compiled and edited after his death. (The linked edition provides … Continue reading

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What You Don’t Know

“Every person you meet knows something that you don’t know.” That was one of my grandfather’s favorite adages. He died when I was quite young, so I don’t remember him well. I remember his appearance, his book-lined study, his beloved … Continue reading

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Trust Not in Ideologies

“Put not your trust in princes,” advises the Bible. I would add “put not your trust in ideologies.” Ideologies don’t make decisions. People make decisions, for good or for ill. Every way to organize society has advantages and disadvantages. If … Continue reading

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Help Wanted: Wise Leaders

I won’t be watching the State of the Union address on television tonight. It’s nothing against Trump, who will tell us about all the YUUUUGE things he’s accomplished. Nor against Pelosi, who will be sitting there stone-faced with her minions. … Continue reading

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The Bad Side of In-Groups

You’re in the bedchamber of the dying King Henry IV (1366-1413), who united England through a bitter civil war. King Henry awakens and gives some final advice to his son, Prince Harry: “God knows, my son, By what by-paths and … Continue reading

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Thought Experiments for Left and Right

Whether your politics lean left or right, a couple of thought experiments can help you understand people who lean the other way. History’s most famous thought experiment inspired Albert Einstein‘s theory of special relativity. In 1895, aged only 16, Einstein … Continue reading

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