Something To Think About Archive

For decades, Europeans have been willingly handing over around half of their pay to the state for cradle-to-the-grave benefits. Then, when they reach their 60s, they expect to retire relatively comfortably, at least by their standards, on a state-funded pension. Now, stretched public finances and a rapidly aging population are threatening this socialist arrangement deal hence the protests and riots overseas. The welfare state that socialist politicians promise voters here will suffer the same fate. It is an unsustainable model no matter how many billionaires you tax.

In an op-ed some months prior to the election, columnist Allysia Finley asks: “How does a state with so many people end up producing politicians with so little talent?” “Perhaps” she notes, “because the party obsession with identity and … Trump trumps competence. In a one-party state, Democratic politicians face little competition.” And now, Democratic Socialist Nithya Raman has won the Los Angeles mayor’s race defeating the incompetent incumbent Karen Bass.

English dramatist George Chapman claimed that “Ignorance is the mother of admiration.”

It’s been said that “The purpose of life is a life of purpose.”

Early computer scientist Margaret Hamilton said: “Don’t let fear get in the way and don’t be afraid to say ‘I don’t know’ or ‘I don’t understand’ — no question is a dumb question.”

We’re not sure the time wasted by County Staff on meetings regarding data centers is warranted. There isn’t enough flat land, power or water to support the giant hyperscalers even if one was wanted. Which is why no one has ever suggested that one is coming. Which is why meeting about how to regulate it much less stop it is a complete waste of scarce county resources.

We are now officially living in “upside down world.” President Trump cuts a deal to buy Russian diesel fuel that meets maybe 10 to 14 days of U.S. needs, assuming that it’s even lived up to, but it certainly props up Putin’s war economy. Then he cuts another deal for a 3-day pause in Ukrainian-Russian airstrikes on each other’s energy infrastructure which Russia promptly ignores striking Ukrainian power plants and gas facilities and an oil depot during those three days. Now he calls Ukraine’s legitimate, overwhelmingly elected President, replacing the previous corrupt administration, a “dictator.” And envoy Steve Witkof calls Putin a “humanitarian” for releasing an American after four years of illegal captivity. And we thought Biden’s foreign policy was incoherent.

Mark Twain advised us to “Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great ones make you feel that you, too, can become great.”

Saint Thomas Aquinas believed that “There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship.”

Actress Eva Marie-Saint who recently died at the age of 102 gave us this advice on aging: “You know how to stay young? Go with the flow.”

In a recent interview, Bill Gates claimed that “There’s never been a product that’s less understood in terms of what it’s capable of than AI.”

Science fiction novelist and futurist Arthur C. Clarke wrote that “…any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”

We hope that the U.S. isn’t headed down the French road of a fiscal death spiral as both our countries face the unsustainable rising costs of borrowing money to maintain our bloated entitlement programs and various government handouts. France, with its recent civil unrest over threatened spending cuts as it tries to establish some fiscal order, is a lesson for Congress and the White House that eventually the largesse chickens come home to roost. And no country can tax it’s way to solvency.

Journalist Maria Hinojosa tells us to “Be curious of the things that are different.”

Aesop said: “He that is discontented in one place will seldom be content in another.”

Mick Jagger claims that “It’s alright to let yourself go as long as you can let yourself back.”

According to Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, “Enthusiasm spells the difference between mediocrity and accomplishment.”

Aristotle thought that “He who is to be a good ruler must have first been ruled.”

For the first time in Gallup’s polling history since 2010, positive views of socialism crossed the 40% threshold. Fortunately, Small Business and Free Enterprise still hold solid majorities. The Democratic Socialists of America explicitly say their objective goes beyond regulating capitalism. It favors collective ownership of important economic sectors and describes democratic socialism as an alternative to capitalism. Its constitution calls for “popular control of resources and production” and economic planning. However, the farther an economy moves toward comprehensive government ownership and central allocation and away from free market forces, serious problems with productivity, shortages, innovation and resource allocation become the norm.

It’s been said that “The trouble with life in the fast lane is that you get to the other in an awful hurry.”