Ahoy!

"Dr. Marvin, Dr. Marvin, I'm sailing, I sailed, I'm a sailor on my very first try!"

Okay, so I needed a fun greeting and I can't help but think about What About Bob whenever I hear "Ahoy!"

It's been ages since I've said anything. All manner of good stuff has happened since my last post in April.

I'm now married. Whoa. How cool is that! I'm digging it. My wife is wonderful. (And I'm still getting mad utils from just calling her my wife :D ) We had a wonderful wedding and many of our family and friends came to support us. For those of you who could not make it, you were missed! The ceremony was simple and beautiful. We are sealed together for time and all eternity. None of this "till death do you part" stuff. I'm serious when I say that.

We had a crazy busy couple of weeks, what with my finals, me moving, Lex's graduation (She's a Master now :D ), the family mixer over dessert (I got a yummy sandwich, I was starving) the night before the wedding, and the wedding, picture taking, and reception, before the honeymoon. The actual day of the wedding was the best day of my life so far. This in spite of the fact that I slept about 3 hours that night next to a chainsaw (sorry Dad!).

Lucky for us, the weather held; It had been starting to rain as we were pulling up to the Washington, DC temple in our rented "Chariot for Hire" (bus) with family in tow. We took a bunch of pictures on the temple grounds and then piled into the bus and headed down to the monuments. We took pictures at the Jefferson and Lincoln, despite the best efforts of DC police to prevent us, notwithstanding our permits (yeah, you have to pay to take pictures in front of the monuments in your wedding garb). Alia, our photographer, was great. So was her husband. I needed help knowing when my smile was in need of renewed energy (i.e. I was smiling, but not showing any teeth).

After the photo shoot around DC we cruised back to the hotel and got ready for the reception. The reception was a blast, for me personally, and at least from appearances, to those in attendance. I had so much fun dancing with Lex, my mom, my little sister, and watching others dance and have fun. Lex and her dad had a wonderful surprise built into their daddy-daughter dance. Slow dance ---> tap dance ! :D In case you're wondering, Lex and I were sedate in how we helped each other taste the wedding cake. None of the mashing the cake in your beautiful wife's face. I think we finally called it a night around 10:30pm or so. The party was still going strong thanks to the folks of the Langley Ward :D.

Okay, so this is far from all, but I'm sure Lex will post more on our blog :)

Things I like about Virginia, Ch. 1

1. Alexis (yup, she's here and it's a better place because she graces it with her presence)

The rest are in no particular order.

2. Trees (I come from Colorado, Utah, and Arizona....I thought I knew what trees were before I moved out here. I was wrong. I love how the trees out here flower before they get their leaves. The fall is just beautiful. )
3. Richmond (We just took a trip down there. For more on our adventures, see Lex's blog)
4. History (I love how central Virginia was to the Founding of the US. I've got a class right now on the Founders' Constitution. It's wonderful learning of those who lived here and their efforts to create a good system of government. It's even better to just drive around and see how many places there are where that history happened. I need to go exploring this summer and see more of it)
5. Virginia really is for lovers!! (Hahaha, that's right I'm being sappy again. But its true, this is where I met Lex and fell for her. :D )
6. The Red Wings never come here :D (This is to redeem myself for number 5. :P )

Insanity!

Okay, so I'm not sure I meet the criteria for insanity yet, but just to test things here's the latest. I decided to apply for GMU's MA in Economics program. It's something I've been thinking about since before I applied and now is the time to apply. Actually, the time to apply was 3/15, but I went and talked to the staff at GMU's campus in Fairfax and they said that if I got the app in by this week, the admissions board would take a look at it. If you're curious, here's what I told them about why I want to do the MA in Econ.

I left out some preliminary stuff about my background, but here's the rest:

III. Why the MA in Economics?

First, I enjoyed economics as an undergraduate and want to learn more. Intermediate Price Theory 2 was one of my favorite classes at BYU. I loved the models we used for auctions, cartels, monopolies, risk taking, and the time we spent on game theory. Furthermore, I had the opportunity to take Econometrics and loved working with data sets and running regressions in STATA. I am eager to take Econometrics as part of the MA in Economics and hope to become more familiar with and adept at using quantitative methods.

Second, economics provides a set of tools that will inform my analysis of legal questions. Some of the most influential jurists have been those who have used economic principles to analyze the law. The skills I would gain from the MA in Economics would inform my application of legal principles and give me a broader set of tools with which to evaluate legal outcomes and human rights policies.

Finally, An MA in Economics will give me greater economic expertise without the commitment of a PhD program. While I was at BYU, I was a teaching assistant for a Statistics for Economists class. I loved teaching students how to solve problems. It was the greatest feeling to see students go from following you to figuring it out for themselves and applying it in new situations. I have often thought that at some point I would like to enter academia and teach. In the meantime, the MA in Economics would give me practical skills and provide me with more insight about whether I want to pursue a PhD.

IV. Economics at GMU

After graduating from BYU and moving to the DC metropolitan area, I decided to enroll in law school at George Mason University. I came to GMU for both a law degree and economics degree. The law degree will give me the credentials necessary to prosecute human rights violators. The economics degree will help me develop a better understanding of incentives and work with the market to create incentives that protect human rights. With respect to human rights violations, exhortation is not enough. There are people in power, both political and economic, who will not do the right thing no matter how much you ask. I hope to be able to give them reasons to use their power to benefit, rather than abuse, those subject to it. To that end, a law degree will help me have the skills to prosecute those who have already violated human rights, while the economics degree will help me see how to give people, governments, and corporations incentives to avoid human rights violations going forward.

Summer Plans

Alright, so today I got some good news.  I found out that I've been accepted to the GW/Oxford International Human Rights Law study abroad that will be in Oxford from mid-July to mid-August.  I've been interested in that program since before I began law school, so I'm pretty stoked about getting in.  GMU doesn't offer those classes and to be able to take them at Oxford.   With the caliber of people they have teach and lecture, I'm sure it will be fantastic.  They bring in people who are doing the real work out there in the various human rights tribunals.  I'm not sure who they have lined up for this summer, but I'm excited all the same.  Yes, Casey, I know you're rolling your eyes as you read this.  That's okay, because David Crane is my hero!  So there!   :)

What else am I doing this summer?  Glad you asked :)  First and foremost, I'm marrying Alexis.  I am counting the days, trust me.  We're going on a cruise for the honeymoon the following week.  I've never been on one, Lex has, and we're both so excited!!  After that, we'll get back and try to find some sort of rhythm.  We're looking at apartments in Alexandria and will likely be in the Mount Vernon Stake.  I've got an unpaid internship lined up at the Potomac Legal Aid Society.  My understanding is that will be part-time.  I'm also talking to a local firm that primarily works with Eastern European clients.  I hope they take me on for a part-time (paid) internship.  We'll see.  Other than that, the plan is to spend as much time as possible with my lovely wife.  :D

Fun with Friends

I woke up this morning and was excited to see that it hadn't rained.  Well, at least it looked like it was dry outside.  I got to go play some tennis with Kristine.  That was so much fun!  I haven't run around like that in ages.  Amazing how good it felt to be out on the tennis court :)  

After that, I got to go help Darin and Melanie move into their place.  I'm so excited for them.  I loved their place.  I think they are going to be all sorts of good once they get unpacked.  As for the move, we had a bunch of helpers and there really wasn't that much stuff.  They even treated us to pizza and pop when it was over!   The apartment is in a complex that's similar looking to the one Darin used to live in and I live in now.  It was funny, because four of the guys there had lived in my current apartment at one time or another.  Soon, I'll be passing my spot on to some fresh grad who will, more likely than not, be coming here from Utah.

JRCLS Dinner and Fireside

So, I went to the J. Reuben Clark Law Society dinner and fireside tonight.  Last year was my first time.  It was fun to actually be a law student this time around.  The catered food was decent.  I sat at a table with Aaron M., a UVA alum who is clerking for a DC Circuit Ct.  Also there were Levi and Bonnie and their son Clark.  Levi's a 3L at GW who is looking for public service work for the next year.  His firm will still give him an office and pay him half salary.  Across the way was Troy and Debra W.  Debra's a 3L at GMU who will finish up in December.  I'd seen her their before.  Her husband's a Harvard alum who's doing Native American law on his own.  Rick and Elyse P. were there too of course.  It was good to see them.  

I had a brief conversation with Jon J., one of the Pro Bono Comm. co-chairs.  He remembered me from the lunch at Patton Boggs a few months back.  I told him I was going to be interning for the Potomac Legal Aid Society this summer and that he should feel free to give me anything a 1L can help out with.

The JRCLS Distinguished Service Award was given to Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.  He had been a managing partner at a law firm in San Francisco before working in health care and later being called to church service.  His message focused on two pieces of the Constitutions: 1) pursuit of happiness and 2) religious freedom.  The pursuit of happiness portion was about not comparing yourself to everyone who is the best at a particular skill.  Instead, he encouraged us to strive to develop Christ-like attributes.  The religious freedom portion was focused on encouraging lawyers to actively participate in conversations about the Church in public fora with thoughtful, reasoned responses.

It was a good evening.  Would have been better if Lex were here.  She's off in her homeland playing with friends and family.  She's also got a bridal shower up there this weekend.  

Legal Memorandum in Support of 12(b)(6) Motion to Dismiss

If you're thinking to yourself "Huh?!", then you know my pain for the last week or so. I turned it in this morning at 9:56am, just 4 minutes before the electronic submission deadline. We had to write one about some copyright claims for contributory infringement and vicarious liability. We did it using case law from the 9th Circuit as the Plaintiff brought the case in the Central District of California.

It's become clear to me that I stress over things I've never done before. I stress about them and don't really want to start them. Then at some point, my stress about the rapidly approaching deadline overpowers the fear of doing whatever the task may be incorrectly.

In the future, I definitely need to start sooner. Any recommendations for how to approach tasks you've never tackled before without getting overwhelmed?

George Mason School of Law - Comments and Suggestions

There are a number of things that would improve the George Mason School of Law's facilities.

In no particular order:

1.  Double doors in the basement to prevent all of the cold air from permeating the first two floors of the law school.

2.  More lounging space for students.

3.  More study space for students.

4.  Better vending machine offerings.  As far as pop goes (yes, it's pop, don't even get me started :P ) most everything in the vending machines is Coke.  Oh yeah, there's also iced tea and water.  There is one vending machine that has Sprite.  Good luck getting the credit card swipe to work, or even getting the product you chose.  I've had the machine randomly issue me a Coke when I pushed Sprite.

 - For a comparison, go take a look at the vending machines in the Original Building (where the School of Public Policy is housed).

5.  Hardware that allows you to secure your laptop to the carrels in the library.

6.  Reference Desk hours on Saturday.  They have Sunday hours.  Doesn't help me.

7.  SBA meetings not on Sunday.  Yeah, 3 LDS students who would have run for SBA did not because the meetings are on Sunday.

8.  Alcohol-free tickets for the Barrister's Ball.  Some of us don't actually drink, why should we pay for alcohol we're not going to drink?

9.  Better bookstore hours.  The bookstore closes at 4:00pm or so on Fridays.  Night students have class until 8pm on Fridays.  Also, the bookstore is not open at all on Saturdays.  Good luck picking up that study aid you need over the weekend.

10.  Another fridge for students to use for lunches.

11.  Another TV besides the one in the Mason Cafe.

12.  Cheaper prices at all of the vending machines on Arlington Campus.  Monopoly pricing anyone?

Manners anyone?

Making Room for Miss Manners Is a Parenting Basic
By PERRI KLASS, M.D.
Published: January 13, 2009
Manners are another side of the journey every child makes from helplessness to autonomy.

I stumbled across this article this morning and enjoyed reading it.  He makes the point that a basic truth kids need to learn is that there are other people besides themselves and those people have feelings.  Your thoughts and feelings are your own, but your behavior is public and should fit within the realm of courtesy.

Mother Teresa Quote from Judy

Lemmings in Congress

Lemmings on Wheels

By Eugene Robinson

Tuesday, December 16, 2008; Page A19

The Washington Post

Read this and liked it.  He makes good points about not adding to the unemployed section of the population right during the holiday season.  He also makes a good point about the size of the loan here relative to the $700 billion for Wall Street.  

A Shout Out for Detroit

The following is a well written "Letter to the Editor" from Elkins Fordland. It makes a number of points that you do not hear enough about in the media. I've bolded some points that are particularly compelling.

Editor:

As I watch the coverage of the fate of the U.S. auto industry, one alarming and frustrating fact hits me right between the eyes. The fate of our nation's economic survival is in the hands of some congressmen who are completely out of touch and act without knowledge of an industry that affects almost every person in our nation. The same lack of knowledge is shared with many journalists whom are irresponsible when influencing the opinion of millions of viewers.

Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama has doomed the industry, calling it a dinosaur. No Mr. Shelby, you are the dinosaur, with ideas stuck in the '70s, '80s and '90s. You and the uninformed journalist and senators that hold onto myths that are not relevant in today's world.

When you say that the Big Three build vehicles nobody wants to buy, you must have overlooked that GM outsold Toyota by about 1.2 million vehicles in the U.S. and Ford outsold Honda by 850,000 and Nissan by 1.2 million in the U.S. GM was the world's No. 1 automaker beating Toyota by 3,000 units.

When you claim inferior quality comes from the Big Three, did you realize that Chevy makes the Malibu and Ford makes the Fusion that were both rated over the Camry and Accord by J.D. Power independent survey on initial quality? Did you bother to read the Consumer Report that rated Ford on par with good Japanese automakers.

Did you realize Big Three's gas guzzlers include the 33 mpg Malibu that beats the Accord. And for '09 Ford introduces the Hybrid Fusion whose 39 mpg is the best midsize, beating the Camry Hybrid. Ford's Focus beats the Corolla and Chevy's Cobalt beats the Civic.

When you ask how many times are we going to bail them out you must be referring to 1980. The only Big Three bailout was Chrysler, who paid back $1 billion, plus interest. GM and Ford have never received government aid.

When you criticize the Big Three for building so many pickups, surely you've noticed the attempts Toyota and Nissan have made spending billions to try to get a piece of that pie. Perhaps it bothers you that for 31 straight years Ford's F-Series has been the best selling vehicle. Ford and GM have dominated this market and when you see the new '09 F-150 you'll agree this won't change soon.

Did you realize that both GM and Ford offer more hybrid models than Nissan or Honda. Between 2005 and 2007, Ford alone has invested more than $22 billion in research and development of technologies such as Eco Boost, flex fuel, clean diesel, hybrids, plug in hybrids and hydrogen cars.

It's 2008 and the quality of the vehicles coming out of Detroit are once again the best in the world.

Perhaps Sen. Shelby isn't really that blind. Maybe he realizes the quality shift to American. Maybe it's the fact that his state of Alabama has given so much to land factories from Honda, Hyundai and Mercedes Benz that he is more concerned about their continued growth than he is about the people of our country. Sen. Shelby's disdain for "government subsidies" is very hypocritical. In the early '90s he was the driving force behind a $253 million incentive package to Mercedes. Plus, Alabama agreed to purchase 2,500 vehicles from Mercedes. While the bridge loan the Big Three is requesting will be paid back, Alabama 's $180,000-plus per job was pure incentive. Sen. Shelby, not only are you out of touch, you are a self-serving hypocrite, who is prepared to ruin our nation because of lack of knowledge and lack of due diligence in making your opinions and decisions.

After 9/11, the Detroit Three and Harley Davidson gave $40 million-plus emergency vehicles to the recovery efforts. What was given to the 9/11 relief effort by the Asian and European Auto Manufactures? $0 Nada. Zip!

We live in a world of free trade, world economy and we have not been able to produce products as cost efficiently. While the governments of other auto producing nations subsidize their automakers, our government may be ready to force its demise. While our automakers have paid union wages, benefits and legacy debt, our Asian competitors employ cheap labor. We are at an extreme disadvantage in production cost. Although many UAW concessions begin in 2010, many lawmakers think it's not enough.

Some point the blame to corporate management. I would like to speak of Ford Motor Co. The company has streamlined by reducing our workforce by 51,000 since 2005, closing 17 plants and cutting expenses. Product and future product is excellent and the company is focused on one Ford. This is a company poised for success. Ford product quality and corporate management have improved light years since the nightmare of Jacques Nasser. Thank you Alan Mulally and the best auto company management team in the business.


The financial collapse caused by the secondary mortgage fiasco and the greed of Wall Street has led to a $700 billion bailout of the industry that created the problem. AIG spent nearly $1 million on three company excursions to lavish resorts and hunting destinations. Paulson is saying no to $250 billion foreclosure relief and the whole thing is a mess. So when the Big Three ask for 4 percent of that of the $700 billion, $25 billion to save the country's largest industry, there is obviously oppositions. But does it make sense to reward the culprits of the problem with $700 billion unconditionally, and ignore the victims?

As a Ford dealer, I feel our portion of the $25 billion will never be touched and is not necessary. Ford currently has $29 billion of liquidity. However, the effect of a bankruptcy by GM will hurt the suppliers we all do business with. A Chapter 11 bankruptcy by any manufacture would cost retirees their health care and retirements. Chances are GM would recover from Chapter 11 with a better business plan with much less expense. So who foots the bill if GM or all three go Chapter 11? All that extra health care, unemployment, loss of tax base and some forgiven debt goes back to the taxpayer, us. With no chance of repayment, this would be much worse than a loan with the intent of repayment.

So while it is debatable whether a loan or Chapter 11 is better for the Big Three, a $25 billion loan is definitely better for the taxpayers and the economy of our country.

So I'll end where I began on the quality of the products of Detroit . Before you, Mr. or Ms. Journalist continue to misinform the American public and turn them against one of the great industries that helped build this nation, I must ask you one question. Before you, Mr. or Madam Congressman vote to end health care and retirement benefits for 1 million retirees, eliminate 2.5 million of our nation's jobs, lose the technology that will lead us in the future and create an economic disaster including hundreds of billions of tax dollars lost, I ask this question not in the rhetorical sense. I ask it in the sincere, literal way. Can you tell me, have you driven a Ford lately?

Jim Jackson
Elkins

$73/hour breakdown

ECONOMIC SCENE

$73 an Hour: Adding It Up

By DAVID LEONHARDT

Published: December 10, 2008

The gap between the pay of Big Three autoworkers and workers at foreign-owned plants is less than it seems.

I read this just now and thought it was good.  At least it helped me see what the automakers have on their plate.  No wonder they haven't been doing well.  My family has definitely leaned towards foreign cars.  My dad and step-mom own Subarus and a Nissan.  I can't remember if Nissan's are foreign or somehow tied to Ford.  Anyway, my mom and stepdad have counting my car two toyotas, a subaru, a ford pickup, and a dodge minivan.  

 Given the higher costs of the Big Three and the average American consumer's distaste for their product, these companies may not be able to recover. Nevertheless, I do think the jobs of their workers need to be saved, at least to get people through the winter.

Good news from India

INTERNATIONAL / ASIA PACIFIC

Muslims in India Put Aside Grievances to Repudiate Terrorism

By ROBERT F. WORTH

Published: December 8, 2008

Throngs marched through Mumbai and other cities to condemn terrorism and proclaim loyalty to the nation.

I was heartened to see this in the aftermath of the attacks in India. I have met Muslims in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. They are not warlike and do not harbor terrorist plots. I realize that there are terrorists out there who claim to espouse Islam as their faith, but they are not representative of the vast majority of Islam's adherents. I am eager for mainstream Islam to assert itself and exercise some self-policing over its purported adherents who would throw principle to the wind and expend resources and waste their lives in destroying when they could be doing something constructive to build up others.

This set of thoughts and events has reminded me that I want to learn more about those who have sought to resolve conficts through non-violent means.

Same-sex Issues and Constitutional Amendments

I saw a post on facebook that led me to an article against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints' position on the Constitutional Amendments about marriage this fall. The Church's position can be found in a document entitled "The Divine Institution of Marriage." I recommend it to anyone who will be voting on this issue this fall.

Here are some points that I found particularly salient (Excerpts follow below):

1. Statistics about degradation of society's morals in the last half century.
2. Tolerance means love the person, but do not condone the behavior.
3. Allowing changes in definition of marriage will have numerous identifiable consequences that will damage society.

1. Statistics
Our modern era has seen traditional marriage and family – defined as a husband and wife with children in an intact marriage – come increasingly under assault. Sexual morality has declined and infidelity has increased. Since 1960, the proportion of children born out of wedlock has soared from 5.3 percent to 38.5 percent (2006). [10] Divorce has become much more common and accepted, with the United States having one of the highest divorce rates in the world. Since 1973, abortion has taken the lives of over 45 million innocents. [11] At the same time, entertainment standards continue to plummet, and pornography has become a scourge afflicting and addicting many victims. Gender differences increasingly are dismissed as trivial, irrelevant, or transient, thus undermining God’s purpose in creating both men and women.

2. Tolerance means love the person, but do not condone the behavior.
Those who favor homosexual marriage contend that “tolerance” demands that they be given the same right to marry as heterosexual couples. But this appeal for “tolerance” advocates a very different meaning and outcome than that word has meant throughout most of American history and a different meaning than is found in the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Savior taught a much higher concept, that of love. “Love thy neighbor,” He admonished. [13] Jesus loved the sinner even while decrying the sin, as evidenced in the case of the woman taken in adultery: treating her kindly, but exhorting her to “sin no more.” [14] Tolerance as a gospel principle means love and forgiveness of one another, not “tolerating” transgression.

In today’s secular world, the idea of tolerance has come to mean something entirely different. Instead of love, it has come to mean condone – acceptance of wrongful behavior as the price of friendship.

Jesus taught that we love and care for one another without condoning transgression. But today’s politically palatable definition insists that unless one accepts the sin he does not tolerate the sinner.

As Elder Dallin H. Oaks has explained,

Tolerance obviously requires a non-contentious manner of relating toward one another’s differences. But tolerance does not require abandoning one’s standards or one’s opinions on political or public policy choices. Tolerance is a way of reacting to diversity, not a command to insulate it from examination. [15]


3. Long-term harmful effects of changing the definition of marriage:

It is true that some same-sex couples will obtain guardianship over children –through prior heterosexual relationships, through adoption in the states where this is permitted, or by artificial insemination. Despite that, the all-important question of public policy must be: what environment is best for the child and for the rising generation? Traditional marriage provides a solid and well-established social identity to children. It increases the likelihood that they will be able to form a clear gender identity, with sexuality closely linked to both love and procreation. By contrast, the legalization of same-sex marriage likely will erode the social identity, gender development, and moral character of children. Is it really wise for society to pursue such a radical experiment without taking into account its long-term consequences for children?

As just one example of how children will be adversely affected, the establishment of same-sex marriage as a civil right will inevitably require mandatory changes in school curricula. When the state says that same-sex unions are equivalent to heterosexual marriages, the curriculum of public schools will have to support this claim. Beginning with elementary school, children will be taught that marriage can be defined as a relation between any two adults and that consensual sexual relations are morally neutral. Classroom instruction on sex education in secondary schools can be expected to equate homosexual intimacy with heterosexual relations. These developments will create serious clashes between the agenda of the secular school system and the right of parents to teach their children traditional standards of morality.

Who's helping Joe more?

Op-Ed Columnist
The Real Plumbers of Ohio
By PAUL KRUGMAN
Published: October 20, 2008
John McCain’s strategy, in this final stretch, is based on the belief that Republicans can still pursue plutocratic policies while claiming to be the party of regular guys.

I think it's pretty clear that the majority of Americans will benefit from Obama's tax plan more than from McCain's. In fact, Krugman makes a convincing case that Joe the Plumber will be better off under Obama's plan than McCain's.

What Colin Powell has to say about November:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/27265490#27265490

A World Without Pain is Hell

World without pain is hell, parent says

By A. Chris Gajilan
CNN

I'm not downplaying how bad pain is. It's just that conversations frequently come up in church about how useful pain is. This article shows that pain actually helps us learn and enjoy life more.

RGT for Senate!

A friend of mine began his candidacy for Senate today.  I think he has a lot of feeling about political issues.  I read his first post on his facebook group today and it got me thinking.  Here is my reply to his first post:

RGT, First, let me say that I applaud your intentions. I'm going to be blunt and say that I think your an opinionated guy. You have strong feelings about things; I think that's clear to anyone who has spoken with you. Far better than having an opinion and pestering people with it or complaining about other peoples' perceived inadequacies is deciding to do something with your views. I firmly believe in taking action to fix something that you perceive to be broken. Good for you.  

Second, I'm going to respond to your three principles above. I liked the first one of responsibility, especially the references to previous generations and the sacrifices they have made. I believe that Americans and those Americans who hope to lead the others must be willing to make sacrifices at their own expense. It is easy to legislate a sacrifice for somebody else. Your call to responsibility makes me think of the current economic crisis and deficit. It simply must be addressed. America cannot continue to function on borrowed resources. You have to pay the piper at some point. I think we need to start paying now rather than hoping that the piper will somehow forget about us or change his mind about the money we owe him. Americans cannot push the blame for the broken political system off onto their leaders. Who put them there? I am sure politicians gladly would have elected themselves, but it takes a few more votes for that to happen. Few leaders will take responsibility until their electorates take them to task.

Your second point about self-reliance quite honestly scares me. I know that there are a variety of ways people apply self-reliance. Some use it as a way to develop character with the intent to open the eyes of people who have esteemed themselves too low and have lost sight of their own worth and potential. Others use it as a shield, a way to withhold assistance from those who need it. I am not certain I know where the line is between self-reliance and benevolence. When should a person help out another? When should someone who is struggling ask for help? I believe it would be unwise to focus on self-reliance without also focusing on benevolence. America does need to cultivate a stronger willingness for hard work. There does need to be less expectation of a handout. But at the same time, I firmly believe that we must work to encourage a sense of community. People need to feel like they are all in it together regardless of historical differences or divisions. We should work to develop consideration for those around us, look beyond ourselves and offer assistance to others of our own free will. Any work that can be done to encourage an active concern for others' well-being is good.

Efficiency brings economics to mind. Economics is a wonderful discipline. I believe it provides useful tools to analyze problems and work out solutions to them. I am concerned about the relative lack of sound economic education in America. I believe that many and perhaps most politicians do not have enough of a handle on basic economic principles. Nor, sadly, are they willing to employ them when they do. Too often they vote in favor of policies that help themselves or some privileged part of their constituency while harming the public as a whole. This, in spite of their knowledge that their chosen policy will make a particular market function less efficiently. Your contrast of efficiency and fairness leave me groping for examples. I would be interested in an illustration of an "efficient" vs. a "fair" solution.

RGT, thank you for your post. I hope to read more of your ideas as you continue on this path.

Gratitude for Mosquitoes?

Okay, so this is definitely not my usual thing, but I stumbled across this on NPR.  Check out this article.  I thought the third reason was rather intriguing.