Some years ago, when the world was young, my sainted wife took advantage of my accepting a decent-paying job to take a year off work. She envisioned happy hours reading novels, puttering in her flower garden and taking picnics in the park with our two sons, aged 10 and 7. Alas, those outings weren’t at […]

With all Democratic Party 2020 presidential candidates seemingly embracing socialism we could vote for socialism, Austria did. In the 20th Century at least a fourth of the world became socialist. Austria was the only country that acquired it by ballot rather than revolution. Once fully in place there are never again free elections with options […]

The Legislature may have adjourned for the year in late June but our work is far from over. In this interim period before the Legislature reconvenes in January, I’m focused on meeting with constituents, hearing from small businesses and working with stakeholders to address some of the key policy issues facing our state. With more […]

Annie and Arnold scream at each other when they argue about money—anger visits every payday. When Annie’s kids don’t follow house rules, her face turns radish red, her eyes pop, she huffs and puffs until the inner volcano erupts. Arnold’s frustration boils and bubbles when he gets stuck in traffic. And he is on thin […]

There are two reasons I’m not going to buy any Powerball tickets this week. The first: I don’t think my chances of winning justify risking even a dollar of my hard-earned money. But the second part of my rationale is less traditional. I’m abstaining from gambling to honor Jim Bottomley, a member of baseball’s Hall […]

Dewey joined the world dilemma think tank at the Mule Barn truck stop at 7, before the fertilizer started to fly. Well, before Dewey’s business fertilizer started to fly, anyway. He had somehow gotten the word that, for the sake of fresh air and happy breathing, it would be best if he did his morning […]