If I were a social scientist studying human behavior, I’d want to understand why wealth tends to bestow status on people. Wealth has its uses, true.  But it has limitations, also. Being lost in the desert, would a lump of gold quench my thirst, heal my blistered feet, or provide a

The anthropologist Margaret Mead spent her life studying humans and came up with observations that go unchallenged today. One of them is, Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed it’s the only thing that ever has.  But, like the

What follows below is a test.  Read the italicized statements and identify the speaker.  Is it Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Jamie Dimon, or Steve Bannon? *You have to break the mindset that stock buybacks are fine, that crony capitalism is fine, and that tax breaks for

A conversation on my Facebook page focused on whether or not liberals should make a greater effort to listen to MAGA concerns. Most of the contributors felt that listening is always good, and so do I.  But I also feel that listening should be reciprocal. Senator Chuck Schummer (D) li

Many are wondering why Kamala Harris, who ran a flawless campaign for President in 2024 and had a billion dollars in her war chest, was unable to defeat a 78-year-old scandal-ridden felon. A reason might be that though the economy was booming, 36.8 million people, roughly 11 percent o

Growing up as a Catholic, taking Confession struck me as a wonderful device.  Whenever I did something wrong during the week, if I confessed on Friday, the priest would assign me a few prayers to recite, and “poof”, like magic, I was absolved of sin.   If I missed a week, I cou

Though averse to ageism, I was moved when I  read that longtime Congresswoman Anne Kuste was retiring to allow someone younger to take her place.  As a tribute to her decision, I have recorded below my relevant brunch conversation with a Millennial.                  

                                What is hope but futility for moments stood on end?  (Sydney Lee) When I was a child learning my catechism, I wondered about the hopelessness of hell.  Condemned to the fires of eternal damnation, why didn’t those lost souls rebel? 

During the 2024 election campaign, those scratching for a reason to support Donald Trump said they wanted someone with business experience who could make the government more efficient.  Why they would hold that hope for a man who filed six bankruptcies is a mystery. Nonetheless, thei

Recently, I came upon an article that compared the habits of folks with old and new money.  Old money, for example, avoided designer labels, and flashy cars and was courteous to people who provided service.  New money was less shy about flaunting status and more demanding.  This di