Episodes

Introduction Both are born of ignorance, fear and a desire to be one up on, to be superior to, our fellow human beings. That is the subject of today’s 10-minute episode. Continuing Most of us have seen photos and videos of people wrestling over packages of toilet paper–some even actually fighting over them. And all of us have seen stills and videos where racism shows it’s ugly head. Is there really a connection? If so, Will, what is it? Let’s take a look at some of the facts and motivations behi...

Introduction The corona crisis has been called a test of our national character. I am calling it a test of our individual characters. As we as individuals and families react to the coronavirus pandemic, are we thinking of ourselves, of others, or both? That is the subject of today’s 10-minute episode. Continuing Everyone can be infected; the serious consequences are concentrated on those over 50 years of age. If you take the recommended inconvenient precautions, you take care of yourself and oth...

Introduction We may pretend that either we don’t know which sort we are, or that we just know that we are in the good groups–but we all know the truth, whatever that is. One way to determine the truth is to take a look at the five people we spend the most time with, and ask the Giver or Taker and Producer or Depleter questions about them. And be honest; don’t try to skew the answers, knowing where this questioning is going. Once we have the answers about them, we have the answers about ourselves...

Introduction “Young people are not coming out to vote.” “Hillary Clinton did not inspire voting in the way that Obama did.” “In off-year elections, we expect to see reduced voting.” “We expect to see about 55% of eligible voters coming to the polls in this presidential election year.” In round numbers, there are 330M people in the US, 230M of voting age, 150M registered voters and 130M who bothered to vote in the 2016 presidential election. Why so few? It takes less time to vote than it does to ...

Introduction I received my first bank loan when I had no credit history to speak of, no credit cards and no idea what a credit rating was. Oh, and no collateral. The banker, from National State Bank in Boulder, CO, came to my 2-bedroom cabin west of Boulder, saw a few loudspeakers I had built, interviewed me, and decided I was a good credit risk. Assuming that he wanted at least some form of security, I eagerly offered him the title to my ‘66 VW bus, which I had purchased used for $600 a few yea...

Introduction America needs the Democrats to nominate Bernie Sanders as their candidate for President. Many other countries have tried socialism, some failing, others modifying it or retreating from it altogether. The only so-called successful democratic socialist countries are not socialist at all; they are free market countries with heavy income redistribution. We must have a national debate about socialism now, and a presidential race is the best forum for that needed national discussion. If w...

Introduction American stock markets fell 15% in just a few days, one of the worst weeks in history for the markets. More cases of the virus are appearing in countries around the globe, many with no known connection to travel to infected countries or visits with people known to be infected. Is this a repeat of the Spanish flu where millions were killed globally? Are we headed to a major recession, or even a repeat of the Great Depression of 1929? That is the subject of today’s 10-minute episode. ...

Introduction Paraphrasing Marine Corps Colonel Jessup, played by Jack Nicholson, in “A Few Good Men.” as Jessup was being cross-examined in an important military court martial. The Colonel was making the case that his questioner, Lt. j.g. Kaffee, played by Tom Cruise, who was demanding the truth in this climactic scene, could not handle the truth if he heard it. I am making the case that perennial activists, here in the US, in the Middle East and elsewhere, while demanding justice and peace, can...

Introduction Should America be socialist? Is America already socialist? To answer either of those questions, we must first define socialism. What is it? What countries are socialist? For example, is Denmark socialist? If so, is it the same socialism as Venezuela? And what about “socialist” countries like Germany under the Nazis, “National Socialist German Workers’ Party” and the former USSR, “Union of Soviet Socialist Republics”? With the definitions in hand, we can have a useful discussion. Tha...

Introduction This phrase was famously written on a white board in Clinton campaign headquarters by James Carville in 1992. Carville was a strategist in Bill Clinton ’s successful 1992 presidential campaign against incumbent George H. W. Bush . Here is another take. “Are you better off now than you were four years ago? Is there more or less unemployment…than there was four years ago?” Ronald Reagan asked the voters this question during his televised debate against the incumbent President Jimmy Ca...

Introduction I was born a white male. That’s my Political Original Sin. Original Sin in the Bible is depicted as the sin that we have all inherited from Adam and Eve in the Garden. Even God cannot rewrite history and erase what Adam and Eve did; according to the Bible, the only way that Original Sin can be erased is through salvation from Jesus Christ. My Political Original Sin apparently cannot be erased; as a white male, I will always be guilty. And I didn’t even get an apple out of the deal. ...

Introduction We have all heard the useful saying, “Walk a mile in their shoes.” How many people who are for more–even severe–gun laws have walked a mile in a gun owners’ shoes? And vice versa; how many NRA members have walked a mile in a “gun-grabbers” shoes? I have done both, and I’d like you to walk those two miles with me. That is the subject of today’s 10-minute episode. Continuing In the military, I saw guns as tools. Decades later when I went to a friend’s home and saw a large glass-front,...

Introduction January 28th, 2020, marked the liberation of the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz, where the Nazis killed 1.1 million, mostly Jews, but the Nazi butchers also targeted homosexuals, the mentally ill, the physically unfit, gypsies and others for starvation, torture and extermiation. Six million Jews were killed by Hitler and his followers during their time in power. Stalin killed about 25 million of his countrymen in his quest to gain and keep power in Russia; Mao killed about 60 million ...

Introduction Was the halftime performance at the 2020 Super Bowl consistent with the goals and philosophy of #Metoo? That is the subject of today’s 10-minute episode. Continuing Recurring question in today’s episode: Would you leave your car unlocked in a neighborhood that you did not know for certain was completely safe? And even then, would you? And if something was taken from your car, or even the car itself was stolen, would any part of you wish that you had locked the car, and taken the key...

Introduction …and worse, to listen to my critics. In one of the most agonizing political decisions of my life, I voted for Trump in 2016. Agonizing because of the 17 Republican candidates in the Republican 2016 primaries, Trump was my 18th choice. He made despicable comments about Megyn Kelly’s period on National TV–then denied them. Also on TV, he called candidate Carly Fiorina “horse face.” Most unforgivable to this Vietnam Era Army Veteran was his demeaning comments about John McCain’s being ...

Introduction We have all had to deal with it. iPad tipping consoles where the clear expectation is that we pay a full percentage tip for much less than full service. And unlike full service restaurants where the server is not looking us in the eye while we select their reward, we are eyeball-to-eyeball with the counter worker, who immediately sees the amount we have selected while we are still there. Aren’t we intentionally being guilt-tripped into overtipping? Is there a connection here with ot...

Introduction Like Dr. Martin Luther King, I have a dream. I dream that we will recognize and glory in our inherent differences, strengths and weaknesses, using our strengths to shore up each other’s weaknesses. And use that combined and multiplied strength to help us come together, discovering that not-so-far-down we all want the same things, we all have the same bedrock, common goals. That’s why I am committed to Revolution 2.0™. That is the subject of today’s 10-minute episode. Continuing Afte...

Introduction With all of the useful conversations about common sense, I am not a fan of using this concept as a way of influencing political discussions. Everyone thinks they have common sense. So appealing to someone to use common sense in order to change their positions is unlikely to be effective. Their view of what comprises common sense may be very different than yours. Start with probing for common goals, taking care to avoid seeing agendas and tactics as overall goals. For example, if the...

Introduction In American history, 3 presidents have been impeached. What was the motivation? That is the subject of today’s 10-minute episode. Continuing Andrew Johnson, Democrat, and the 17th President, was impeached in 1868. The vote to impeach was generally along party lines, with 122 Republicans and 4 Democrats voting Yea, and 2 Republicans and 45 Democrats voting Nay. The heavily Republican Senate almost succeeded in removing Johnson, voting 35-19 in favor of conviction–one vote shy of the ...

Introduction I recently watched an emotional and informative video, wherein media star Megyn Kelly interviewed 4 of her previous co-workers at Fox, 3 of whom, along with Kelly, had been sexually harassed at that network. And Kelly accused CBS, NBC, NPR, Hollywood, etc., of the same behavior. My most potent takeaway from the video was the terrible choice these women had to make, the choice between the shame of going along, saying “Yes” to the harassment for the sake of their incomes and careers, ...

Introduction Not long ago, almost all Americans loved a success story. Hometown boy makes good. Little guy succeeds against all odds. But not so much any more, not so much at all. That is the subject of today’s 10-minute episode. Continuing Has anyone heard of Horatio Alger? Horatio Alger Jr. was an American writer in the 1800s who wrote young adult novels about poor lads and their rise from humble backgrounds to lives of middle-class security and comfort through hard work, determination, courag...

Introduction: If you believe the science and scientists who gave you modern conveniences, including smartphones and microwave ovens, then you need to believe that climate change is real, near immediate, as in getting to carbon neutral in 30 years or so, and dire in its consequences if we don’t. The same scientists and the same science that gave us those modern tech tools, are saying that climate change is real and must be dealt with sooner rather than later. That is the core message that I recei...

Introduction All Democratic leaders are against the Solemani execution, and all Republican leaders are for it. It seems like we are choosing sides prior to watching a football game. And both sides cite “evidence”, which, when examined alone, sounds convincing. Where is the truth that should be known by all, and where is the strategic thinking that must cross party lines? Come to think of it, where are the grown ups? That is the subject of today’s 10-minute episode. Continuing How is it that ever...

Introduction Bill Clinton’s North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), while controversial, was widely acclaimed when it was enacted 25 years ago. President Clinton declared. “ First of all, NAFTA means jobs. American jobs, and good-paying American jobs. If I didn’t believe that, I wouldn’t support this agreement. In a fundamental sense, this debate about NAFTA is a debate about whether we will embrace these changes and create the jobs of tomorrow, or try to resist these changes, hoping we can...