Category Archives: Politics

Writing Out of Fear

Posted on January 11, 2017 by John Swinburn

My limited writing of late skirts the edges of frivolity from time to time, then rushes headlong into its muck. Poor writing, they say, is better than none at all. My writing in recent weeks fits the bill of better than … Continue reading →

Posted in Anger, Fear, Government, Politics | Leave a comment

BIG Ideas

Posted on December 23, 2016 by John Swinburn

The perception of technological advances allowing customers to check out their own groceries differs radically, depending on one’s perspective. From the viewpoint of the grocer, investing in such technology means an investment in profitability or, indeed, economic survival. But store … Continue reading →

Posted in Compassion, Economics, Intellect, Philosophy, Politics, Secular morality | Leave a comment

Fact or Fiction or Something in Between

Posted on November 15, 2016 by John Swinburn

I considered writing about the upcoming Trump presidency and its likely aftermath, but decided against it because my book would certainly be seen as a knock-off of one written by Sinclair Lewis and published in 1935. It Can’t Happen Here describes … Continue reading →

Posted in Philosophy, Politics | Leave a comment

Grace

Posted on October 23, 2016 by John Swinburn

An image of a hand-written letter George H.W. Bush left in the Oval Office on January 1993 for Bill Clinton has gone viral (click on image to enlarge). The letter exemplifies a flurry of shared sentiments that seem to have sparked … Continue reading →

Posted in Civility, Philosophy, Politics, Secular morality | Leave a comment

Sinking into Fear and Politics

Posted on October 20, 2016 by John Swinburn

In terms of sleep, last night was moderately better than the several nights that preceded it. I think it only took me about thirty minutes to drift off to sleep after I went to bed at 12:30, though I was … Continue reading →

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The Cleansing

Posted on September 23, 2016 by John Swinburn

Certain words convey meanings that dictionary definitions do not adequately express. One such word , in my humble opinion, is “boisterous.” A group of pre-school children might be called boisterous. But the word is inappropriate to describe a gang of violent … Continue reading →

Posted in Language, Philosophy, Politics | Leave a comment

Independence Days Ahead

Posted on August 3, 2016 by John Swinburn

I feel like I’m outside myself, watching a transformation of my political beliefs. I watched the Independent ticket town hall on CNN this evening, with Governors Gary Johnson and William Weld. I agreed with so much of what they had … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | 1 Comment

Musings on the Day After the Fourth

Posted on July 5, 2016 by John Swinburn

Last night, I sat on my deck watching explosions of fireworks in the deep distance and hearing the faint percussive thuds of the remote blasts. The air was hot and muggy, defining July in central Arkansas (and much of my home state of … Continue reading →

Posted in Depression, Frustration, Independence Day, Philosophy, Politics, Rant | 2 Comments

Brexit

Posted on June 24, 2016 by John Swinburn

My fears about the Brexit vote came to fruition when, in the middle of the night last night, I woke up and checked the news. I don’t pretend to understand the full breadth of the vote’s ramifications on the world economy, … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | 2 Comments

How to Heal

Posted on November 22, 2015 by John Swinburn

Unless my assessment of the “state of the union” is badly skewed, it is apparent that the preponderance of Americans yearn for healing the sharp divides that exist in our country today between those on the political right and the political left. That … Continue reading →

Posted in Just Thinking, Philosophy, Politics | Leave a comment

Did Someone Spike the Kool-Aid?

Posted on September 29, 2015 by John Swinburn

After reading the boasts and lies of one especially egotistical politician who claims he isn’t one, and seeing his approval ratings climb as a result of his braggadocio and mendacity, I feel compelled to acknowledge that a significant percentage of … Continue reading →

Posted in Philosophy, Politics | Leave a comment

Recollections of Writing

Posted on August 17, 2015 by John Swinburn

I spent the better part of the day yesterday reading posts from an old blog I had been able to restore from a backup file. Either I’d forgotten I’d created the backup or had tried to restore it unsuccessfully in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Memories, Politics, Rant, Writing | 2 Comments

A Constitutional Rant

Posted on June 23, 2015 by John Swinburn

I wish, sincerely, Second Amendment advocates and “strict constructionists” of the Constitution would do their effing homework. Just for the record, here’ s a brief synopsis of the real world: U.S. Constitution (absent the first ten amendments) was adopted in … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Rant | 5 Comments

Oh, Please, Make Them Go Away

Posted on May 3, 2015 by John Swinburn

I just read a news article that reported on Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s order to the Texas State Guard to monitor a Navy SEAL/Green Beret joint training exercise (Operation Jade Helm). Apparently, right-wing militia conspiracy theorists convinced the Governor the exercises are a … Continue reading →

Posted in Philosophy, Politics, Rant | 1 Comment

Trends in Benign Neglect

Posted on January 31, 2015 by John Swinburn

I read something not long ago  in which the term “benign neglect” was used.  My memory tells me it was used to describe a suggested policy in which improvements in education would occur if the State would just stop investing time and … Continue reading →

Posted in Language, Politics | Leave a comment

Books that Write Themselves

Posted on October 29, 2014 by John Swinburn

If you pay attention (and even if you don’t), you will be given the gift of a bizarre set of characters for almost any book you’d like to write, though I should warn you, others are writing the same books. … Continue reading →

Posted in Just Thinking, Politics | Leave a comment

Toronto

Posted on October 26, 2014 by John Swinburn

The reasons for starting I cannot recall,  but I have occasionally been reading, online,  The Globe & Mail. I suppose it has to do with the fact that I find much about Canada interesting and refreshing, though I’ve learned that even perpetually polite Canada can … Continue reading →

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Democracy

Posted on October 25, 2014 by John Swinburn

I have just spent almost an hour reading about various proposed amendments to the Arkansas State Constitution and other ballot issues and initiatives for the election.  It is no wonder the number of votes cast on ballot initiatives are, as … Continue reading →

Posted in Government, Politics | Leave a comment

What Is It Good For? Absolutely Nothing.

Posted on July 2, 2014 by John Swinburn

It is disturbing to read that Japan’s long-held policy of pacificism, stated explicitly in its constitution since 1946, is being “reinterepreted.  One statement from the document states “The Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation … Continue reading →

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The Genesis of the Future

Posted on May 27, 2014 by John Swinburn

Writers…fiction, nonfiction, and science fiction…have an exceptional history of talking and writing about things that, at the time, sound implausible…the stuff of fiction…but later become reality. Some examples: Person Prediction H.G. Wells Atomic bombs Arthur C. Clarke Online newspapers Aldous … Continue reading →

Posted in Creativity, Politics, Writing | Leave a comment

Baby Steps

Posted on March 16, 2014 by John Swinburn

I was surprised last night to learn that programming of value is available on the Fox Network.  I suppose I’ve allowed myself to identify Fox only with Fox News, which I find abysmally shallow, slanted, and deeply deceptive.  But there … Continue reading →

Posted in Philosophy, Politics, Religion, Self-discipline | 1 Comment

The Sotomayor Order

Posted on January 2, 2014 by John Swinburn

Perhaps I just don’t understand the full scope of the issue…or perhaps I understand it and am simply in disagreement with a lot of people with whom I’m normally in political lockstep.  In either case, I’ll go on record in … Continue reading →

Posted in Essay, Government, Politics, Religion | 2 Comments

Singular Solutions

Posted on December 27, 2013 by John Swinburn

I once had enormous faith in the ability of science and technology to solve the monstrous problems confronting humankind.  Lately, though, my confidence has ebbed as I’ve come to acknowledge that astonishing breakthroughs in science and technology frequently come with a … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Food, Government, Philosophy, Politics, Population, Poverty, Urban planning, Water | 7 Comments

Le jeu n’en vaut pas la chandelle

Posted on December 21, 2013 by John Swinburn

“The game is not worth the candle.” It’s a favorite phrase of mine; it says so much, so economically. The last time I used it was well over a year ago.  The phrase is said to have originated with a … Continue reading →

Posted in Philosophy, Politics | Leave a comment

Urban Justice

Posted on October 30, 2013 by John Swinburn

I awoke at 4:30 a.m. this morning from a frightening dream,  my heart pounding. In the dream, I was trying to catch up to my wife, who was running, far ahead of me, with a crowd of other people toward doors … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Government, Housiing, Philosophy, Politics, Urban planning | 2 Comments