Category Archives: Politics

Who Do You Call, If Not the Police?

Posted on June 9, 2020 by John Swinburn

This era, whatever we call it, could usher in massive changes to global society. The death of George Floyd at the hands, make that the knee, of Derek Chauvin sparked outrage that may look to many like an enormously over-sized … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Rant | 4 Comments

Musings on Politics, People, Society, and the Almost Certainly Impossible

Posted on March 3, 2020 by John Swinburn

I do not worry that electing a left-leaning candidate like Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren would lead to economic catastrophe. Nor do I worry that electing a centrist like Biden would embed a Republican-light approach to government for the foreseeable … Continue reading →

Posted in Philosophy, Politics | Leave a comment

A Short and Cynical Critique of Society

Posted on February 17, 2020 by John Swinburn

We sometimes fail to see massive changes in society because they occur in response to much smaller—seemingly innocuous—changes. For example, governments at all levels, over time, began to mimic customer service practices originally initiated by businesses. The idea was to … Continue reading →

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

Molly Ivins Documentary

Posted on December 11, 2019 by John Swinburn

Last night, we had dinner with a friend. She served us wonderful chili and treated us to a documentary about Molly Ivins entitled, Raise Hell: The Life And Times Of Molly Ivins.  I have been a Molly Ivins fan for … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Politics | Leave a comment

Writing Like a Curative Drug

Posted on December 10, 2019 by John Swinburn

I once wrote, during a period of personal introspection and social observation, Writing is like a drug; it can be a cure or an addiction. A lot was missing in that simple statement. One missing piece concealed the danger of … Continue reading →

Posted in Lies/disinformation, Poetry, Politics, Writing | Leave a comment

Beyond 3000: The Good Fight and Restoring a Lost Culture

Posted on August 26, 2019 by John Swinburn

Had I been paying attention, I would have noticed that my post two days ago, the one entitled My Children, was post number three thousand on this blog. Big whoop-de-doo. So, now, I’ll have to wait until I’ve published 998 … Continue reading →

Posted in Complacency, Democracy, Government, Politics, Secular morality | Leave a comment

Debatable

Posted on June 28, 2019 by John Swinburn

I wonder how quickly the field of Democratic presidential hopefuls will shrink to a manageable number? As in, fewer than five. And, then, just two or three. With one standout among them. I watched most of the first two Democratic … Continue reading →

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Things on My Mind

Posted on May 6, 2019 by John Swinburn

I learned yesterday that one of my brothers, from whom I unfortunately have been estranged for more than two years, is in the hospital. He is to undergo a heart catheterization and placement of a pacemaker as a prelude to … Continue reading →

Posted in Anger, Family, Frustration, Government, Politics, Rant, Regret, Stream of Consciousness, Writing | Leave a comment

Architectural Emotions in a Mid-Century Mind

Posted on March 3, 2019 by John Swinburn

Yesterday, after an email from Dwell prompted me to view photos of a restored and updated Joseph L. Eichler mid-century modern house in the San Francisco Bay area, I fell in love with the architectural style all over again. That … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Emotion, Intellect, Philosophy, Politics | Leave a comment

Just Asking the Question

Posted on January 28, 2019 by John Swinburn

I read this morning that the Postmaster General blamed the massive and growing deficits of the U.S. Postal Service on a business model mandated by law.  Postmaster General Megan Brennan said. “The flawed business model imposed by law continues to be … Continue reading →

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Beginning 2019

Posted on January 1, 2019 by John Swinburn

In my first post of 2018, I espoused the desire that we might all dedicate our new year to restoring hope from the ashes of despair.  I think we failed. Instead, we (those who hold similar political and moral positions … Continue reading →

Posted in Hope, Philosophy, Politics | Leave a comment

Of Words and Weather and Automotive Maturation

Posted on August 1, 2018 by John Swinburn

Uncharacteristically cool temperatures for late July and early August give me hope. Soul-crushing hot weather tends to sear despair into my brain, but the scar heals quickly when evening and early morning temperatures dip into the sixties. Were it not … Continue reading →

Posted in Cars, Language, Politics, Rambling, Stream of Consciousness, Weather | Leave a comment

Euthanizing a Sick Year

Posted on December 31, 2017 by John Swinburn

I’ve skimmed along the surface of an angry, tumultuous time until I’ve finally reached it: the last day of 2017. This year, one of monstrous upheaval, forced us to reckon with the reality that U.S. world dominance is transitory. By … Continue reading →

Posted in Justice, Philosophy, Politics | Leave a comment

Turning the Tide

Posted on December 13, 2017 by John Swinburn

Assuming the apparent results of yesterday’s election in Alabama are certified, there’s reason to be hopeful. Yet it’s best not to let hope blind us to reality. More than forty-eight percent of voters cast their ballots for a man, Roy … Continue reading →

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Bless Our Souls

Posted on October 7, 2017 by John Swinburn

David Brooks is a New York Times op-ed columnist and frequent guest on NPR and PBS programs. In my view, he usually holds centrist Republican viewpoints, though he tends to run a little more left of center than what I … Continue reading →

Posted in Essay, Politics | Leave a comment

Venezuelans and Their Food

Posted on July 26, 2017 by John Swinburn

Earlier today, an article on the National Public Radio website about a food common in Venezuela, called arepas, launched my exploration of the dish. Several recipes later, my interest grew beyond food as I became increasingly intrigued about the current state of … Continue reading →

Posted in Compassion, Food, Justice, Politics | Leave a comment

All Things in Moderation

Posted on July 17, 2017 by John Swinburn

The purposes of our trip to Oklahoma and Kansas were twofold: 1) take a long-delayed road trip, with the intent of “chilling” a bit; and 2) gather material from and become familiar with Kansas—Manhattan in particular—as a resource for a novel … Continue reading →

Posted in Essay, Frustration, Government, Philosophy, Politics, Rant | Leave a comment

In Disgusted Defense of Ann Coulter’s Right to Speak

Posted on April 28, 2017 by John Swinburn

As I read news of the cancellation, reinstatement, and subsequent cancellation of Anne Coulter’s speech at the University of California at Berkeley, I question the intelligence of the people who violently oppose the her speech. Do those people not understand … Continue reading →

Posted in Communication, Intellect, Philosophy, Politics, Rant, Ruminations | Leave a comment

Ethiopian Food and Human Decency

Posted on April 24, 2017 by John Swinburn

I’ve discovered that my wife and I are not the only people around Hot Springs who enjoy Ethiopian food. Recently, I posted a query, to a Facebook group dedicated to Hot Springs area restaurant reviews, about whether my unsuccessful efforts to find … Continue reading →

Posted in Compassion, Food, Philosophy, Politics, Serenity, Stereotypes | 2 Comments

Hiccup

Posted on February 23, 2017 by John Swinburn

I am afraid Democrats are behaving like far-right-wing Republicans. My email box and my Facebook feed are flooded with outrage and exhortations to Democrats to fight Republicans at every turn, just like the Republicans fought and obstructed and otherwise did … Continue reading →

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These are the Times…

Posted on January 30, 2017 by John Swinburn

“THESE are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man … Continue reading →

Posted in Anger, Politics | Leave a comment

Another Visit to the Theatre

Posted on January 25, 2017 by John Swinburn

My foreign flick frenzy continued unabated on Tuesday evening, when I watched The Wave, (the Norwegian title for which is Bølgen).  Unlike some of the previous flicks, this one cannot be accused of being in the same state, much less the same … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Politics, Television, Television series | Leave a comment

Reflecting on What’s to Come

Posted on January 22, 2017 by John Swinburn

Let me preface my comments with these words: I absolutely despise Donald Trump; I believe he is a despicable human being whose rise to the Presidency cannot be explained entirely with logic. How a madman with the capacity to undermine … Continue reading →

Posted in Communication, Compassion, Education, Empathy, Philosophy, Politics, Wisdom | 2 Comments

Lambs and Slaughter

Posted on January 18, 2017 by John Swinburn

Where did we go wrong? How did a nation dedicated to justice and freedom, a nation ostensibly predicated on the assertion that all men are created equal, come to this? How can it be that, on January 20, 2017, Donald … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | 1 Comment

Fog and Mist: People and Countries Get Sick and Die

Posted on January 13, 2017 by John Swinburn

I learned recently that two friends had heart attacks a few nights ago.  They inhabit opposite ends of the political spectrum, so I can’t blame fear of the nightmare that is about to befall the United States (and the world) for their personal catastrophes. … Continue reading →

Posted in Depression, Politics | Leave a comment