Sunday Morning Coming Down

 Anthony Downs was an economist and political scientist who worked in a Washington D.C. tank.  He wrote the book: "An Economic Theory Of Democracy".  He died at age 90 on October 2, 2021. His book was written in 1957.  Each voter would compare his expected utility of having party A (incumbent) in government (for another term, that is) with the expected utility of having party B (opposition) in government.    The voter would vote in his own self interest based on his understanding of the issues as presented by the political parties.  Another option would be to not vote at all.  Not everybody does the research needed to make a good decision on their self interest and may opt out of voting. I remember studying this issue in a course on presidential politics as an undergraduate at the University of Miami.  Its premise seems so obvious these days as to be trite. Complicating this simple question is the local nature of politics in a very large and ...

My friend asked me to take care of dog while visiting Disney World a few months ago. I have now spent money for a leash, kibble, milkbone treats, and puppy pee pads for overnights. Strangely, coincidently, or cosmicly, I watched a PBS program on Helen Keller and had a new appreciation for nonverbal communication.  The old truism that you should dance with the one that brought you is one the dog and I have learned.  He's my buddy and while it isn't a command, he almost always understands. I can now open the door without crazy barking.  I'm pretty sure he is as happy to see me as I to see him. My little sister is a devote of William Glasser who wrote the book: Positive Addiction". I'm not sure who's training who but it seems we both get the message most of the time.

 The Blue Line in Chicago is upset about a vaccine mandate for its officers.  There was a deadline that has passed and according to reports approximately 4000 officers have not been vaccinated.    Officers are weighing whether to resist a mayoral mandate requiring all public employees to report their vaccine status. City employees must now show proof of vaccination or submit to bi-weekly testing, unless approved for a religious or medical exemption. By the end of this year, all employees must be vaccinated. As John Prine a famous Chicagoan sang in "Dear Abby" "You have no complaint" "You are who you are and you ain't what you ain't." Stop wishing for good luck and knocking on wood. Serve and Protect or move on.   

These days I'm amazed at the "pretzel logic" of the latest former president and the lengths that folks will go to forgive and forget the stuff that he has done and said on the campaign trail, while in office and as a former president who lost the election in 2020.  The former president's comments on the passing of Colin Powell should be condemned. I never served in the military and neither did the former president, but he felt compelled to utter the following on the passing of Colin Powell: "He made plenty of mistakes, but anyway, may he rest in peace!" he said.  He further castigated the media for treating Powell so beautifully.    Colin Luther Powell was  an American politician, diplomat and retired four-star general who served as the 65th United States Secretary of State  from 2001 to 2005. Powell was the first African-American Secretary of State.  He served in the Military for 35 and at the age of 52 was the youngest Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of...

This morning I had to wake up early to get blood work done. An 8:00AM appointment might not seem early but at this time of year it is still dark.  My canine roommate Mochi was only slightly curious as I have become an early riser and am a person to let sleeping dogs lie around until slightly after sun up.  He has become accustomed to an an even earlier bathroom break by his roommate and his water bowl is refreshed. My only other similar experience was on the backside at Hialeah Park, stalls were cleaned, horses got fresh shavings, I scrubbed buckets that got fresh water and fresh hay was distributed. Some horses would get more formal exercise with tack and an exercise boy and a gallop or breeze around the track. Others would get some time on a walker that was kind of like a merry-go-round.  Getting out of the stall for some exercise seemed a welcome break for almost every horse.  The really happy ones might buck or rear up some, others would pretty calmly walk around...

  Not everything is a matter of character:   Regarding COVID 19 "  We don’t know , and we do not have to pretend otherwise. We do not have to treat Covid as a facile referendum on virtue or freedom." " When caseloads are high, it makes sense to take precautions, even if we can’t be sure how much they matter." "When caseloads are lower, it makes sense to take fewer, because almost every precaution  has a cost . Other than that, the best we can do is get vaccinated and, as Osterholm says, stay humble."  From the COVID FABLE in the NYT.