'Wealth redistribution' is detestable

Written by Kevin Hower Tuesday, 04 November 2008 14:22

I won’t discuss my voting decisions here, but I have to say I haven’t been particularly happy with either presidential candidate.

The ideal presidential platform, in my opinion, would combine fiscally conservative economic policies with secular, humanistic social values. Neither of the recent candidates, or their running mates, fit those views closely enough for me to get terribly excited about them. But of course a choice is necessary, for better or worse.

One concept brought up in the recent campaign—and one which I particularly detest—is wealth redistribution. I don’t think anyone’s success, assuming it comes by honest and legal means, should be punished, which is precisely the effect such a scheme would have.

Imagine...

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I was wondering while wandering…

Written by Jerry Engler Tuesday, 30 September 2008 16:03

I was wandering the streets of Hillsboro last week when I noticed a sign in the window of Paula Hayen’s pottery shop saying she was closed to care for a sick goat.

There’s no problem with that. There’s perks to being a CEO in the pottery industry, and Paula was only exercising one of them, taking care of a sick goat.

Potters do get different perks than investment bankers—no thousand-dollar booze luncheons, sexually suggestive secretaries, yachts and all the other things my mind can suggest.

No, potters seem to content themselves with artsy, cutesy, earthy things like goats, sheep, kittens and dogs. You see, Paula isn’t the first potter I have ever come across.

It’s paying for potters’ perks that I really resent. Just...

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Science of 'soul' could reduce our ills

Written by Kevin Hower Tuesday, 02 September 2008 14:10

There are two important areas of science that I think apply directly to a thorough understanding of human nature—neuroscience and evolution.

As the human species grows in its understanding of both of these, I believe we’ll find ways to combat a number of the societal ills with which we are currently beset. Not necessarily all, just some.

Not long ago I finished reading an excellent book by science writer Carl Zimmer, called “The Soul Made Flesh.” Zimmer writes about the history of the study of the brain and mind and he covers a fair amount of English history that is intertwined with that medical history.

It really made me wonder how far along science—and particularly medicine—would be if it hadn’t been hindered by the...

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A moment 'outside the box,' please

Written by Jerry Engler Tuesday, 05 August 2008 14:18

I’ve always enjoyed listening to former Marion County Commissioner Howard Collett because of his ability “to think outside the box.”

For instance, I have heard Howard recommend planting the county’s dirt roads to buffalo grass to hold them in place from erosion and wear.

Such thinking requires a person to have the ability to leap from more commonly considered paths to those that usually are not thought of, but may end up having greater value.

But this article isn’t about dwelling on Howard’s merits, no matter how great they are. It’s about jumping out of the box to consider something new—and Howard’s buffalo-grass idea was an illustration.

This article is also not an opinion on whether the bond proposal based on a 1...

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