Thoughts of a Freethinker

  A New York Times columnist sees Trump the same way I see him. Maybe I see him that way because of my experience as a mayor. Previous mayors in my city, Fargo, ND, were big local celebrities. When I arrived it was not uncommon to have a reporter ask to follow you around on your trip to the grocery store to see what the Mayor put in the cart. I saw this attention as a way to appear bigger than my critics and competitors and encouraged the press attention. When I watch Trump, I see a guy with little interest in governing and completely absorbed in his press coverage. That is why the NY Times columnist thinks Trump is looking forward to Democrats having majorities. He sleeps almost none at all and spends the night writing insults about others and compliments to himself. This favorite way to pass a night of insomnia is more pleasant if he has Democrats to destroy and less pleasant if he has to be nice to Republicans. He has little to no interest in issues but lots of interest is tonig...

Tony Perkins, head of the Family Research Council, is always in search of more donated money. He lives quite well with donations from anti-abortion but he always wants more. His fund raising strategy for years has been from anger the Federal Government does not prohibit the mailing of abortion pills. He was mad about that when Biden was President. Trump has changed nothing. Perkins figures he made money bashing Biden, why not make money bashing Trump? He is doing that . In an interview he said the Republican defeat on Tuesday may be God punishing Republicans for not stopping abortions. Perkins joins Catholics in linking abortion to religion. We all know Christian efforts to control the behavior or beliefs of others is to weaponize religion. Recall the best know group opposing alcohol consumption was the Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU). Perkins reasons that if that group made money by linking their deal with religion he can too. Perkins claims the increase in abortions has...

There can be little doubt liberal social issues did well in yesterday's elections. With Democrats winning lots of races we will see liberal legislation in the coming years. In direct legislation, i.e., voter determined laws, abortion rights  won in three out of four states. Bible quoting liberal Christians won. Where I live, Iowa, Republicans made a BIG issue out of gender and students born of one gender completing in sport later in another. This happens so infrequently I can't imagine actual experiences make people alarmed. The alarm bell was about God creating males and females and not creating trans. It turned out this was not foremost on people's minds like the problems of prices caused by the President. Why did Republicans ever think trans would be a red-hot issue? My prediction is the cash flow of money from one group of people who consider abortion to be a sin to another group who takes their money and pretends to stop abortions will slowly dry up. It will slowly daw...

There are various theories about why people don't attend church as much as they did in the past. Conservatives say it is because preachers are not conservative and loud about it. Others say it is because preachers are too conservative and too loud. The link says it's because churches have divided themselves into conservative and liberal politically. Those not interested in either quit or not agreeing with those in their church leave and some never join another.    There are also many who study this and find the reasons are complicated. Surveys are a cheap and easy way to find and "answer." Better would be deeper study of people and their views on the super natural and politics. As time moves on people's behavior is more fully revealed. We all tend to make friends with people like us. Thus, it is logical Republicans find churches with lots of Republicans more pleasant than churches with lots of Democrats. This has always been and will always be. Those who study and...

A rabbi from the U.S. made arrangements to help Palestinian farmers harvest olives. It is labor intensive and many hands are required. Israeli troops arrived and hauled off the farmer. Then they said since the the farmer was not present to protect his crop the visitors had to leave the area.  Isael's government has a scorched earth policy against Palestinians They represent about 20% of the country's population. It is too small to grow into a majority but large enough to play off one larger group against the other. Several politicians around the world have promoted the "Two State Solution." As I understand this it would divide the country into an Israel and a Palestine. Since the US. was a large force in establishing Israel with Jews from Europe this seems like a fair idea. Yet, Israel opposes this perhaps because that smaller country could be well organized, prosperous and aggressive.  From this distance, a two-state solution is risky the Isarel. Trying to eliminate ...

Although now approaching the end of his career, Archbishop Blase Cupich is a liberal force within the denomination. He was named a Bishop under conservative Pope Benedict and then a Cardinal by Pope Francis. Because he is understanding of women who need abortions and gays who want to marry, discouraged priests under his from participating in the annual fake concern called "40 Days of Life" and discouraged Latin mass he is seen as someone for conservative Catholics to hate. It's also easy to understand why Popes Francis and Leo, who want to extend the reach of the Catholic denomination and allow it to survive into the future have put their money on him. Archbishop Cupich seems similar to the Catholic Church of Germany. It needs government cooperation to collect the voluntary "tax" that the government then remits to the church. To continue this cozy relationship, German Catholic hierarchy takes positions politically popular in Germany. This includes gay marriage. ...