A life in words

  • Proposed Amendment: No Absolute Immunity; Admissibility of Evidence

    I’m concerned about the implications of the recent Trump v. United States decision, as well as the earlier Nixon v. Fitzgerald. See Wikipedia for an overview. It’s my view that “absolute immunity” is a concept that has no place in a republic. Given that, I thought I’d try my hand at a possible “fix” and…

  • Bumbershoot internship/mentorship program appears racially discriminatory

    Bumbershoot internship/mentorship program appears racially discriminatory

    36th legislative district representative Julia Reed’s recent newsletter contains this section: OPPORTUNITIES AT BUMBERSHOOT The Bumbershoot Festival is a highlight for the 36th district. It provides opportunities for local artists to showcase their work to wide audience and gives us the opportunity to see our favorite artists in our backyard. But the festival is also…

  • Quidism: the belief that things matter

    The belief that nothing has objective or inherent meaning – commonly called nihilism – is quite popular these days. In some ways I’m sympathetic: if you come to reject or at least harbor serious skepticism of the existence of a non-material, spiritual realm, and that’s where you put ultimate meaning, then brute material reality seemingly…

The common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it. It serves… to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration. It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms, kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and insurrection [and] opens the door to foreign influence and corruption….George Washington, Farewell Address