Better Off?

Posted on 6 April 2011 by Erik Hare | 13 Comments

Are you better off now than you were however-many years ago? It’s a classic political slogan, first used by Ronald Reagan in 1980. The answer then was a pretty solid “No”. Take it out of the cycle of elections and into the business cycle that we find ourselves in, however, and the course of action is not as clear as a political strategist might like.

One quarter into 2011 it’s time for a check-in on the economic front. The news we’re likely to hear in coming months is likely to shift focus once again, moving from joblessness to the quality of jobs that people have right now and their ability to make ends meet. It’s not likely to be pretty.

Continue reading →

Civil War, 150 Years On

Posted on 4 April 2011 by Erik Hare | 15 Comments

On April 12th, 1861, the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina lit up as the bombardment of Fort Sumter began. Years of speeches and seething hatred dissolved into a blur of cannon balls and bloodshed. The Civil War was on. Exactly 150 years later the echoes of this horrible conflict run through our culture as we continue to digest exactly how we came to intense destruction and what it meant.

Studying history is not important for the purpose of blaming those who took part in it, but to avoid the mistakes made. A straight line from where we were to where we are today is the only reasonable extrapolation into our future and progress. It is imperfect, but it is what we have.

The anniversary of the start of the Civil War is a great time to look back and see how far we have come – and yet see the same destructive arguments that play out to this day.

Continue reading →

April Fools’ Day!

Posted on 1 April 2011 by Erik Hare | 5 Comments

The wake-up call came at 6:30AM, just as light was sneaking into my bedroom. It didn’t come as a glowing ball over the Mississippi valley but as an orange blur on little cat feet.

Galumpgalumpgalumplop! A leap onto my feet and Brrrow! As a small caliber tiger licensed for home use Tony always means what he says, too. It’s Spring. There’s no time to spend lazily in bed. Happy April Fools’ Day!

April means a lot to both people and cats. The weather is turning and it’s time to shake off the glum of a drippy lingering Winter. A few pranks and jokes are just part of the fun – and they’re part of an ancient and natural celebration we can all get into.

Continue reading →