John Atwood
Read the educated and Highly Opinionated Blog on recent news, world events and current affairs. A reformed lawyer with a passion for history and lively discussion of the issues of the day and an appreciation of the lessons from the past.
Articles by John Atwood
November 16, 2009
Our enemies in time of war are not entitled to a trial in our civilian courts. That is contrary to history and common sense.
November 17, 2009
A story of courage and scarifice at sea, of fear and bravery from the ordinary bluejacket of WWII.
November 12, 2009
Supply side economics has been tried often over the centuries with favorable results. It is not a recent concept or practice contrary to the views of some.
November 11, 2009
It is best to remember and revere the sacrifices of our Vets, lest we allow ourselves to forfeit through indifference or cowardice the rewards of their service for all of us.
November 05, 2009
How will we deal with the inevitable failure of large hospitals, insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies and medical device makers sure to come with the health care reform? Will we bail them out? It is a certainity that some of them will not survive.
November 03, 2009
A story of the Armed Guard and men at sea and war. These are ordinary men doing ordinary and extraordinary things for others.
November 06, 2009
A short story of the Armed Guard during WWII in the North Atlantic. The men who were both heroic and ordinary at the same time.
October 28, 2009
A short story of North Atlantic sea battles and the men who manned those ships.
October 30, 2009
A tale of the Armed Guard and the men who manned those guns across the sweep of the oceans. It is a story of their fears, thoughts and hopes.
October 26, 2009
Will the current and growing US debt destroy our economy in the near term? Does the US have any viable plan for debt reduction?
October 27, 2009
A short story of men at war on the high seas--at war with the seas, the enemy and the turmoil within themselves.
October 22, 2009
The college football recruiting process can carry a big impact on young men and the personalities do influence their final decision about where to attend college and play.
October 09, 2009
A few brave souls can fend off the oppression of the arbitrary and the would be dictators of the land.
October 13, 2009
Why do those promoting cap and trade and the danger of global warming repress the data that supposedly supports their conclusions?
September 30, 2009
We face severe headwinds and a few positives in the near future for our economy. Will those positives features make headway against those adverse gales?
September 29, 2009
Will either the US or Israel take forceful action to elminate the Iranian nuclear capability? Will the US militarily attempt to thwrart any Israeli effort to attack Iranian nuclear plants?
September 25, 2009
Prayer can sustain you in the depths of despair and give insights to your hopes and dreams.
October 08, 2009
It would do the administration well to not only study current books about counterinsurgencyt warfare but to study similar episodes from history. The prior events offer thoughts about what to do and not do in Afghanistan.
September 15, 2009
Import tariffs never work in the long run and do not achieve their intended purposes. They have been tried repeatedly and Obama's attempt on Chinese tires will not be any more effective than tariffs on whale oil.
October 07, 2009
How much more command and control over the US economy will the people tolerate before the divisions between the productive and takers becomes too great to endure as one nation?
October 06, 2009
We often can do more than we thank if we are scared enough and motivated enough,,,and young enough.
October 02, 2009
Will the mandates of the Democrats regarding health care reform pass Constitutional muster and review? How does Congress get the authority to require Americans to buy any particular product or service?
October 01, 2009
Is there a distinct American culture and is it worth preserving and fighting for? Will we lose all sense of collective community and values with the worldly and secular views pushed by the Left?
September 17, 2009
The US Congressional elections loom and will be influenced as they have been for decades by the Census and congressional district redraws by the States.
September 03, 2009
Medical costs are not the major cause of bankruptcies in the US contrary to comments by Obama and other left leaners. An experienced bankruptcy expert gives you his perspective on this canard.
September 14, 2009
Contrary thoughts and opionions about headlines and memories.
September 08, 2009
1983 was a different time. Our economic had difficulties but the atmosphere in Washington and across the Nation was completely different. We were a nation filled with hope then.
September 10, 2009
Weddings evoke powerful emotions and can be traumatic and joyous at the same time. Savor the happiness and love those with you in blood.
September 01, 2009
I hope your family road trip memories have the same tug on your heart as mine. Even the mishaps have their use as a reminder of times past and moments shared with loved ones.
September 02, 2009
The use of mercenaries in wars is very old and has been done by virtually all nations and empires throughout history. We are doing nothing new or different from the established norm for wars.
September 04, 2009
North Korea is as much of a threat today as it was in June of 1950. That threat is punctuated with the recent missile launches and statements of nuclear weapons development from Jong Il.
August 28, 2009
The Bard has some words of wisdom for us even on the health care debate that now rages. Health care reform--to be or not to be?
August 27, 2009
The memories of most birthdays fade with time, but some may be recalled with a vividness that is as strong as yesterday's news. A small gift may make a big impression and lasting memory.
August 31, 2009
Should we demand an accurate and understandable accounting from our government on a monthly basis so we can track for ourselves the expenses of government and its collections. You do it each month, why can't they?
August 24, 2009
Does our current foreign aid program benefit the US? What return either in wealth or support do we get for our largese?
August 18, 2009
Those accepting Medicare benefits are merely receiving their own money back from Government, Inc. and not endorsing a socialized medical system.
August 17, 2009
Do we face a revolution or civil war in our future because of strongly held differing opinions on the extent of the role of government in our lives?
August 14, 2009
Our modern iphones and smart phones are updates from the earlier devices used to speed the means of communication around the globe. Our British friends have led the way historically.
August 13, 2009
If you will read the Waxman bill you will see that the Federal government is indeed usurping the role of the States in authorizing and regulating the insurance industry. It is a takeover of the health care system. Read the bill, be informed, be your own anylyst and pundit.
August 11, 2009
What to do with the prisoners at Gitmo is a puzzle that has been dealt with before. The same arguments about prisoner of war versus criminal have been disputed with vigor prior to cable news.
August 07, 2009
Random thoughts and comments on health care, politics and politicians and our economy
August 07, 2009
How will choose to deal with the issue of over population? Will the headlong thrust for envoirnmental changes bring this issue to the fore?
August 10, 2009
Slight mistakes and delays have consequences that affect the future in roads taken and not taken. Napoleon might have been one of our early leading politicians but for his hesitation.
August 05, 2009
The ultimate resolution of the health care debate will hinge on whether the majority of Americans trust the government more than themselves to take care of their health needs and decisions. That is the crux of the opposing views, not whether change should occur.
August 06, 2009
We are losing our charitable nature because we feel the government taxes us for all the wants of the poor and needy. It will be a great loss.
July 31, 2009
We would do better to emphasize respect for our different cultures in the US rather than futile attempts at blending our cultural heritages into a giant mish mash.
August 03, 2009
The cash for clunkers program is an affront to every American who works hard and balances their own checkbook and lives within their means.
July 30, 2009
When need intelligence gathering and evaluation in this dangerous world but we have to face the fact of mis steps with it along the way. It is never perfect even with correct.
July 29, 2009
The cost of medical care will only rise to the level people are willing to pay. Government intervention is not necessary to reduce health care spending. Our obese government can go on a diet with the rest of the country.
July 27, 2009
The Founding Fathers had some giants that were great men of their era or any era. Will we ever see their equal again?
July 23, 2009
Will we all die because of global warming? Does cap and trade do anything to advance to another level of power consumption? Will technology and science overcome the threat of global warming, if it is real.
July 24, 2009
Illegal aliens' children are not entitled to US citizenship by the mere happenstance of birth on US soil. The 14th amendment has two requirement for citizenship and birth is only the first one. Illegals don't meet the test of the second phrase of the 14th amendment.
July 22, 2009
Will the House health care proposal reduce red tape and costs of health care? Will our freedom of choice in health care decisions be constricted under the House proposal?
July 21, 2009
The Moon landing was a signal event for those who were witness to it. When we stop embarking on adventures we lose much of our humanity.
July 14, 2009
Is the new Surgeon General a negative image for our nation's health? Can she effectively lead the battle of the waist bulge?
July 15, 2009
Wtch the current confirmation hearings in the Senate for Sotomayor as a new member to the US Supreme Court. I have watched many of these over the years and the process didn't really vary much until the Bork hearings in the eighties. That is when things turned quite nasty and have remained more con...
July 16, 2009
Adventures of fathers and sons. Unexpected challenges will take us farther than we think we can go. The deer hunt injury and tales from west Texas
July 17, 2009
Have the Dems pulled a bait and switch on health care insurance? Will we have choices for our health care insurance or be subject to government mandates and control of those personal decisions?
July 10, 2009
Will Americans want to endorse and approve the actions of Government with regard to GM by buying those cars in the future. Do patriots support a Government owned industry and the intrusion into private enterprise by government bureaucrats
July 09, 2009
We should prepare and execute the best strategy now against Iran and N. Korea before they do what they clearly will be able to do in the near future. If they can use those weapons we better assume they will.
July 07, 2009
Getting those sweet young things off to college is more complicated than arranging for the Grand Charity Ball. The gals from Venus have needs and wants for their space that guys from Mars would never have imagined.
July 06, 2009
Let's allow someone experienced with Ponzi schemes run the Treasury and Social Security. We might as well have a firm hand on the tiller and someone who knows about cooked books
July 03, 2009
Throwing inflated dollars at a "problem" won't alleviate the problem and will cause even more dependence on Big Government. Infrastructure can be built without those billions funnelled out by bureaucrats.
July 01, 2009
Every family should have an emergency plan in the event of a nationwide catastrohe brought on by our enemies. At least know where you all will try to meet when communications are gone.
June 30, 2009
Rip wasn't the first fable about a long sleep and awakening years later. The early church had its Seven Sleepers...
June 29, 2009
One shot thoughts on the current economic and political events of the day,,,,,the headline news revised.
June 26, 2009
We need a competitive market place for our medical services and everything proposed by Obama will only diminish competition and thus raise costs. Medical costs are our difficulty with health care, not health insurance.
June 25, 2009
We should erect a fence along the entire border with Mexico to protect our nation from the corruption and violence in that land. They will have to ultimately solve their own problems and the fence is like having an unarmed force along our border. Do you want the US to be like Mexico? In any regard.
June 24, 2009
What would be the repercussions of a pre emptive strke to destroy the Iranian nuclear threat? Would such a strke cause more harm than it would eliminate?
June 22, 2009
Water availability is the most serious challenge facing the civiized world short terma nd long term. Water shortages and water needs will dwarf concerns over energy, envoirnment and global warming in a few decades.
June 17, 2009
we can drill, drill, drill and pursue other courses of action for our long term energy needs. It does not need to be a zero sum game as is presented by the left and envoirnmentalist groups.
June 17, 2009
The process by which we create and enforce our laws is often paramount to the outcome. The process determines if the rule of law as been followed. The people should always be in the process of law making and never cut out.
June 16, 2009
We shouldn't allow our brains to be numbed by the steady stream of number being spewed out by Government, Inc. and the Washington intellectuals and academics. They represent real developments and are the road signs for where our Nation is going.
June 11, 2009
A few tales from an ordinary seaman during the war. Ordinary to them but for us they seem surreal with the danger and constant threat of death. No heroes but sailors doing their duty without expectation of accolades.
June 10, 2009
Should the States abandon the election process for selecting judges or tolerate the turmoil of politics in that selection? Does an appointment process eliminate the downside of politics when selecting judges?
June 08, 2009
Were the recent European elections a harbinger for our future electoral bent? Europe has lead the way in political and social affairs often in the last century, are the Europeans showing us the way out of our abyss?
June 05, 2009
Some comments on the real world of litigation as opposed to Hollywood versions of courtroom work. How the defendant presents his case.
June 05, 2009
What are the nuts and bolts of the oil industry? Is it just fat cats sitting on a gold mine and reaping undeserved rewards or hard working folk bringing what we need--energy?
June 05, 2009
The wrong choices we make can at least offer us a valuable lesson about how all our actions in life have consequences and that normally we only get one bite at the apple. Life is not a multiple choice game. Read how I let may dad down and regretted it ever since.
June 03, 2009
Will any dialogue with the Muslim world by the US find an acceptable accomodation for our security and interets? Can two such divergent cultures ever find common ground?
June 02, 2009
How will the Boomers be spending their money? Or not spending their money. Their economic decision will be the driving economic force for the next 20 years.
June 01, 2009
The money trail we tell you more than any headline or political statement about what is happening in our economy and political world. See where the money comes from and where it is going to understand the current political dynamics.
May 29, 2009
If there is an ice melt on Greenland and Antarctica will the oceans flood vast sections of the earth? Can the global warming alarmist change the laws of nature, alter basic geology and the laws of physics and astrophysics?
May 27, 2009
A true story from a time long ago when men rose to the occasion. A young boy learns about manhood and courage. The quiet and cautious men can be counted on when the chips are down and the circumstances are dire.
May 28, 2009
The rapid rise in the US Treasury 10 note is a very bad sign for our economy and should be an alarm for reining in runaway Government, controling spending and rampant inflation. The world investing community is voicing its vote on the present course with it money and the demand for higher rates of return.
May 27, 2009
Will no one take responsibility for their own actions? Have we become a society that depends on the notion that "they" did it to us? Adam had that attitude with God
May 27, 2009
Should the US take preemptive action against N. Korea before it has a delieverable nuclear weapon. Would such a strike be effective and make the world a safer place?
May 22, 2009
Do we need to take drastic action to save the world from the ravages of evil man? How can we survive the coming doom in our envoirnment?
May 21, 2009
We might wish to ponder our mistakes from the past when considering a direction in Iraq an other hot spots now in the headlines. We've had blunders and missteps before. A lack of conviction for victory always will mean defeat or retreat.
May 20, 2009
Was the California vote to reject increased taxes and government growth a harbinger for the rest of the nation? Do the people really want more central planning and taxation from Washington?
May 19, 2009
Sometimes life is stranger than the TV shows. Did this gal commit murder or was she an innocent bystander?
May 19, 2009
Will new mileage standards have any effect on the envoirnmet? Are the costs for enoirnmentally friendly cars worth the costs and should we use natural gas as the alternate vehicle energy source?
May 18, 2009
It the future of the US predicted by the California experience in growth of government and runaway deficits? Can California pay its debts? Will the US be able to pay its debts?
May 15, 2009
Get your wife to the hospital without endangering her. Nervous dads make really bad drivers. Baby deliveries are proof of God watching out for idiots.
May 14, 2009
What legal authority does the government have to mandatge the wages and compensation for any bank employee? Are any property right laws still protected?
May 13, 2009
Should we have as a national goal a college education for everyone?
May 13, 2009
Our nation survived the rough and tumble of abuses and the Revolutionary War to become the beacon of freedom and decency that it is today.
May 12, 2009
Is Global warming the most significant issue facing society? Will we drown in water or die of thrist first?
May 11, 2009
Are the recent eulogies for captilism pre-mature? Do freedom and capitalism go together?
May 08, 2009
Have we reached the point where it is best to consider two nations so each can pursue its own vision of the future? Would political tranquility and prosperity result from two United States?
May 08, 2009
Why would Government, Inc's intervention into our market place work any better now than in the Revolutionary War, Civil War or the other occasions it has been tried? Must we repeat the mistakes from the past?
May 07, 2009
Why is the entire country bailing out only a handful of states and NYC? Are you your neighbor's economic keeper?
May 06, 2009
Can the Federal Reserve and the Treasury issue trillions in debt without diminishing the available capital for equity investment in the private economy?
May 07, 2009
Are we as advanced and bright as we think? Were those old dead white guys really that ignorant?
May 05, 2009
Waterboarding is a repugnant activity but not a war crime. Check with the experts, the Japanese during the war.
May 04, 2009
Judges who are sympathetic and cause oriented will not render justice. The blind fold of justice protects us all.
May 01, 2009
The government strong -arm tactics not only offend a respect for the rule of law but likely constitute criminal behavoir under the US penal code.
April 29, 2009
Current disputes about the validity of the fight against terrorism and Iraq/Afghanistan must be put in historical context and viewed against the Constituional powers of Congress
April 30, 2009
Has the first 100 days been as significant as the original "100 days"? Will history recall it 200 years from now as it does the man and achievements that coined the phrase?
April 28, 2009
The lore of history of peoples is often amiss. J. Benjamin was the first Jewish member of the US Senate--a true son of the South.
April 28, 2009
Even those cultures perceived as peaceful have the hard shell of martial animas within their souls. Buddhists and Hindus struggle for dominance and death.
April 24, 2009
Where do you repose your ultimate faith, in government or in the people? Will government intervention improve the market or makes matters worse? This is a thought on that question from a year ago.
April 24, 2009
The budget can be handled differently. Those who say we have no alternative are not consideirng the alternatives.
April 23, 2009
Since the government believes it knows best how to run our credit system why not let it do it honestly and upfront. No more American Express, we can all use our Platinum card from the government
April 23, 2009
Life has those episodes we can't forget because the pain is too great or upon reflection our own missteps amuse ouir memories. The best memories often come from those disasters we faced.
April 22, 2009
A Chapter 11 for any of the Big Three would protect shareholder interest and save the tax payers money and be defeat for pandering politicians.
April 22, 2009
Will we stand by and watch government erode our market system and operate as regulator, owner and lender regarding our vital industries. Can government be trusted more than the market?
April 21, 2009
Are affirmative action and government efforts to foster equality of results in life effective or for the good of society
April 21, 2009
Mistakes in war and major international relations was not invented by the Bush administration. Miscalculation and dissembling have both been prevalent throughout history
April 20, 2009
When most of you see the phrase "armed guard" you probably conjure up some notion of a the national guard or a state militia of some type. That is not at all what that phrase referenced. It harked back to a branch of the US Navy during WWII. You must remember that the war had already been raging ...
April 17, 2009
Will government ownership of GM improve its products and the service it provides to customers? Is the USPS the template for the future GM?
April 16, 2009
Will the Tea Parties lead anywhere? Did they arise like spontaneous combustion? Has a flame been ignited that will endure
April 16, 2009
Of late we hear many politicians of both parties talking about running up debts that will be a insurmountable burden on our children and grandchildren. This is certainly appropriate given the scope and size of the proposed budget of the new administration. The numbers are truly staggering and almo...
April 15, 2009
The US and Russia can't be the only participants in any nuclear disarmament plan. The other major players must play or else the danger of nuclear attack only increases.
April 14, 2009
Will the US government adhere to the same ethical standards as lawyers?
April 12, 2009
I donīt know the exact details of all the cutbacks just announced in our armed forces by Gates. The big ones are obvious such as the F-22 Raptor reduction and the cancellation of the laser aircraft to intercept missiles. What didnīt receive quite as much attention was the cutback in the Navy vesse...
April 12, 2009
How many times a day do you glance at a clock or your wristwatch? We take these small gestures for granted. Likewise how often do you consult your calender to determine a date for an appointment or engagement? Our very existence is divided into time segments. If you don´t think it is impo...