Past New Year's

I was talking to my wife of some of the past New Year's that I remember. They may not seem like much because they were mostly sedentary--no physical action here. For some years we would spend time in Logan with my in-laws and my father-in-law and I would watch football games. Usually we would bounce from one game to another in the morning, but the Rose Bowl was always a must game along with the Orange Bowl. Dick Enberg and Merlin Olsen did the play by play in the Arroyo Seco, called the Daddy of Them All as it was known; The Rose Bowl. USC played often and the Big Ten teams were usually Ohio State or Michigan, but not always. The Orange Bowl was the last game and it was late at night in Miami by the time it finished. The Big Eight conference representative was usually Nebraska or Oklahoma and they were usually fast paced and high scoring games. Don Criqui and Bob Trumpy did the play by play. Each broadcast team had their own style. My father-in-law and I would "veg out" on his bed from 11:00 AM to 10:30 PM, barely leaving our hibernaculum for sustenance--usually brought in by my accommodating and doting mother-in-law. They are both gone now and New Year's day is different. Most of the games are on ESPN, I don't have cable and I feel guilty if I lay around watching football. Ah, to be young again.

Rev. C. L. Bryant

I have never heard of this guy--until I happened to be thumbing through Townhall magazine, the December 2010 issue and found on Page 66 an article entitled Breaking the Shackles. Bryant evidently was what could be described as an NAACP radical. He is now what is known as a Tea Partier, go figure. He is involved in a documentary entitled "Runaway Slave".

I have often thought that our black community has enslaved themselves because they have become politically attached to and controlled by liberal Democrats, and controlled is the key word. They are on the plantation, controlled by a different sort of master. He says, "Race is a great tool that liberals have used for at least 50 years to keep races divided, to keep them subdued and under their control." Tough words from a black Reverend.

He strongly believes that liberal politicians use the black community for votes to keep power and points out that Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson have provided over the years a lot of votes, but have never received a cabinet position or ambassadorship.

"On the plantation, the masters who actually owned the land, they would provide the clothes, shelter, food, for those who worked the land, for those who worked the plantation. On the plantation, you were told what job you were to do, and you had overseers making certain you did that job." He says that Sharpton and Jackson are the overseers, the liberal Democrat Party is the master.

His final comment, "The tea party, if it is embraced by people of color, people who are downtrodden or people who claim to be downtrodden, believe me, the movement would be something that would lift them up."

I thought I was the only one who thought this way.

Buckley

I have been an admirer and a consumer of William F. Buckley, Jr. and his writings. I have most of his novels, and quite a few of his political books. His first was entitled Man and God at Yale. It did not endear him to many at his alma mater, but no matter, it became the harbinger of more to come. Now I picked up Athwart History: Half a Century of Polemics, Animadversions, and Illuminations. A William F. Buckley Jr., Omnibus. It is edited by Linda Bridges and Roger Kimball.

Buckley was a man of thoughts and words. He used exactly the words he wanted, the way they were meant, in exactly the right situations. I found this which, I think, describes Buckley and almost everyone in the conservative side of the political ledger.

But the historical responsibility of the conservatives is altogether clear: It is to defend what is best in America. At all costs. Against any enemy, foreign or domestic. From the New York Times Almanac, April 1969.

I know he meant that, believed it and lived it. I believe, until they can prove otherwise, that progressives cannot say that with a straight face and in full honesty. That is not to say that from a military standpoint progressives do not defend America, but my observation is politically they do not know what is best in America, because they want America to be something else.

Keynes Not Able

I just finished this book, Where Keynes Went Wrong. I bought the book in hopes that it would delve into this mysterious universe of Keynesian economics. The title of course gives away the fact that the author feels the Keynesian influence and virtually every government in the world is not good for the long term health of the economy. This is a great book. I didn't think it would be as lively and vital as it is. It reveals the man behind the curtain whose influence and doctrine has caused the pulling of all of the crazy levers of monetary policy and government policy that does much more harm that it can possibly do good. It is not a vindictive book. Having studied macroeconomics and microeconomics in college, I think it is safe to say that many people believe in Keynes because that is what is taught. The Austrian economists are rarely discussed. Our current economic troubles may be somewhat satiated but the long term prognosis is terribly malignant and there are no therapies that can correct it if we continue to believe that government stimulus will increase demand, decrease unemployment and increase wealth for all. Government has no long term plan, and it's short term goal is the next election. Get it. Read it.

Adelaide Vivian Jones

This morning at 5:29 AM MST, our first granddaughter was born. Her brothers were fairly indifferent, just another day I suppose. She was 8 lbs. and 10 oz., bigger than her brothers were. Of course to my eyes I don't have the foggiest idea who she looks like. My wife and daughter are certain that she looks like her little brother Elijah, but with dark hair, and quite a bit of it. So I guess we'll watch and see how she turns out the next 20 or 30 years before we are done here. Happy New Birthday Addie!

Marriage Disappears

When we look at the woes of our nation I do not think it can be argued that the strong nuclear family is not disappearing. This study lays out to the reader why it is so bad. This is all so obvious that for many of our citizens it must be a mystery.

15 Years

I didn't think about it until just now, but 15 years ago today we moved into our home here in Farmington. It has been a great place to live. We have had our ups and downs. 9 July, 2001 it rained 1.75 inches of rain in 20 minutes, the water ran down the hills above us, putting 4 feet of water in our basement in 10 minutes. No insurance for that one and the city was no help. We have had great family experiences like most families do. Our street has a good steady group of neighbors. Houses don't go up for sale too often. We feel lucky, blessed, fortunate, you name it.

Our first Christmas was interesting. Boxes, the smell of fresh paint, a make shift Christmas tree, but it was Christmas, just as much as any other year. The kids have grown and married, we look older, but we still cannot wait for Santa Claus.