Friday, July 7, 2023

Progressives Vote Against Their Economic Interests

In his 2004 book "What's the Matter with Kansas?”, Thomas Frank argued conservatives vote against their economic interests. In 2023, I would argue progressive voters are doing what progressives have long claimed conservatives are doing - voting against their economic interests. I have an interesting news article and an informative video filled with data that both caught my attention and solidifies my point.

Young voters are a hallmark of the Democrat base. According to this Time article, Gen Z is a large reason why the red wave didn't occur in 2022.  Homeownership is a signifier of the American dream and economic security. Guess where Gen Zers are able to buy homes? Red states. The most popular metros for Gen Z homebuyers are Salt Lake City, Oklahoma City and Birmingham, according to Lending Tree.

A question I think progressives should be asking themselves is why are red states seeing a net migration of minorities? What economic policies are red states enacting that are drawing people from all backgrounds? Texas has consistently topped the list for most Latino net migration, best opportunity markets, and producing the greatest number of new Latino homeowners, according to Housing WireBetween 2020 and 2022, Texas saw a net gain of nearly 150,000 Latino residents. Something else that caught my eye this week is this video detailing the cities with the highest percentage of net migration of Black Americans and the vast majority (a couple of exceptions) of the cities listed are located in red states.

Progressives should be pondering if their economic policies help young people and minorities.

Saturday, August 27, 2022

We Need to Stop Treating Secularism as a Neutral Value System


There seems to be an underlying belief in American society that secularism is a neutral value system. Public displays of religiosity are taboo but promotion of all things irreligious are applauded. Being irreligious is just as much a value system as being religious. A truly neutral society wouldn't take sides between religion or the irreligious. 

A good example of this is in our school system. Prayer is forbidden but secular humanism is not a problem to teach students. It's a belief system just like Christianity, Judaism, Islam and any another religion but because our society views the irreligious as neutral, it's not an issue.

Another place where this is seen is in the abortion debate. Many pro-choicers seem to think they have the reasoned argument simply because they make specious secular arguments and pro-lifers sometimes use religious arguments (although they fail to recognize not every pro-lifer is religious).   They think because they're secular it means they're "neutral", never mind their secularism has a belief system that isn't neutral.

Secularism isn't neutral. It's a value system. It's a system of ethics. Secularism has a set of beliefs. Its adherents can be zealous. Let's stop treating secularism as neutral.

Saturday, June 11, 2022

Oliva Rodrigo's Song 'Drivers License' is Anti-Environment



Vehicles are wrecking our environment. A typical passenger vehicle emits about 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year! This is devastating. It is a blessing that people are driving less because of high gas prices. Gas prices have FINALLY reached a national average of $5. This is terrific. We must now learn to wean off oil to, uh, other stuff. 


This is why I'm horrified by Oliva Rodrigo's 2021 song and she must be canceled. Here are some of the disturbing lyrics with commentary:

I got my driver's license last week
Just like we always talked about
'Cause you were so excited for me
To finally drive up to your house
But today I drove through the suburbs

Cryin' 'cause you weren't around
She drove by the SUBURBS. OMG! They're so car-dependent. Why didn't she date a guy in a walkable city? She has bad taste in men.
Red lights, stop signs
I still see your face in the white cars, front yards
Can't drive past the places we used to go to
And what's up with her always driving in her videos? How dare she! She needs a bike.

"White cars, front yards" again the idealization of the suburban lifestyle with their cars and watered yards. We should NOT be encouraging driving. This is unacceptable from a pop star. Olivia Rodrigo must apologize for this. Do not buy her music anymore.

Friday, June 10, 2022

Places to Visit in Alabama for Hikers and Explorers

This autumn it will be two years since I've moved to Alabama from Texas. It's been fun exploring a state I had no previous experience with. I have discovered a very green state with some nice landscapes with mountains, waterfalls, covered bridges, caves, and beaches. I thought I would share some hiking spots and some other worthwhile places (including some places I intend to visit). Lawnstarter.com recently aggregated a list of the best hiking cities in the country, and Huntsville was the first Southeast city (outside of Florida) on it.

Hiking

Cheaha State Park


The highest elevation in Alabama and is part of the Appalachian mountain range




Walls of Jericho


Oak Mountain State Park 



Red Mountain Park





Ebenezer Swamp Trail



Covered Bridges

Kymulga Covered Bridge in Childersburg 













Swann Bridge in Blount County















Beaches

I live a few hours from the coast so I will be honest haven't spent too much time there but I did enjoy some time Gulf Shores State Park














Other Notable Places

Stephen's Cave Gap


The charming town of Wetumpka (Dubbed the "City of Natural Beauty" and featured on HGTV's Hometown Takeover) 

































Excited to explore more of this state!

Tuesday, March 29, 2022

What #Vanlife Says About our Culture

 


There is something appealing about being lost, isolated and disconnected. I have been watching a lot of #Vanlfe videos on YouTube. They have no daily agenda, get to travel where they want, experiences places where they don't know a single person. I can see how this can life can be enticing. No direction! You have no idea what tomorrow brings!

Unsurprisingly, #Vanlife became extremely popular during isolating times, the COVID pandemic. Even with all the amazing scenery, these #Vanlifers also seem to be the most unhappy, anxious people! They lament not having a stable community because of the constant moving around. Those "views" can't replace being grounded and community.

This also makes me think of social media, which is supposed to connect us and help us build online "communities". It does the opposite. It provides a false sense of community that often leaves us isolated and disconnected.

I see a lost and directionless society. I see an unhappy society filled with anxiety and distrust. We were sold that being lost and directionless is a way to pave our own way. But we need meaning, purpose, and community.  We need God. We need family, friends, and others. There's a reason why our ancestors went from directionless nomads to building communities/cities to settle down in. We all need roots.


Tuesday, February 22, 2022

Great Wedding Songs List (A Lot of 90s music)

For some reason, I keep a running list of wedding songs. Here is my list (feel free to comment on a song you think should be added):

Stuck on you - Meiko
Broken Road Selah
10,000 hours Dan and Shay
Matt Stell - Prayed For You
Bruno Mars - Marry You
Ed Sheeran - Thinking Out Loud
Maren Morris - The Bones
It’s About Us - Jeff Leblanc
I’m Gonna Be (500) - Proclaimers
Forever and Ever, Amen - Randy Travis
Mine - Taylor Swift
Kiss Me - Sixpence None the Richer
I Swear - John Michael Montgomery
I Can Love You Like That - All 4 One
I Knew I Loved You - Savage Garden

Tuesday, December 7, 2021

Songs I Will Forever Relate to the COVID Pandemic

As we all know that music has a way of taking you back in time. Reminds you of what you were going through when you were listening to that song and how it spoke to you.

I have two songs that I believe will forever remind me of the pandemic. 

1) Jeremy Camp - Keep Me in the Moment - This video came out the week of the lockdowns. It is about time, slowing down, and appreciating loved ones. The lockdowns really did slow down everything. Made me realize how important relationships are!

I’ve been thinking ‘bout time And where does it go How can I stop my life from passing me by I don’t know I’ve been thinking ‘bout family and how it’s going so fast Will I wake up one morning just wishing that I could go back I’ve been thinking ‘bout lately maybe I can make a change and let You change me So, with all of my heart this is my prayer Singing Oh Lord keep me in the moment Help me live with my eyes wide open ‘Cause I don’t wanna miss what You have for me Singing Oh Lord show me what matters Throw away what I’m chasing after ‘Cause I don’t wanna miss what You have for me Keep me in the moment Keep me in the moment Keep me in the moment ‘Cause I don’t wanna miss what You have for me When I wake up in the morning Lord, search my heart Don’t let me stray, I just wanna stay where You are All I got is one shot, one try One go around in this beautiful life Nothing is wasted when everything’s placed in Your hands I’ve been thinking about heaven And the promise You hold So, it’s all eyes on You until the day You call me home



2) The second song is Movin' On by Jonathon McReynolds. It's about moving on from failures. But in the video, someone is packing up their stuff and starting new. Millions of Americans moved during the pandemic. I, myself, moved. It really gave me hope that a new location can be a fresh start.



Sunday, October 17, 2021

Closed on Sunday


I'm a capitalist. I support business. That's why what I'm about to say might be
confusing. The American family is in disrepair. American culture is on the decline. We need stronger families. I think there is a small and Biblical thing we can do to strengthen families: Take back the Sabbath.

The Sabbath is for rest.  A time for reflection. A time to spend with family before the busy weeks begin. We've let business and commerce take our Sabbath. I would like to see way more businesses close on Sunday like Chick-fil-A. In fact, some European countries already do this.

While I support capitalism, I have always been wary of overconsumption in American society. The excess is concerning. Perhaps, taking back Sabbath would be a small step in getting priorities right.

The Sabbath should be a time of rest and reflection. A time to worship God. Not a time for business. I support business and commerce but I support families more. 










Friday, July 30, 2021

Where are the High-Minded Discussions on the Left?

I listened to two great conversations this week.

First, Glenn Loury, John McWhorter, and Jason Riley discuss Thomas Sowell's writing. Great intellectual conversation.

The second was Daily Wire Backstage, where the folks of Daily Wire pontificated on current events. 

Whatever you think of the politics of any of the individuals engaging in these discussions, it is hard to deny these are some pretty high-minded, intellectual conversations. No talking points. No superficiality.

I found myself wondering: Where are these types of discussions on the American Left? All the people featured in the above videos are right-leaning (some more so than others). I'm not trying name-call or anything. I know there are some serious intellectuals on the Left. I just don't see them in conversations like this. 

Tuesday, June 29, 2021

Who Killed Truth?



I've been listening to a very interesting podcast called "The Last Archive", hosted by historian Jill Lepore. To give some insight into the show here is a description from the website:
The Last Archive​ is a show about the history of truth, and the historical context for our current fake news, post-truth moment. It’s a show about how we know what we know, and why it seems, these days, as if we don’t know anything at all anymore.
I find this a highly intriguing question. Who killed truth? 

Ms. Lepore concludes her second season with an episode titled, "Epiphany." In this episode, her guest argues we don't know the truth because our "institutions of knowledge" such academia, media, and science have been under attack. She goes on to explain these institutions have been under attack for political gain. In her view, one political party benefits from this.

I would like to offer a different theory. Postmodernism, moral relativism, and our absolute distrust of any type of authority have killed the truth. Postmodernists argue truth as relative. When we all go by our own truth, there is no truth. This is the world postmodernism has built. We can no longer agree on simple truths because it is relative. We've built our own individualistic moral frameworks.

Another issue I see is an absolute distrust of authority. Let us face it Americans have issues with authority. Watch a few minutes of American media and I can't help but see a huge distrust of authority. Parents are portrayed as idiots. Teachers are shown as idiots. Religious leaders are portrayed as idiots and crooked. Law enforcement is shown as crooked. Politicians are crooked. I can go on. So how are we supposed to seek the truth when authority is under attack?

I understand that people are flawed and some level of skepticism in authority is healthy and normal. But that's now what I'm seeing. This goes above and beyond that. Sometimes it is downright disrespectful to all forms of authority. 

If you really want to deep-dive into who killed truth, I would start there.