Category Archives: politics

a plea for discourse, preferably of the civil kind

Posted on August 31, 2012 by dichroic

It’s possibly I can be dispassionate only because I live outside the US and am thus not being bombarded by US election news to nearly the degree that people in the US are. (It’s election season here too, but I … Continue reading →

Posted in daily updates, politics | 1 Comment

because whatever else you can say about guns, they don’t shoot silver bullets

Posted on July 26, 2012 by dichroic

Expanded from a comment I made on someone else’s locked LJ post. In the commentary I’ve seen on the shootings in the Aurora, CO theater, some people keep saying things like “Too bad no one else in that theater had … Continue reading →

Posted in politics | Leave a comment

Posted on July 25, 2012 by dichroic

When I was talking the other day about how timely Trollope’s autobiography still is, I hadn’t even gotten to the section on politics yet. Wow. I can’t agree with him on “the dangers of traveling too quickly” [toward equality], though … Continue reading →

Posted in books, politics | 1 Comment

being right is not the same as being unquestionable

Posted on February 5, 2012 by dichroic

In general, it’s fair to categorize me as a liberal. I’m never thrilled with labels, though, because they oversimplify. I have a slight lean toward libertarianism, because I want the government to quit interfering with my wallet and my life … Continue reading →

Posted in politics | 2 Comments

What I need here is someone to write a tune

Posted on February 1, 2012 by dichroic

It seems to me that we have a lot of protests these days, but not nearly enough protest songs. This one came boiling up very quickly tonight, inspired by a speech of Molly Ivis’ (duh) and a few fiery young … Continue reading →

Posted in daily updates, poetry, politics | 1 Comment

happy holidays, dammit

Posted on December 18, 2011 by dichroic

I’m pretty sure no one who reads my blog needs to be told any of this but I’ve seen at least a couple of people on Facebook already ranting about their ‘right’ to say “Merry Christmas”, presumably instead of “Happy … Continue reading →

Posted in politics | 1 Comment

Occupying my brain

Posted on October 19, 2011 by dichroic

The thing is, I don’t actually begrudge executives and CEOs big salaries and luxurious lives, in return for performance. (Notice I said “big”; “big” is not necessarily synonymous with “mind-bogglingly humongous”. Also, giving someone a massive bonus for inadequate bonus … Continue reading →

Posted in daily updates, musing, politics | 1 Comment

a small rumination on the news from NY

Posted on July 26, 2011 by dichroic

I don’t think anyone who reads my blog needs convincing, but it seems a bit obligatory to write something when you’re faced with history. Way back when we lived in Texas, my husband (then fairly newly promoted to that title) … Continue reading →

Posted in daily updates, musing, politics | Leave a comment

Revere, further redux

Posted on June 8, 2011 by dichroic

I’m still annoyed at the Sarah Palin error over Paul Revere’s ride. The thing is, for a public figure, there are mistakes, there are stupid mistakes, and there are pernicious mistakes. A mistake is “Sorry, I said 80 billion dollars … Continue reading →

Posted in daily updates, politics | 1 Comment

we think there’s a problem. we just don’t know what it is.

Posted on May 3, 2011 by dichroic

The US State Department has just issued what may be the vaguest travel / terror alert ever: The U.S. Department of State alerts U.S. citizens traveling and residing abroad to the enhanced potential for anti-American violence given recent counter-terrorism activity … Continue reading →