Category Archives: Politics

Life, Love, People and God

My book: Life, Love, People and God is available on Amazon.com. Click here to order a copy It is comprised of poetry and essays written over the past fifty years by myself, a lifelong student of parliamentary procedure and political … Continue reading

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On Rebellion

“I’M AS MAD AS HELL, AND I’M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE!”[1] These are the words of Howard Beale in “Network”. The American movie classic is about an aging network broadcaster who rebels against the corporate oligarchy and subsequently … Continue reading

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Liberty and Non Aggression

Liberty is expanded by the free exchange of information and freedom of association. Nevertheless Tyranny is easier. I observe this constantly as a parliamentarian. The right to bear arms protects the right of free speech, religion, association, and petition, all … Continue reading

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LGBT Rights and the First Amendment

From Muhammad Ibn Abdullah to Joel Osteen the world seems awash with false prophets. This is why it is so important to be able to say whatever we want, to believe whatever we want about God, or not to believe, to publish whatever we want to publish, to associate with those whom we wish, and to shun those with whom we do not. Continue reading

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The Civil Liberty that Protects all Others

It was certainly ironic and fitting that a legislator who voted against allowing guns in a certain place should be shot by a gun in exactly that place.  Yet that was the fate of Clementa Pinckney, state senator and pastor of … Continue reading

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Management, Labor, and the Union

We recognize that there is a fundamental difference between management and labor. Being part of labor means that, at least for right now, you are destined to make your way through life with a little less than you’d hoped for. … Continue reading

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A Neo-Patriarchal Response to Communitarianism

Very occasionally, in the morning when the weather is not too hot, I step out onto my front porch and sit on a broad wooden bench, looking out into my front yard and that of my neighbor’s, enjoying the coolness … Continue reading

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Can a constitution put limits on a government?

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Gun Control & the Right to Bear Arms

“Among other evils which being unarmed brings you, it causes you to be despised.” – Niccolo Machiavelli The question of whether citizens in a democracy should have ready access to firearms suggests a more basic question, which has often been … Continue reading

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The Bill of Rights at Home and Abroad

In our post-republic era, much is made of the U.S. Constitution and its accompanying Bill of Rights, even though it is clear that the government and the courts rely less and less upon their unconditional application, and more upon political … Continue reading

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A Response to UNF President John Delaney’s Endorsement of the Jacksonville City Council Bill 2012-296

Originally Published in the Jacksonville Times Union A Response to UNF President John Delaney’s Endorsement of the Jacksonville City Council Bill 2012-296 banning discrimination based on sexual orientation. Invocation Did they have an invocation at the Sodom City Council? Did … Continue reading

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Racism, Politics, and Ax Handle Saturday

I am not exactly sure why we should be celebrating a day when a bunch of black folk got beat up by a bunch of white folk with ax handles. I think it is unlikely to happen again given Republican … Continue reading

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The Present Education Controversy

Originally published in the Jacksonville Observer Education is not the business of government. This is why we have a school board separate from the county government. It is the duty of the school board to decide how the school system … Continue reading

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Ramp Up the Rhetoric!

Originally published in the Jacksonville Observer Patriots protest! Silence is shameful. Citizens! The country is in crisis and the Congress is culpable. Ramp up the Rhetoric! The recent shooting of Representative Gabrielle Giffords and the killing of District Court Judge … Continue reading

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Politics and Party Loyalty

Originally published in the Jacksonville Observer There are some folks who think you can say you are a member of a political party and attack your own party’s candidates during an election. I disagree. We have a multiparty system in … Continue reading

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Church Politics

Originally published in the Jacksonville Observer I don’t believe that there is a separation of church and state. If you are a member of church and you vote, you know what I mean. I have been visiting various churches for … Continue reading

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Council Members only Pretend to be Republican

Originally published in the Jacksonville Observer I am tired of men like Dick Brown, Mike Corrigan, Ronnie Fussell, Kevin Hyde, Stephen Joost, Art Shad and especially the President of the City Council, Jack Webb pretending that they are Republicans and … Continue reading

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Liberty & Taxes

Transcript of the the remarks* given to the Jacksonville City Council on Tuesday, September 28, 2010, by Louis William Rose regarding the proposal to increase taxes. Thank you Mr. President and members of the council. My name is Louis William … Continue reading

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The Milk Party is Milking It

Originally published in the Jacksonville Observer The Milk Party (aka The Children’s Movement of Florida) says that “the well-being and education of our children in Florida must be the highest priority of government, business, non-profit institutions and families.” The Milk … Continue reading

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Make No Mistake, It’s Still Liberty or Death!

Originally published in the Jacksonville Observer I know that I am the odd man out when I say I could care less about the Jaguars. But given that, you must admit that professional football is a fantasy world where the … Continue reading

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Mixing Religion with Politics

Originally published in the Jacksonville Observer It is impossible to keep religion out of politics. Why, you ask? Because a few folks involved in politics actually know God, and others have strong religious beliefs that supersede and drive their political … Continue reading

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How to Overthrow the Government

Originally published in the Jacksonville Observer I think that it is way past time that we overthrew the government that is currently in power, and put in some decent, honest folks that know what’s important and what’s not. While it … Continue reading

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I Want to Live in a City…

Originally published in the Jacksonville Observer Mayor John Peyton has been fighting a battle with the people of Jacksonville over his irrational desire to raise taxes during a recession. The overwhelming majority of taxpayers don’t want a tax increase and … Continue reading

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What is Wrong

Originally published in the Jacksonville Observer It seems to me that things are terribly wrong and that my fellow citizens are slipping back into the abyss of subjection and slavery. This is a non-partisan observation. I am not laying the … Continue reading

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The Business of Government

Originally published in the Jacksonville Observer Recently Mayor Peyton sent everyone an e-mail in which he said that it was his intention to run the City of Jacksonville like a business. The problem is that the City of Jacksonville should … Continue reading

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The Party of ‘Hell No’

Originally published in the Jacksonville Observer The United States has ceased to be a constitutional republic. Our country was established by the adoption of a constitution that is no longer in force in any real way. Our social structures are … Continue reading

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Demanding Liberty

Originally published in the Jacksonville Observer On April 15th, more than 4,000 patriots gathered at the Jacksonville Landing as part of a national network of Tax Day Tea Parties that are said to have attracted more than a million participants. … Continue reading

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A Letter to Secretary Janet Napolitano

April 16, 2009 Certified Mail Secretary Janet Napolitano Department of Homeland Security U.S. Department of Homeland Security Washington, DC 20528 Madame Secretary: I have read with great interest the recent report: Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence … Continue reading

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President Obama

Originally published in the Florida Student Philosophy Blog God bless the new President of the United States! Now let us do all we can do to help him uphold his oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United … Continue reading

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Chocolate Pudding Pie

This weekend, in a moment of weakness, I was struck by the idea that I had to have a piece of chocolate pudding pie. So I decided to make it myself. The crust was made by hand, with flour, ice-water … Continue reading

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Warren Beatty’s Bulworth: A Trial Balloon for the 2000 Presidential Nomination

Warren Beatty is a successful actor, director and producer. In addition to the entertainment industry, he has been publicly involved in liberal and democratic causes for the greater part of his life. He was seven when Franklin Roosevelt was reelected … Continue reading

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Class Versus Crass: A Comparison of “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” and “The Distinguished Gentlemen”

The film, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington was produced in nineteen thirty-nine and was directed by Frank Capra. When released a few weeks after the German invasion of Poland, it came as a who-needs-it-now irritant to many leaders in the … Continue reading

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Lateness

STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM MEMO TO: Superintendent Marta Villacorta FROM: Sergeant Louis William Rose DATE: May 6, 1994 SUBJECT: Lateness Ma’am: Yesterday, along with about a dozen other officers, I was one minute late for briefing. … Continue reading

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