Monthly Archives: February 2014

Why the NCC Works

Posted on February 28, 2014 by hessd

One of the groups I belong to calls itself, modestly, the Northwest Corner Caucus (NCC).  We meet at “our Starbucks” most mornings.  We solve problems; we cause problems—it’s your ordinary group of guys (mostly) sitting around with too much caffeine.  … Continue reading →

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“Should Obesity be a ‘Disease’?”

Posted on February 24, 2014 by hessd

“Should Obesity be a ‘Disease’?” That’s the headline on a piece in the New York Times by Crystal Hoyt and Jeni Burnett, both of the University of Richmond.  It irked me a little and I had to stop and remember … Continue reading →

Posted in Political Psychology, Politics, Sustainability | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

The One Way to Save Obamacare

Posted on February 19, 2014 by hessd

I spent some years of my life being paid to give political advice.  My advice, like nearly everyone else’s, was accepted some times and not others; when it was accepted, it was successful some times and not others.  And when … Continue reading →

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On Having a Miserable Job

Posted on February 15, 2014 by hessd

Isn’t it just amazing what we learn to be satisfied with? We think, sometimes, that living the way we do is inevitable.[1]  Or we think that doing what we would have to do to live otherwise would be wrong or … Continue reading →

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Orthopathy. Really.

Posted on February 11, 2014 by hessd

On November 16, 2008, Jason Walter, a first year student at the Institute of Reformed Baptist Studies, led a discussion on Louis Berkhof’s Summary of Christian Doctrine.  I had never heard of Jason or of the Institute of Reformed Baptist … Continue reading →

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Robert Dahl, R.I.P

Posted on February 10, 2014 by hessd

Robert Dahl died this week at the age of 98.  The man loomed over political theory before, during, and after my years as a political scientist.  When I began reading political science, Who Governs? Democracy and Power in an American … Continue reading →

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Valentine’s Day 2014

Posted on February 9, 2014 by hessd

I do love Valentine’s Day.  It has taken me awhile to get there, but I am there now. I started having trouble with Valentine’s Day in elementary school.  It was our practice that everyone was to get valentines from everyone … Continue reading →

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Belonging to the Narrative

Posted on February 3, 2014 by hessd

  As a rule, I am pretty sensitive to attributing personal traits to impersonal objects.  You can tell, I am sure, that I am going to suspend that today and you are right, but let me illustrate it first.  It … Continue reading →

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