Author Archives: hessd

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About hessd

Here is all you need to know to follow this blog. I am an old man and I love to think about why we say the things we do. I've taught at the elementary, secondary, collegiate, and doctoral levels. I don't think one is easier than another. They are hard in different ways. I have taught political science for a long time and have practiced politics in and around the Oregon Legislature. I don't think one is easier than another. They are hard in different ways. You'll be seeing a lot about my favorite topics here. There will be religious reflections (I'm a Christian) and political reflections (I'm a Democrat) and a good deal of whimsy. I'm a dilettante.

Adam, Eve, and Unconditional Love

Posted on October 22, 2011 by hessd

I am beginning today a set of thought experiments bearing on the notion of “unconditional” or “non-contingent” love.  I am beginning with the position that it is a bad idea.  It asks more discernment of us than we can reliably … Continue reading →

Posted in Biblical Studies, Political Psychology | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Being a Patient and a Citizen

Posted on October 10, 2011 by hessd

I’ve been thinking for a couple of days now about the recommendations by the U. S. Preventive Services Task Force that we stop testing for the prostate-specific antigen (PSA).  The difficulty they point to is not that the PSA doesn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | Tagged , | Leave a comment

moneyball

Posted on October 3, 2011 by hessd

It is hard to give up the old ways.  I am not going to do it casually.  You will have to give me a really good reason to change my ways and then I probably still won’t do it.  I … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Movies, Theology, ways of knowing | 5 Comments

Kimiko Says Thank You

Posted on October 2, 2011 by hessd

People who formulate, legitimate, or enforce public policy for a living have a good idea what makes a policy work.  It has to be effective, i.e., meet the goals the policy establishes.  It has to be affordable, i.e., not cost … Continue reading →

Posted in Saturday Evening Post | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Obama’s Policy on Israel and Palestine

Posted on September 23, 2011 by hessd

How shall we approach the decades-long standoff between Israel and Palestine?  In our rush to establish one position or another, we blow right by the general questions which the positions purportedly address.  Any set of comparable positions lines up on … Continue reading →

Posted in Political Psychology, Politics | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Djokovic Plays Erikson, Round 7

Posted on September 19, 2011 by hessd

I hate to abandon Roger Federer after so long, but since he lost to Novak Djokovic in the semifinals, I will have to examine Erikson’s Stage 8 with Djokovic in mind.  He is the one who actually made it to Stage 8.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Getting Old | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Love and Savvy

Posted on September 17, 2011 by hessd

I haven’t actually read the book Women Who Love Too Much, but when I saw it on the shelf, I knew I didn’t want to.  The person who made up that title—I understand that it might not have been the … Continue reading →

Posted in Biblical Studies, Love and Marriage, Political Psychology | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Federer Plays Erikson, Round 6

Posted on September 17, 2011 by hessd

It has taken me a little while to recover from the semifinals.  Even if you don’t follow tennis, you probably know now that Novak Djokovic won the U. S. Open and since you know how tournaments work, you know that … Continue reading →

Posted in Getting Old | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Federer Plays Erikson, Round 5

Posted on September 10, 2011 by hessd

In the musical, 1776, John Dickinson of Pennsylvania objects to the wording of Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence, which was before the Second Continental Congress for debate.  Jefferson had referred to King George as a “tyrant.”  King George, Mr. Dickinson … Continue reading →

Posted in Getting Old | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Reading Year (RY) 2012

Posted on September 9, 2011 by hessd

You can have conflicting short-term and long-term goals, right?  I want to lose weight over the longer term, but I want that milkshake RIGHT NOW!  With that in mind, the sentiment I want to begin with today might not be so … Continue reading →

Posted in Books | Tagged , , | 2 Comments