Category Archives: Political Psychology

Garbage Time

Posted on September 3, 2017 by hessd

Yesterday I attended a meeting at which a lot of appropriate things were said.  After that, the meeting deteriorated into a free for all of bad questions and posturing. It is that latter part of the meeting that I am … Continue reading →

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The Incredible Trump

Posted on August 29, 2017 by hessd

“Caught in the blast of gamma radiation, brilliant scientist Bruce Banner is cursed to transform in times of stress into the living engine of destruction known as THE INCREDIBLE HULK. “ With a start like that, you have every reason … Continue reading →

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With malice toward none

Posted on August 18, 2017 by hessd

WITH MALICE TOWARD NONE WITH CHARITY FOR ALL WITH FIRMNESS IN THE RIGHT AS GOD GIVES US TO SEE THE RIGHT LET US STRIVE ON TO FINISH THE WORK WE ARE IN TO BIND UP THE NATION’S WOUNDS TO CARE … Continue reading →

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Political Lies and Political Liars

Posted on August 9, 2017 by hessd

Lord Alexander Chung-sik Finkle-McGraw is instructing John Percival Hackworth, a relatively new member of the New Victorians, on “hypocrisy.” Is hypocrisy a big deal, Finkle-McGraw wants to know, or is it the way it was back at the end of … Continue reading →

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Speaking facts to power

Posted on July 30, 2017 by hessd

That’s not a typo. If you were expecting “Speaking truth to power,” read on. In December, 2015, a blogger named Jade Greear, began a piece with the well-known expression “Speaking Truth to Power.” [1] Greear continued: Those four little words … Continue reading →

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He said, She said, and Russian Roulette

Posted on July 15, 2017 by hessd

Rape is always a bad idea. Let’s start with that. On the other hand, doing “whatever is necessary” to prevent rapes–stop for a moment to consider what actions that standard justifies– is also a bad idea. Where do we go … Continue reading →

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A Wedding, a “Declaration” and an “Address”

Posted on July 5, 2017 by hessd

Written July 4, 2017.  Happy Independence Day! I’d like to look today at Thomas Jefferson’s well-known statement that “all men are created equal.” Some critics have said that this is the height of hypocrisy, coming as it does from a … Continue reading →

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The End of the Enlightenment?

Posted on June 28, 2017 by hessd

What’s the matter with Kansas? wondered Thomas Frank [1]. They don’t seem to vote in favor of the programs and candidates that would benefit them most. I like the way Frank framed the question, but I’d like to take it … Continue reading →

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Al Franken: Giant of the Senate

Posted on June 21, 2017 by hessd

I will not be the first to observe that Al Franken—that’s Senator Al Franken to you—is a very funny guy. Bette and I went to hear him here in Portland as part of a Father’s Day extravaganza. [1] Today I … Continue reading →

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At least cursing the darkness is a systemic response

Posted on June 5, 2017 by hessd

My friend, Bill Teague, is a pastor and a husband and a father and a really good guy. Also a blogger. Abusing the prefix e- in a way I have enjoyed since he first started doing it, he calls the … Continue reading →

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