Phil Steiger
Totalitarian propaganda can outrageously insult common sense only where common sense has lost its validity.Hannah Arendt In the historical record, it seems it is normal for normal people to worry they are losing their minds while totalitarians come to power. Propaganda, censorship, and the use of violence are so common, that we can scarcely read... Continue Reading →
Part of the transformational shift happening in our culture right now is a redefinition of terms leading to consequences that baffle and anger a lot of people. One such example comes in the form of a bill introduced to Congress by (then) Senator Kamala Harris, which is now back on the table, dubbed the Do... Continue Reading →
There is an economic principle that we should all learn in a Civics class sometime in Middle School. The catchy acronym is: T.A.N.S.T.A.A.F.L. (pronounced, “Tanstafl”). It stands for, “There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch.” The principle is a simple observation of the choices we make – there is always a trade-off, and... Continue Reading →
Last year I wrote a Thanksgiving address titled, “Thanksgiving is Better Than Grievance.” This year I am struck by how much better Thanksgiving is than politicization. For a few years now, certain political forces have asked young people to return to mom and dad’s house, and once all the work of food prep is over... Continue Reading →
Belief in truth is a bigger deal than you might at first imagine. If a truth exists, that puts me in a position, both in respect to knowledge and ethics, under that truth. I am its subject and it is not mine. I do not determine which ordinal direction the sun will rise from; I... Continue Reading →
Hannah Arendt’s The Origins of Totalitarianism is a broad-ranging and powerful description of the rise of totalitarianism in Russia/Soviet Union and Nazi Germany in the first half of the 20th century. Born into a Jewish family, she experienced firsthand the Anti-Semitism that that came with those totalitarian regimes. The book was first published in 1951... Continue Reading →
With a title like this, we first think of Dicken’s novel by the same name. The cities are London and Paris during the French Revolution and follows the complications of intertwined lives between them during turbulent times. But I’m not thinking about London and Paris in the 18th century. I’m thinking about a much older... Continue Reading →
Chick-Fil-A made headlines recently for their decision to reevaluate their charitable giving, and to stop giving to groups that include the Salvation Army and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Their sin? According to CNN, “Both organizations have taken controversial stands on homosexuality and same-sex marriage.” In fact, CNN’s headline is a glimpse into a predetermined... Continue Reading →
This bill, the "National Popular Vote" bill, is a nation-wide push to invalidate an individual state's electoral college vote, and tie them to the results of the national popular vote. It is a move away from part of what makes us a Republic to a raw Democracy. It is also the result of frustration over... Continue Reading →
The Colorado State Legislature yesterday voted to pass on HB19-1032, titled, “Comprehensive Human Sexuality Education”. The summary of the bill, from the State website, begins, “The bill clarifies content requirements for public schools that offer comprehensive human sexuality education and prohibits instruction from explicitly or implicitly teaching or endorsing religious ideology or sectarian tenets... Continue Reading →
Every Thought Captive 