Liberty Drip

By Adolfo Jimenez I am a small business owner. Small, of course, is a relative term. While my business is not as big as Amazon or AT&T, it is pretty big to me. I own two corporations with four distinct lines of business. I work quite hard, even when things are slow and there is not much to do. In my life as a business owner, I have created jobs, and I’ve fired people or let people go. I have created millions of dollars in value, I have served countless customers, and I have, of course, paid more than my fair share of taxes. It’s okay, I’m happy to help those less willing than myself.  I can live with the taxes. No, I can’t. No need to lie, it doesn’t further the story or prove anything. I pay taxes because I would rather not have the problems that come with not paying taxes like going to jail or having my stuff seized by the state. Makes sense, right? But taxes are only one of the unfair burdens placed on business owners in the land of the free. The burdens people don’t talk ab...

Ravi Kopparapu and Jacob Haqq-Misra's thought provoking opinion piece in the Washington Post May 26, “We’re asking the wrong questions about UFOs,” suggested a redirection of the recently piqued public interest in answering the question of what unidentified aerial phenomena are, to how we can figure out what they are.  I concur that the latter question is more immediately important than the former; however, two more peels of this onion are necessary. The questions which must come before all others are whether we can figure out what they are and so what if we do? The reason these questions are so important is that the authors and a number of other leading thinkers are advocating the dedication of public resources to the matter of answering the how question. Were they merely putting their own time and energy to the question, I would gladly cheer them on.  Bravo!  After all, who doesn't root for the underdog?  But betting money on the underdog is a different matter, esp...

July 18, 2020 Last night, during the July Executive Committee meeting, I lost my temper. Twice. I’m not writing this letter to try to justify my behavior. I’m old enough to know better. I should not have yelled. I should not have cursed. I should not have left the meeting. Well, maybe I shouldn’t have been there in the first place. I want to apologize for losing my temper.  There, now that that’s out of the way, I want to address the issues that set me off. But first, a little history... I became involved in national and local politics seventeen years ago. I volunteered for the Bush campaign. I worked for local republican campaigns. I worked for several republican organizations. I learned a lot during those years. I learned that my beliefs are not in line with he republican philosophy, particularly with how it is now interpreted. I also learned how an effective political organization is run. I witnessed this operational efficiency, par excellence, at the county level, and at the ci...

I had to walk into my bank today to have a document notarized. Good thing I made an appointment. The other customer who was there, like me, at one minute before opening time was not so lucky. She was sent away. She would have been the second customer in the branch. I’m not sure if the bank would have gotten in trouble for letting her in, but I did hear the banker tell her she was not allowed into the branch without an appointment. She had the mask. It matched her outfit. Bless her heart. I asked if I would need an appointment to access my safe deposit box. The banker said no, just walk right in. I don’t have a safe deposit box there but I’m glad exceptions to the rules of stupid can be made.   We are still being told by the guessers in charge that we should maintain social distancing, not shake hands and not go inside some places or outside anywhere. Unless you want to protest your local police, in which case, get out there! I wonder why many states and the federal government, who ...

A family is playing basketball in their front yard. Someone reports this to the police. The police break up the game and send them inside. *** A couple in New York are sitting outside enjoying fresh air, or as fresh as one can find in a big city. The police make them sit six feet apart. Never mind that they live together. *** In Texas, a woman was fined and arrested for opening the doors of her beauty salon. *** In New Jersey, a man was arrested for going to the gym. *** The government has implemented a new category for discrimination. Essential vs. non-essential employees. Tell the family that can’t pay its bills that they are not essential. Better yet, don’t. The government has already told them. No sense rubbing it in. *** I am out running errands and my daughter calls. It’s about 8:30PM on a Wednesday. She tells me there’s something happening at Joe’s house. Cops, fire rescue, chaos. Joe is our neighbor. Joe is a sick man. He is a hoarder. His yard is entirely filled with all sort...