Author Archives: David A. Woodbury

Can You Say “Absurd”?

This article was originally published in 2002 at a now-defunct web site and is reprinted here in 2025 because it is still relevant. The lunacy began when I pulled up to order at a fast food joint.  I asked for a hamburger and a small root beer.  “I’m sorry sir, we don’t have ‘small,’” saidContinueContinue reading “Can You Say “Absurd”?”

Two Maines to Part Ways

This article was originally published in 2002 at a now-defunct web site and is reprinted here in 2025 because it still describes the attitude of those wielding political control of the state. You may think this is a satire, but if the governor’s comments of February 7 were serious, then so is this response. BANGORContinueContinue reading “Two Maines to Part Ways”

The Perils of Isolationism

25 April 2025 It’s hard to describe the importance of the article linked below, but I’ll try.  This is a classic example of Isaiah’s Job, both for Condoleezza Rice, who wanted to convey her concerns, and for me, wishing to promote the piece here. She is uniquely qualified to speak to the complicated issues inContinueContinue reading “The Perils of Isolationism”

TikTok Guy

1 December 2024 Because my brother, Charles, sent this video to my wife, which we assume was meant for both of us, I dutifully watched it as did she.  From my brother’s expressions of worry before the election of 2024 I understand that he no doubt perceives the video as a reflection of his ownContinueContinue reading “TikTok Guy”

The Second Word in Gun Violence

9 April 2023 Sheriff Billy Woods of Marion County, Florida, holds that children who commit violent crimes need to be held accountable and calls for parents and schools to take more responsibility in raising children. He criticized “society,” “school districts,” and gun law rhetoric after announcing the arrests of two juveniles, one of whom isContinueContinue reading “The Second Word in Gun Violence”

On Taxes and Licenses

29 March 2023 A tirade against taxes, recently posted on Facebook, recalls something I encountered several years ago when I sought information from my home state about professional licensing. The Facebook post, which sets out initially to describe the scale of the number one billion, contains the following (unedited) list of taxes and “fees” (aContinueContinue reading “On Taxes and Licenses”

Wealth from a Child’s Perspective

I believe that this same fallacious two-level concept of money – you’re either someone who never had it and never will or you’re someone who always had all you wanted and always will – is held by most poor-from-birth people today, and not just while they are children but also as adults. What’s more, I suspect that stratification of people into socio-economic classes is driven from below as much as it is from above. I don’t believe that those born into money perceive the gulf as readily as those born into none. Those with money, (as I would have sorted them out as a child), aren’t as conscious of their “stratum.” It’s especially those who have enough (however much that is, but that’s where I am today), but who aren’t really wealthy, who are the least likely to realize that they are lumped in with the super-rich, by those who have nothing.

Is This Forgiveness?

31 August 2022 I didn’t realize until now that The Onion leans toward the delusions of collectivism — (left, new liberal, socialist; choose your flag).  Inasmuch as I read a clip from it perhaps only a couple times a year I hadn’t looked at it enough to notice.  Plainly, though, it struggles to deliver satireContinueContinue reading “Is This Forgiveness?”