The Right Stuff: Large government breeds incompetence

By Earl Heal: published June 13, 2022

Incompetence is not an impeachable offense, but hopefully, voters will recognize the need to prevent the re-election of incompetent officials.

To minimize that probability, the Founders established elective criteria and short terms of office, but some incompetents do get re-elected or appointed. Let’s review current mistakes dictating unworthiness for re-election.

A whistleblower reported in October 2021 unsanitary practices in a food processing manufacturer, named Abbott Labs, with a 130-year history of operations. It specializes in diagnostics, medical devices, nutrition and generic pharmaceuticals. The Food and Drug Administration delayed an investigation until late December and finally issued a report in February. Four infants had been infected by Chronobecter sakazakii bacteria (two fatally) from September 2021 to January 2022. A 2014 government study had found two-thirds of milk-processing factories have Chrono strains, but this investigation of the four victims found no genetic link to Chronobecter strains found in the Abbott factory. Based on some discrepancies in food testing and record-keeping, the FDA promptly ordered Abbott Lab to stop any further production.[...read more]

The Right Stuff: Critical thinking, common sense key to thriving republic

By Jim McCully: The Right Stuff: June 6,2022 Critical thinking and common sense are foundational for a successful life as thoughts drive emotions, not the other way around.

I believe many older adults can remember admonitions from parents, teachers and other authority figures throughout our lives urging us to think critically before we acted. This concept was reinforced and reiterated constantly. I can still hear my mom in my head when I would say all the other kids were doing whatever dumb kid thing it was. She would look at me and say, “Boy, if the other kids jumped off the Douglas bridge, would you?”

Therefore, thinking and common sense are actually foundational for a successful life as we were taught to face life as it is not as we might wish it to be.

There can be little argument with thinking things through, whether it’s done critically or by appealing to common sense.[...read more]

The Right Stuff: Biden racks up blunders

By Roger Oberbeck: The Right Stuff: May 30, 2022

Robert Gates, former defense secretary under President Barack Obama, said Joe Biden has been wrong in nearly every major foreign policy and national security issue over the past four decades. Let’s look at some of Biden’s blunders since taking office. Biden picked Kamala Harris as his running mate. She had attacked Biden more harshly than any other candidate in the Democratic Party primaries. I wonder, would he repeat that choice?

Biden plans to scrap the Title 42 plan. That will allow uncontrolled illegal immigration through the southern border. He has taken no action to control the anticipated surge of immigrants crossing the border illegally.[..read more]