Blogs

A Better Movie: “A Better Life”

Submitted by Michael Williams on Wed, 08/24/2011 - 00:00

I want to highly recommend a movie:  "A Better Life".  Anyone who fights for freedom should see it.  It's a simple, yet profound story and even if you're not pro-capitalism but have any interest in immigration issues, child rearing, or the future of this country, you'll want to see it and discuss with people you respect. 

Plot spoilers to follow.

It's about an illegal immigrant (Carlos) raising his teenage son in the East Los Angeles barrio.  Typical for someone who's made it across the border illegally, he's not well educated and has little money.  Also typical for someone who views the world honestly, he knows that he has to work hard to support himself, respects other...

Bring on the Competition

Submitted by Michael Williams on Tue, 03/15/2011 - 00:00

Are you competitive? Of course you are. So am I.

I remember hot summer days, strutting onto the tennis court with my brothers and dad. Each of us slipped into our routine: twirling racquets, checking the net, stretching, sizing each other up, talking noise about a thunderous serve or someone’s weak backhand or who won last. Then we do battle—pretty evenly matched so all the more fun, though mom couldn’t always tell. After the shots were made and the sweating and cussing ended, there was a winner; I wanted to beat these guys at their best.

But, c’mon, competition isn’t primarily about beating someone else. I can thrash my nine-year-old on the court, yet this would be...

Another Chance at Hope? The Gradual Self-Education of the American Citizen

Submitted by Michael Williams on Thu, 02/10/2011 - 00:00

Is there time for education to work?

It’s being called a historic election because of the grassroots influence of the Tea Party. Commentators have struggled to define this movement but all agree it impacted the outcome. Some say the Tea Party was the cause of the Democrats losing control of the House of Representatives. Others contend it caused the Republicans to not pick up more seats in the Senate. They’re both right; but more importantly, the Tea Party has given us a chance to rediscover what it means to be a citizen of the greatest country in history. It’s given us a chance at genuine hope.

Despite being demonized by the...

How to be a Capitalist

Submitted by Michael Williams on Mon, 01/03/2011 - 20:14

How to be a capitalist—are you kidding? Nobody wants to be a capitalist. You want a target on your forehead that says “I’m a greedy bastard who will lie, cheat and steal to get the money”? Want all your friends and family to despise you? Why would you want to destroy the environment, eliminate jobs, hurt the poor, make inferior products and brainwash everyone into watching lowbrow sitcoms and beer commercials?

You say, “No, that’s not what I want. I want to be creative and productive and pursue my own happiness. I want to take care of those I love and be free to enjoy my life and all that it has to offer.”

I have news for you: you already are a capitalist—you were born one...

Avatar…..or Marlon Brando, Pocahontas and Thee

Submitted by Michael Williams on Sun, 07/04/2010 - 20:27

I just watched the Oscars and, thankfully, Avatar did not win Best Picture. It did however win, deservedly so, the Best Visual Effects award. Anyone who has seen it knows the job James Cameron and his crew did in creating a marvelous visual feast. Anyone who understands capitalism and the history of humanity will also know and lament the incredible movie making skills for such tired, old anti-civilization and anti-technology propaganda. The guy who accepted the award said, “Avatar’s a film about learning to see the world in new ways”. But really it’s a film about learning to make old myths about our world more visually interesting. (Plot spoilers follow)

In his song, Pocahontas,...

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