The Personal Website of Mark W. Dawson

Containing His Articles, Observations, Thoughts, Meanderings,
and some would say Wisdom (and some would say not).

Table of Contents

• General (Apr 2019)
Forward
1. An Unexamined Life
2. Ethos, Pathos, and Logos
3. Argumentation, Debate, and Discussion
   1. To Argument, Debate, or Discuss — That Is the Question
4. Who Am I?
5. My Approach
6. The Ten Commandments
7. A Little Knowledge is a Dangerous Thing
8. My Message to Americans
9. Wisdom Is A Burden
Precepts
1. Human Nature
2. General Rule
3. Standards of Judgement
4. Wasting Effort, Time, and Monies
5. Knowledge, Experience, and Wisdom
6. Knowing vs. Understanding
7. Reasoning
   1. Formal and Informal Logic
   2. Logical Fallacies
   3. Cognitive Biases
   4. Common Sense
Additional Perspectives
1. Think About Things
2. Life Is Messy
   1. Shit Happens
   2. This Too Shall Pass
3. Be the Better Person
4. Who are you to judge?
5. Lies, Truths, and Beliefs
6. Principles, Truisms, Locutions, and Rules
   1. Principles
   2. Truisms
   3. Locutions
7. The 10-80-10 Rule
8. The 90/10 Rule
9. If It’s Worth Doing Rule
   1. The Non-Existent Job
   2. The Agony and the Ecstasy
10. Ten Pretty Good Rules to Live By
11. Martha MacCallum plus Variations
    1. A Lady.... (from Martha MacCallum)
    2. Also from Martha MacCallum:
    3. A Gentlemen.... (variation from Martha MacCallum)
    4. Variation from Martha MacCallum:
• Death
  
  
• Politics (Sep 2018)
1. Government of The People, By The People, and For The People
   1. A Hierarchy of Rights
   2. Democracy
   3. The American Trinity
   4. A Republic vs. A Democracy
   5. Governmental Truism
   6. U.S. Government Overview
   7. Executive Branch
      1. Presidential Duties and Responsibilities
      2. Executive Branch Agencies, Commissions, and Committees
   8. Legislative Branch
      1. Transparency
      2. Responsibility
      3. Regular Order
      4. Bipartisanship
      5. Slander and Libel
      6. Misnomers
   9. Judicial Branch
      1. A Co-Equal Branch
      2. Not Always Right
      3. Judges, Not Lords
   10. Independent Agencies
2. Balance of Power
3. The Meaning of the American Revolution
   1. The Founding Documents
   2. The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen United States of America
   3. The Constitution of the United States
   4. The Gettysburg Address
   5. The Meaning of these Founding Documents
      1. The Declaration of Independence
      2. The Constitution of the United States
      3. The Gettysburg Address
   6. Conclusions
4. Freedom and Liberty
   1. Capitalism is Liberty & Freedom
   2. Socialism (democratic or otherwise) is Serfdom
   3. Checks and Balances
5. The Rule of Law
   1. Concepts
      1. Concept 1 - Due Process
      2. Concept 2 - Speedy Trial
      3. Concept 3 - Presumption of Innocence
      4. Concept 4 - Trial by Jury
      5. Concept 5 - Burden of Proof on Prosecutor or Plaintiff
      6. Concept 6 - No Burden on Defense
   2. Tenets
      1. Tenet 1 - An Independent Judiciary
      2. Tenet 2 - Probable Cause
      3. Tenet 3 - Equality Under the Law
      4. Tenet 4 - Equal Protection of the Laws
      5. Tenet 5 - Pursuit of Justice
      6. Tenet 6 - Pardons and Commutations
         1. Types of Pardons and Commutations (from Law Street)
      7. Tenet 7 - Full Faith and Credit
      8. Tenet 8 - Contract Law Enforcement
   3. Final Thoughts on the Rule of Law
6. Human Rights
7. Observations on Aspects of Governing
   1. Fidelity to the Constitution
   2. Limited and Enumerated Powers
   3. Justice
   4. The Meaning of Elections
   5. The Electoral College
      1. If we ever change from an Electoral Vote System to a Popular Vote System we will not be the United States of America, but the United Cities of America.
   6. Gerrymandering
   7. Impeachment
   8. The Rights of the States or to the People
   9. Laboratories of Democracy
   10. Inertia and Impediments in Governing
   11. Stare Decisis
   12. Taxes
   13. Corporate Welfare
   14. Subsidies
   15. Public Employee Unions
   16. Lobbying
   17. Term Limits
   18. Political Polling
   19. Constitutional Amendments:
8. Political Discourse
   1. Light vs Heat
   2. First Do No Harm
   3. Think vs. Feel - or - Emotions are Easy, Thinking is Hard
   4. With Facts, Intelligence, and Reasoning
   5. Political Spectrum Perspective
   6. Dialog & Debate
      1. Demonize, Denigrate, Disparage (The Three D's)
         1. 10 Commandments of Rational Debate
      2. Criticism vs Critique
      3. Assertions
      4. Attack the Messenger
      5. A False Dichotomy
      6. Not Answering the Question or Talking Points Ad Nauseam
      7. Obfuscation, Smoke, and Mirrors
      8. Putting Words into Another's Mouth
      9. Torturous and Convoluted Reasoning
      10. Euphemisms, Doublespeak, and Disingenuousness
   7. Presidential Debates
   8. Oh What a Tangled Web We Weave
      1. Figures Can Lie, and Liars Can Figure
      2. Studies Show
      3. Statistics Show
      4. Correlation vs. Causality
      5. Lies, Damn Lies, and Statistics
      6. Using Figures and Studies Inappropriately – Part I
      7. Using Figures and Studies Inappropriately – Part II
      8. Using Figures and Studies Inappropriately – Part III
   9. Condemned To Repeat It
      1. Background
      2. Turning Points in American History
         1. Turning Point – The Revolutionary Wa
         2. Turning Point – The Jacksonian Revolution
         3. Turning Point – The Civil War
         4. Turning Point – The Industrial Revolution
         5. Turning Point – The Great Depression
         6. Turning Point – World War II
         7. Turning Point – The Civil Rights Movement
         8. Turning Point – The Present
      3. Conclusions
      4. Further Readings
   10. The Criminalization of Politics
   11. Modern Journalism
   12. I'm As Mad As Hell, And I'm Not Going To Take This Anymore!
   13. Phrases
       1. A Little Knowledge is a Dangerous Thing
       2. The Benefit of the Doubt
       3. Both Sides Do It
       4. But What About
       5. Change and/or New
       6. Code Word or Phrase
       7. Crony Capitalism
       8. Economist Agree
       9. Felony, Misdemeanor or Infraction
       10. Hypocrite
       11. Innocent Until Proven Guilty
       12. It Is What It Is
       13. It's Not A High Crime, It's A Low Crime
       14. Liberal or Progressive
       15. Knowing vs. Believing
       16. Mansplaining or any other "splaining"
       17. Our Diversity is our Strength
       18. Out of Context and Political Gaffes
       19. Reasonable Doubt
       20. Rule of Law
       21. Scientist Prove
       22. Statistics Show
       23. Studies Show
       24. So What's Your Solution?
       25. Social Justice
       26. That Ship Has Sailed
       27. The Wrong Side of History
       28. Transparency
       29. What I Wouldn't Do
   14. Pet Peeves
       1. Assuming the Worst Connotation
       2. Black Lives Matter
       3. Equal Pay for Equal Work
       4. Experts Aren’t, Economist Are Not
       5. Gun Free Zones
       6. IYI and SIG
       7. Jumping to Conclusions Too Soon
       8. Jumping to Conclusions through Ignorance
       9. Life Cycle Costs
       10. Micro-Aggressions
       11. Misnomers
       12. Nazism and Fascism
       13. One Party Rule
       14. The Perversion of the English Language
       15. Prosecution vs. Persecution
       16. Political Advertising and Sloganeering
       17. Politically Correct Thought and Speech
       18. Safe Zones
       19. Tenure
       20. Things Change
       21. Throwaway Lines
           1. Facts Not Correct
           2. Utilizing Statistics Inappropriately
           3. Hidden Assumptions or Assertions
           4. Common Sense
       22. Twisting and Turning the Constitution’s Intent
9. Libertarian, Conservative, Centrist, Liberal/Progressive, or A Socialist
10. Conservative vs. Liberal Beliefs
    1. A Guide to Basic Differences Between Left and Right
    2. Positions of Liberals and Conservatives
       1. Abortion
       2. Affirmative action
       3. Death penalty
       4. Economy
       5. Education – vouchers & charter schools
       6. Embryonic stem cell research
       7. Energy
       8. Euthanasia & physician-assisted suicide
       9. Global warming/climate change
       10. Gun control
       11. Healthcare
       12. Homeland security
       13. Immigration
       14. Private property
       15. Religion & government
       16. Same-sex marriage
       17. Social security
       18. Taxes
       19. United Nations (UN)
       20. War on terror/terrorism
       21. Welfare
11. Hall of Shame

• Political Issues (Oct 2018)
1. Campaign Finance Reform
2. Climate Change
3. Environmental Impacts
4. Fascism
   1. Four key characteristics of Modern American Fascism
      1. Political Tribalism
      2. Controlled Economy
      3. Anti-Individual and Anti-Democratic
      4. Disruption and Violence
   2. Fascism Conclusion
5. Gun Control
6. Homosexuality and Marriage
   1. Homosexuality
   2. Homosexuality and Marriage
7. Illegal Immigration
8. Marijuana Usage
9. Slander & Libel on Social Media and Journalism
10. The Patriot Act
11. Taxes
    1. Our Taxes
    2. Our Tax System
    3. Our Tax Politics
    4. Answers for Tax Reform
12. Entitlements
    1. General Principles
    2. Social Security
    3. Healthcare (Medicare and Medicaid)
    4. Health Insurance
    5. Education
    6. Welfare
13. Voting
    1. Voting in America
    2. Protecting Your Right to Vote
    3. Protecting the Integrity of the Vote
    4. Early Voting
    5. Voting Wisely
       
       
• International Issues (Oct 2018)
1. Leadership on the World Stage
2. The Best Interests of the United States
3. The Best Interests of the World a.k.a. Liberty and Freedom for All
4. Terrorism
   1. Radical Islamic Terrorism
   2. State Supported Terrorism and Criminal Organizations
5. Russia
6. China
7. War Is Not The Answer
   
   
• Economic Issues (Oct 2018)
1. The Law of Unintended Consequences
2. Life Cycle (a.k.a. End-To-End or Total Cost of Operation - TCO)
3. A Litigious Society
4. Business in America
   1. Big Business
   2. Small Business
   3. Monopolies
5. The Minimum Wage
6. Income Inequality
7. Socialism and Capitalism
   1. Socialism (democratic or otherwise) is Serfdom
   2. Capitalism is Freedom and Liberty
   3. Capitalism vs. Socialism
8. Unions
• Social Issues (Oct 2018)
1. Abortion
2. Capital Punishment
3. Cult of Youth
4. Feeling Good Vs. Doing Good
5. Groups of Five
6. Feminism and the Devaluation of the Male
7. Male - Female Relationships
   1. Kabuki Dance
   2. Body Worries
   3. When to start a sexual relationship
   4. Type of Relationships
   5. Janus-Faced
   6. The Glue that Binds
   7. Sexual Activity
   8. Fidelity
   9. How to Argue
   10. Reward for Good Behavior
   11. Love Lost
   12. Baggage
   13. May-September Romances
   14. Can Men and Women Be Just Friends?
8. Parental and Child Obligations
   1. Parental Obligations
      1. Provide for their Food, Clothing, and Shelter
      2. Provide for their Health and Safety
      3. Assure that they have a Proper Education
      4. Provide for their Emotional Well Being
      5. Pass on your Wisdom
   2. Child Obligations
9. Public Schools
   1. Violence in Public Schools
   2. Classroom Discipline
   3. Teacher Protection
   4. A Systemic Problem
   5. The Wrong Approach
   6. Infrastructure
   7. Technology
   8. Core Proficiencies K-8
   9. Elementary School Subjects
   10. High School Subjects
   11. My Own Public School Education
10. Multiculturalism and Cultural Equivalence
11. Racism, Discrimination, Anti-Semitism, Anti-Christianism, and Anti-Islamism
    1. Racism – A Way Out
12. Just Because You Can Doesn't Mean You Should
13. Postings on Social Media, Selfies, Texting & Chats
14. Sexual Harassment
15. Shame and Hypocrisy
16. Sins of the Fathers and of Youth
    1. Sins of the Fathers
    2. Sins of Youth
17. Situational Ethics and Moral Dilemmas
    1. Lifeboat ethics.
    2. Trading one life for another.
    3. Dirty Harry movie
    4. Bombing of Coventry
    5. Atomic Bombing of Japan
    6. The Ticking Time Bomb
    7. Conclusion
18. Swearing
19. The Cost of Higher Education
    1. Financial Impacts
    2. Societal Impacts
20. The Most Horrendous Crimes
21. Violence in America
22. Should You Report a Crime?
23. Where Are We Going?

• Scientific Issues (Sep 2018)
1. On the Nature of Scientific Inquiry
2. The Fundamental Properties of the Universe
3. Chaos, Complexity, And Network Science
4. Computer Modeling
5. What’s So Special about Special Relativity 
6. Gravitational Physics
7. Atomic Physics
8. Intelligent Life, UFO’s, and Pseudoscience
9. Climate Change
10. The Arrow of Time
    
11. Apocalypse - Or the Ways that Humanity Will Come to an End
12. Science vs. Science Fiction
    
13. Science versus Religion
    
    
• Religiosity (Sep 2018)
1. I Believe
2. In The Beginning
3. Soulless, Soulful, and Spiritual
4. Spiritual Not Religious
5. Science versus Religion
6. Religion and Politics
7. Intelligent Designer
8. Inherit the Wind
9. My Beliefs
10. Epilogue
    
    
• Miscellaneous Thoughts (Sep 2018)
1. Addiction
2. Depression & Anxiety
3. Introverted
4. May Peace Be Upon You
5. Mental Illness
6. Pornography & Prostitution
7. Public Speaking
   
   
• Epilogue and Appendix (Oct 2018)
1. Breaking the Personal Bonds
   1. Lead A Moral and Ethical Life.
   2. Be Polite and Respectful to All
   3. Control Your Life, Do Not Let Life Control You.
2. A Civil Society
   1. Polite and Respectful Speech and Behavior
   2. Freedom of Speech is Essential
   3. With Facts, Intelligence, And Reasoning
   4. Allegations & Assertions are to be proven by those making them
   5. Proving a Negative and Loaded Questions
   6. The Rule of Law is Sacrosanct
   7. No Rush to Judgment
   8. Consequences of an Uncivil Society
3. Appendix
1. Further Readings
2. Web Sites
3. A Proud Extremist Conservative
   
   
Documents, Letters and Speeches (Sep 2018)
1. Franklin's Speech to the Constitutional Convention
2. Franklin's Letter to Ezra Stiles
3. Franklin's Excellent Use of Moral Equivalency on Slavery
4. From George Washington: To B. Franklin
5. Washington Prevents the Revolt of His Officers
6. Washington's Inaugural Address
7. Washington's Farewell Address
8. Lincoln's First Inaugural Address
9. Lincoln's Message to Congress in Special Session
10. Lincoln's Gettysburg  Address
11. Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address
12. William Tecumseh Sherman to Atlanta : "War Is Hell"
13. FDR Four Freedoms Speech
    
14. Kennedy's Inaugural Address
15. Reagan Inaugural Address