colonization

Buying Greenland

I keep having to say the same thing over and over:  That Donald Trump said something does not in and of itself constitute proof that what he said is wrong.  Today’s case in point is the proposed purchase of Greenland from Denmark.

There’s two reasons this isn’t insanity.  The first is that, on its face, the offer isn’t insane.

Half a dozen times in our history, the United States has purchased land from other countries.  All things being equal, it’s easier (and cheaper) than conquering it outright, so from an American viewpoint it makes good sense.  From a Danish perspective, it’s one of the last of their colonial possessions, so national pride would likely (more…)

Gun Control: What’s The Problem?

The United States is one of the most heavily armed places on Earth, measured per capita.  There are places that have been in civil war for long enough that all noncombatants have fled; they are less heavily armed than we.  And we see the results on the news on a daily basis, it seems; just the other night there was another mass shooting, an apparent ambush at a backyard barbecue.

So gun control appears to be a logical necessity.  Why is there even debate on the subject?

I’ve examined some statistics that may give us an answer, as well as a possible course going forward.  I’ll warn you now, though:  The answers I arrived at are vastly different than the ones I at first expected. (more…)