Note: The Coffee Coaster Beaniegram contains synopses of writings—columns and book/movie reviews—of the week. It normally is posted and emailed on Sunday mid day. Toward the end of each week, a more journalistic newsletter, "Percolations," is emailed commenting on news and issues of the week. Last week's issue of Percolations is located here. — bw

My Column
The Solution
A life-flourishing system for normal humans

[My column this week is carried over from last week. I'm working on a complementary piece, for next week, for the practical part of the system: a special enhanced wellness practice to jump start the process.]

My system at the highest level is conceived as a "flourishment system," one that satisfies a reasonable person internally as well as externally. At every level, three principal components or subsystems seem to be at work. "The Solution" is composed of the following three categories:

1. Spiritual—relationship with Being
2. Political—relationship with others
3. Practical—relationship with survival

In my experience, each of these relationships needs to be positive in order for a human being to flourish. For example, as Jesus said, you may have all the riches in the world yet lose your own soul: If material wealth alone were a measure of happiness, innumerable celebrities and rich heirs would not engage in self-destructive behavior, sometimes suicide. Or considering the political, is it possible to build a successful practical business in a slave society? [Full Column]

Movie Review
It's Complicated
Story of rich, aging "yuppie love" __ 7/10

All right, sorry, I'm making way too much out of this well-to-do business. It's a good movie with top-notch, hardworking actors. And it's a first-rate comedy to boot. If you go with the flow, you'll find yourself sympathizing with Jane more than Jake—but Jake does grow on you. For men out there who want to trade in their original wife for a newer model, It's Complicated provides plenty of food for second thoughts: Not too romantic when Wife #2 monitors her ovulation cycle like a lunar landing and insists on sperm donation at exactly the right moment. Or their six-year-old boy who's old enough to know when the old man is up to something. [Full Review]

Book Review
The Patriot's Toolbox
Eighty principles for restoring liberty and prosperity
by The Heartland Institute

But leaving aside for the moment the central contradiction of the right wing of the libertarian movement—corporate privilege bestowed by the state—Toolbox is a fine effort. With the above caveats, virtually all of the 80 recommendations for public policy will produce a more benevolent, prosperous, and free society for the great majority of Americans. Will the typical Tea Party-ist take the time to read and analyze material from a think tank? Maybe. Most of the Tea Party-ists I'm familiar with are more into politics than economics: they want to end the income tax, restore the 2d amendment, excise the federales from just about everything... per the Eighth and Ninth Amendments of the Constitution. [Full Review]

Guest Column
The Fantasy of State Protection
Excerpt f/ Stefan Molyneux column, Antiwar.com

This one comes to my attention from Dandy Dan of the Free State who's a huge fan of Stefan Molyneux. The column is a February 2006 piece, and as you'll recall, George Bush II is the president and has not even experienced the brushback from that year's midterm election. The Military Commissions Act was passed in 2006, which is highly pertinent to what Stefan is writing about: namely, that we need to disabuse ourselves of the notion that the government is here to protect individuals from military aggression. What anarchist said, "The government is not here to serve you, it is here to enslave you."? That fact is becoming more and more obvious as we all pay attention. [Full Column ]

Quote of the Week
Subscribe and Archive
About the Coffee Coaster

An army of principles can penetrate where an army of soldiers cannot.
— Thomas Paine

Please send me your letters or comment thru access of the Coffee Coaster Blog.

Contact the Coffee Coaster
RSS Feed
Coffee Coaster Blog
Newsletter URL