The difficult conversation

Healthcare issues have become so politically charged that it can be very hard to have a rational conversation about them, particularly one that converses in ideas rather than hyperbole, anecdotes and party talking points.   As I have become interested in this topic, I have tried to engage a number of people in conversation, both to learn what they think and to learn what I do not know, with relatively little success. Continue reading The difficult conversation

What are you doing, Patrick?

Let’s just put it out there.  I am a bit of an enigma where politics are concerned.  To some people, I am a mirror.   They simply assume I agree with them.   To others I seem to project a reverse image.  For those, my more conservative friends see me as liberal, and my liberal friends see me as conservative.  In truth, I am largely a contrarian with a strong libertarian streak.  I don’t like to be told what to do and, often, will instinctively react as might the loyal opposition.   But I am also basically conservative, which is not a surprise given my Texas roots.  However, I also live in the heart of a large urban center (not being coy, it is commonly known as H-Town) that routinely votes Democrat. Continue reading What are you doing, Patrick?