Briefly

When I was growing up, it seemed like a strange idea that an American would want to move to another country, even for retirement. My attitudes were provincial and naive, because I assumed this was the best place to live. When I first started running into people who retired to other places — maybe 25 years ago — it still seemed dangerous and inexplicable. But I’ve traveled enough now — in Caribbean countries and Mexico — to understand that life can be great for Americans who locate to places with a low cost of living, great medical care and plenty of people from back home. I’m more comfortable than ever with the idea of moving to a new place if it offers what I need. More Americans than ever are coming to this same conclusion and I found this article to be a fascinating look at the pros and cons of moving. Are you ready to retire early? Or work online from somewhere with a great lifestyle and low cost of living?

A new Gallup poll says that 43 percent of Americans favor some form of socialism. If you factor in the people who also favor various forms of existing socialism but aren’t intellectually honest enough to call it that, those who understand economics and morality should know to be terrified by this. But the real terror isn’t that 43 percent of people embrace this destructive economic theft. No, the real problem is that we are stuck with a political system which forces everybody to be dragged along by the same populist insanity whether we want it or not. I have no objection to millions of people living together in socialism. I have a serious moral and practical objection when they insist they have the right to force me to go along with them. The problem isn’t public opinion. The problem is that the political system makes public opinion into a dictatorship.

Here’s my grass-cutting neighbor attacking my yard this afternoon. No, I won’t tell you which house is his, because I’m afraid you’ll steal him to do your yard instead. I really appreciate Harvey. My yard was looking pretty ratty. Another neighbor, Cora, called me on the phone while he was cutting and said, “Did you know someone is cutting your grass?!” I told her not to say anything because he might come to his senses and quit working if she did.