Thomas Fleming
Thomas Fleming is president of the Fleming Foundation. He is the author of six books, including The Morality of Everyday Life and The Politics of Human Nature, as well as many articles and columns for newspapers, magazines,and learned journals. He holds a Ph.D. in Classics from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and a B.A. in Greek from the College of Charleston. He served as editor of Chronicles: a Magazine of American Culture from 1984 to 2015 and president of The Rockford Institute from 1997-2014. In a previous life he taught classics at several colleges and served as a school headmaster in South Carolina
I should have replied to Rex that, while knock-out drops have been known for a long time, there are good reasons why nothing like that is being contemplated in the song. The merest hint would have resulted in outrage and disgust. In fact, though I always thought the lyrics were by Johnny Mercer, it was composed by Frank Loesser (Guys and Dolls) and his wife as a duet they did at parties. It was so much “their song,” she was furious when he sold it to a movie.
One question: Are the statistics I’ve seen that show rising numbers of deportations and falling numbers of all immigrants throughout the Obama years (indeed, some of his detractors labeled Obama “the Great Deporter”) just government lies, because, after all, every one working for government is lying and/or incompetent?
On another note: Ah, how I wish I were in Agrigento, now that winter’s here! I decided not to come to Sicily this time because I am hoarding money up in anticipation of a horrendous tax burden in 2019. Of course, I’m hoping that the Trump tax cuts will filter down to a pensioner like me somehow, so that I won’t have to liquidate even more of my savings than I did this year, in doing which I of course assured a higher income tax in 2019.
My best wishes and regards to you and Gail–and Sicily!–Ray
For a rather charming version of the song, search you tube for:
Idina Menzel & Michael Bublé – Baby It’s Cold Outside
I never trust statistics put out by either party, and, besides, it wouldn’t matter. Rate of immigration from S America is heavily influenced by economic conditions here. It is a well-studied phenomenon that in periods of recession more migrants return and fewer arrive.
Ray, you’re not going to live forever. Bite the bullet and buy the ticket!
To Ray: Yes, consider what Dr. Fleming said, “Bite the bullet and buy the ticket”. There is a saying attributed to Lao Tzu, “You don’t stop playing because you get old. You get old because you stop playing.”
Dr. Fleming: Hope you are feeling better and enjoy your stay in Sicily.