Author Archives: Tom Lewis

Don’t Simplify the Civil War. It was Complicated.

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As someone who spent a decade researching and writing about the Civil War,* I am distressed when it is discussed, in what passes for civil discourse these days, as if it were a simplistic comic-book story with superheroes on one side, arch villains on the other, nothing in between, nothing to think about here.

Perhaps you will not agree with me that to understand a civil war, or any war, one must go beyond the reasons given by the leaders who initiated it. (If you do not, you must then believe we went to war in Iraq to save the world from Saddam’s weapons of mass destruction, and I wish you well.) If you believe that thousands of young men in Minnesota, Ohio, Michigan, Iowa and such states voluntarily (at the beginning of the war, the draft came later) left their homes, flocked to their county seats, elected their colonels and marched south hundreds of miles to fight and die only in order to abolish slavery, then I have a slightly used bridge in Brooklyn to sell you. If you believe that Confederate soldiers on the verge of starvation, ill-equipped and -supplied in the face of the Union’s overwhelming strategic advantages, fought on past all expectations only because they wanted to preserve slavery, then the price for that bridge just went up. 

Those who oversimplify the past are condemned to repeat it, because they oversimplify the present, too, and haven’t a clue about what’s going on around them. Let me bring up a few things other than slavery that we must be aware of if we want to grasp what happened to this country in the 1860s. Before it happens again. Continue reading →

Not a Very Good Year

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“Business has been pretty good this year despite everything. We’re pretty much back to normal, wouldn’t you say, dear?”

Frank Sinatra’s iconic song about “a very good year” will never apply to 2020, which is shaping up to be a very bad year indeed. We (in the mid-Atlantic United States) are like people on a small island, awash in a recent tsunami, facing incoming ranks of equally severe tsunamis, one after the other, as far as any eye can see.

We are, of course, still up to our asses in the first tsunami, the coronavirus pandemic,  which has receded a little bit here but is still rising elsewhere in this very large country. America’s handling of this public-health crisis has been the worst in the world, with the possible exception of Brazil. It is the only country in the world whose leaders have encouraged the politicization of an infectious disease, with one party belittling it as inconsequential, even imaginary, while it has stricken three and a half million people and killed 140,000 (one-third the number of American service members killed in World War Two). Continue reading →

Mutiny on the Bounties

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One of the questions: Why would Russia suddenly have to bribe Afghan militants to kill Americans when they’re been doing it for free for 20 years?

What a lifetime in journalism leaves you with is a profound dislike for fake news and a heightened ability to detect it. When politicians, corporations or government agencies lie in order to manipulate the public, they commit a profound betrayal of public trust — a quaint concept, to be sure, but one that used to matter a very great deal to many of us. Today the greatest serial liar in public life is Donald Trump, and normally any news that seems to discredit him is welcome to me. But when the news that discredits him is fake, I find that I dislike the news even more than I dislike Trump.

The latest apparent revelation is that Russia (them again!) has been offering militant groups in Afghanistan cash bounties for killing American soldiers. The story appeared in the New York Times ten days ago, was subsequently “confirmed” by many other news outlets, and is now presented everywhere as established fact. Trump is accused of either knowing about the bounties and doing nothing, or not knowing about the bounties, and in either case is presumed guilty of dereliction of duty.  Continue reading →

What If We Didn’t Even Have a Leader?

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Why do we assume this would be an alien’s first question?

It is remarkable that Black Lives Matter, one of the largest and most potent uprisings of recent memory, has no apparent leader. No one person or group announced beforehand the massive eruptions that followed the murder of George Floyd, nor did any one person or group speak to the media on behalf of the entire movement. To be sure there were plenty of activists and organizers working hard to assist every individual demonstration, but there was and is no apparent central command.

 To our culture — and I don’t mean here white European culture, but all of western civilization — this seems counterintuitive, if not impossible. In our world, no activity takes place until and unless someone has been put in charge. There are two kinds of people in our world: chiefs — CEOs, CFOs, COOs, presidents, generals, vice presidents — and the rest of us. For anything to happen, from a two-car funeral up, there must be a plan, a table of organization, and someone to tell everyone else what to do. It’s the only way to go.

Actually, it’s not. Like a lot of attitudes and viewpoints, this one is so well established, so far beyond discussion let alone challenge, that it is buried deeply in the culture of people who act like us. It is invisible. Continue reading →

Answers About Sustainability Are Easy; It’s the Questions That Are Hard

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“How are we going to keep this airplane flying forever?” Answer: At this stage of our voyage that is the wrong question.

Watching the Michael Moore/Jeff Gibbs documentary Planet of the Humans has reminded me (although they did not explicitly discuss it in the film) of the fundamental mistake most people — and our whole civilization, collectively — make when thinking about living sustainably. It is widely assumed that living sustainably means finding a way to sustain our lavish industrial lifestyle. It does not, simply because that is not possible. It means radically adjusting our way of living so that it can be sustained without destruction of the planet’s resources. 

I see a small but telling example of this virtually every time I have a conversation with someone thinking about installing solar panels. Almost invariably, they begin by calculating how much energy they use, then how many solar panels they need to produce that much energy. Nationally, that is what Big Green is urging us to do — build enough solar “farms” and wind “farms” to power the Industrial Age on into infinity. Continue reading →

Reality TV: Planet of the Humans

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I was a little slow getting a look at the controversial new documentary from Michael Moore’s shop, Planet of the Humans. Eight million people beat me to it. I was anxious to see it, not only because everything put out under his name has been interesting and valuable, but mainly because of the hysterical meltdown it caused among promoters of renewable energy — environmentalists — who called the film wrong! and misguided! and divisive! and harmful to the movement! They — liberal environmentalists and their revered organizations, now — called him an “eco-fascist” (may I ask please WTF is that?) and “the new flack for the oil and gas industry.”  They even got the film pulled from YouTube (for 11 days) over an accusation that the film used four seconds of someone else’s footage without permission, something that is explicitly allowed under copyright law.  Continue reading →

Isn’t This a Riot?

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Minneapolis last night. Not all demonstrations are the same, and not all become riots.

What is happening in America this week has been simmering toward an open boil for years, and is not only about race, or police brutality, or inequality, or poverty, or unemployment, or the pandemic or despair. It is about all those things.

Nor is it 1968 all over again. I was there in 1968, and this is not the same. The sickness we had in our guts that year, the rage that combusted big chunks of our cities, arose in part from having lost three of our most revered leaders in a few years. Imagine if that had happened to Barack Obama, Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Octasio-Cortez. Thank God that element is not here today. Continue reading →

Badmouthing Billionaires

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As lovely as it is to see one’s beliefs confirmed in headlines — and as awful to see them contradicted — a life in journalism has taught me that a headline that is too good to be true, isn’t true, and one that is too awful to be believed, isn’t true either. An example of the former appeared in media everywhere last week, confirming deliciously what some of us firmly believe about the worsening inequality in America: “American Billionaires Got $434 Billion Richer During the Pandemic.” 

Forbes Magazine ran the story! Bernie picked it up and ran with it! Oh, the outrage! Damn them! The humanity! Wait a minute.

Which billionaires? And how do we know it was exactly $434 billion, not 433 or 435? And what do they mean, “during the pandemic,” which isn’t over yet and which started, when, exactly? Continue reading →

Living Free in Michigan

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The owner of the dam was free not to repair it; now the residents of the city are free to deal with this.

We don’t know much about Lee Mueller yet, but there is much we can reasonably surmise. He is most assuredly a property-rights guy (as in “it’s my property and I’ll do with it whatever I want”), and I’d bet that he’s a second-amendment-rights guy and I’d be surprised if he wears an anti-coronavirus mask in public. Mr. Mueller is identified as “a manager” of, and has been for several days the only spokesman for, Boyce Hydro Power LLC, a free American company operated by free Americans in Michigan, in the land of the free.

We know more about Boyce Hydro than we do about Mr. Mueller, because Boyce has for decades been stonewalling the federal government and the government of Michigan as regulators tried to get the company to maintain and repair the four small hydropower dams it owned on the Tittabawassee River. The most problematic of them was the Edenville Dam, a mile-and-a-quarter-long, 54-foot-high earthen dam built in 1924 to form the 2,000-acre Wixom Lake. But the owners of Edenville Dam were free Americans, free to ignore their tyrannical government’s orders to keep their dam safe. Continue reading →

Transform Your Outdoor Oasis

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As the warmth of summer approaches, it’s time to transform your patio and backyard into a welcoming retreat that beckons for relaxation and outdoor festivities. Elevate your outdoor living experience with a comprehensive makeover that includes pool maintenance, landscaping enhancements, improved fencing, new exterior painting, and more. Here’s a guide to revitalizing your outdoor space for the upcoming summer season.

1. Pristine Pool Paradise:
Kickstart your summer preparations with thorough pool maintenance. Clean the pool, check the filtration system, and ensure that all pool equipment is in optimal condition. Consider adding inviting elements like stylish poolside furniture, vibrant umbrellas, and perhaps a few floating decorations to create a resort-like ambiance.

2. Landscaping Splendor:
Infuse life into your outdoor haven with vibrant landscaping. Plant colorful flowers, ornamental shrubs, and perhaps a few potted plants to add a touch of greenery. Strategic placement of outdoor lighting can transform your backyard into an enchanting space for evening gatherings. Don’t forget to trim hedges, mow the lawn, and create designated areas for relaxation and entertainment.

3. Fencing with Flair:
Upgrade your fencing to not only enhance security and privacy but also to add aesthetic charm to your outdoor space. Consider decorative fencing options that complement the overall theme of your patio. Whether it’s wrought iron, wooden panels, or modern composite materials, a stylish fence can redefine the boundaries of your backyard paradise.

4. Fresh Exterior Painting:
A new coat of paint can work wonders in breathing life into your patio and backyard. Choose a color palette that harmonizes with the natural surroundings and complements your outdoor furniture. Consider painting features like the patio deck, fences, and even the exterior walls for a cohesive and refreshed look.

5. Comfortable Outdoor Furniture:
Upgrade your outdoor seating with comfortable and stylish furniture. Invest in durable materials that can withstand the elements. Consider creating distinct zones for dining, lounging, and perhaps a cozy corner for quiet reading. Pile on plush cushions, add outdoor rugs, and don’t forget to include ample shade options for those sunny summer days.

6. Entertainment Hub:
Prep your backyard for summer gatherings with the addition of entertainment amenities. Whether it’s a barbecue station, a fire pit for cozy evenings like these California Backyard fire pits, or even an outdoor movie setup, create spaces that encourage relaxation and fun. Consider installing outdoor speakers to set the mood with your favorite tunes.

As you embark on the journey of transforming your patio and backyard, envision a space that seamlessly blends style with functionality. From poolside tranquility to vibrant landscaping, improved fencing, a fresh coat of exterior paint, and comfortable outdoor furnishings, each element plays a role in curating the perfect outdoor sanctuary. Embrace the upcoming summer season with open arms as you unveil a revitalized and inviting outdoor haven for relaxation, entertainment, and memorable moments.