Reflections of a Freeway Flyer

How do you Compete With Free?

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Swendson) — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 00:31:00 +0000

Does Facebook have a viable business model? Is it becoming more difficult to sell written content when so much is available for free? This recent article includes my responses to these and other related questions: Click here for link to Hubpages

The Hunger Games, pt. 2: Should Kids Read this Stuff?

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Swendson) — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 00:28:00 +0000

Some people would argue that The Hunger Games is not appropriate reading for children. Here are my thoughts: Click here for link to Hubpages

The Hunger Games, pt.1: Could This Ever Happen?

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Swendson) — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 03:39:00 +0000

This is the first of at least three posts inspired by the book "The Hunger Games." I explore the question of whether or not this type of violent entertainment could ever become a reality. (Here is the link.)

The Health Care Reform Case, and Legislating from the Bench

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Swendson) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 23:32:00 +0000

I wrote this a few days ago, but since we still do not know what the Supreme Court decision will be regarding the health insurance mandate, it is still up-to-date. (Click here for link.)

A War Without Sacrifice

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Swendson) — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 23:35:00 +0000

My latest article discusses the efforts by the federal government to shield the public from the true costs of the "War on Terror." (Click here for link.)

President's Obama Legacy

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Swendson) — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 22:12:00 +0000

In my latest article, I argue that President Obama may be judged more by his performance in his second term than in his first. Now that the economy appears to be improving, will he be enough of a leader to ask Americans to make sacrifices? (Click here for the article on Hubpages.)

When Recessions Come, Who is to Blame?

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Swendson) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 07:02:00 +0000

In this article, I discuss our human tendency to look for a scapegoat when things go badly. But in an economy as complex as ours, simplistic answers don't make a lot of sense. (Click here for the link to my Hubpages article.)

Slavery, Fossil Fuels, and the Status Quo

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Swendson) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:46:00 +0000

In my latest new article, I compare our society's dependence on slavery in the early 19th century to our dependence on fossil fuels today. Click here for link.

I published a Book!

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Swendson) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 22:30:00 +0000

I have neglected this blog lately. This is partly because I have shifted most of my blogging to "Hubpages.com." (See link at the top.) But it is also because I have been hard at work compiling my first published book. It is a collection of essays, covering all of the major topics of American history, which connects the events of the past to the United States today. Essentially, is it an attempt to do in written form what I have been doing for eleven years as a community college instructor.

This started as blog posts that I originally published here and/or at Hubpages. If you click the link below, it will take you to an article that I wrote on Hubpages which describes the book in more detail:

A description of the book, including links to where it can be bought.

Here is a link my book at Amazon.com where it can be purchased:

Amazon link

Thanks for reading. I hope to visit some of my old Blogger friends soon.

Facing up to the Consequences of our History

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Swendson) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:36:00 +0000

A little article about the lingering financial crisis. (Click here for link.)

The problem of bigness

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Swendson) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 03:48:00 +0000

Do people who work for corporations promote the interests of the organization or of themselves? (Click here for link.)

Pioneers for Reform: Women in American History

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Swendson) — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 04:34:00 +0000

This is probably the last new essay that will make it in my upcoming book. It filled a big gap in my American history overview. (Click here for link.)

The Revolutionary War: Why the Underdog can Win

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Swendson) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 21:32:00 +0000

A discussion of the reasons why the United States may have been successful in winning independence from Great Britain. (Here is the link.)

Post-War America and the Cost of Security

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Swendson) — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 00:01:00 +0000

An article (and future book chapter) about how people looked for safety during the late 1940's through the 1960's. (Here is the link.)

Hoover vs. Roosevelt: The Battle Continues

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Swendson) — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 16:57:00 +0000

Here's a quick overview of the last eighty years of American history, with the focus on the changing fortunes of the ideologies represented by these two men. (Here is the link.)

World War II, Appeasement, and Hindsight

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Swendson) — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 02:04:00 +0000

The latest chapter of my almost completed little book. (Here's the Link.)

Car Culture (and the Uncertain Future of Transportation)

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Swendson) — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 22:24:00 +0000

Another chapter of my future book. It describes the far-reaching impact of automobiles on every facet of Americans' lives. (Click here for link.)

What is the Least Unfair? (Thoughts on the Debt Ceiling Crisis)

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Swendson) — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 22:22:00 +0000

Here the best two-page summary that I could write describing my political beliefs and their relation to the current so-called "crisis." (Click here for link.)

Abraham Lincoln: Man vs. Myth

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Swendson) — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 22:35:00 +0000

Here's the latest essay in my (hopefully) soon to be completed book. It's an expanded version of a blog post from a long time ago. (Click here for link.)

So You Think We have Problems.

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Swendson) — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 22:44:00 +0000

A comparison of our current problems with those who lived through the Great Depression and World War II. (Click here for link.)

World War II Fascination

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Swendson) — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 22:43:00 +0000

Why do so many people find World War II fascinating? Here are some thoughts. (Click here for link.)

The American Revolution and What it Means to be American

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Swendson) — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 22:47:00 +0000

A discussion of the causes of the American revolution and of the difficulty of defining American culture. (Click here for link.)

Nat Turner: Terrorist or Freedom Fighter?

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Swendson) — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 22:45:00 +0000

The story of the most famous slave revolt in American history, and speculation about how future generations will judge our current enemies. (Click here for link.)

The First Progressives: Liberal / Conservative Hybrids

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Swendson) — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 22:30:00 +0000

My latest article is about Progressive reformers of the early 20th century, and how they had both liberal and conservative ideas and traits. (Click here for article.)

Watergate, Conspiracy Theories, and the Internet Age

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Swendson) — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 22:27:00 +0000

Could something like Watergate happen today? Here are some thoughts. (Click here for article.)