“We can have a democratic society or we can have great concentrated wealth in the hands of a few. We cannot have both.” — Louis Brandeis

I attended a discussion in Albert Lea last Sunday. It was a presentation I really didn’t understand.

I sat through it wondering: “Whether 21st century Americans can again revitalize politics, stymie plutocracy, and confine market theory to commerce depends on how successfully the critical distinctions between capitalism and democracy can be brought back into focus.”

It’s focus was school.

A response by a listener: “It is what it is.”

Another book I’m hoping to read: “Is Why Nations go to War.”

Speaking of war ,Casey’s Rolling Stone arrived, something that usually gets set aside. This had a report on The Kill Team, how U.S. Soldiers in Afghanistan murdered innocent civilians for sport. I wouldn’t encourage people to read this.

“Rihanna strikes back” is on the cover. Even Mello glanced at her on the cover before going over to the window to look for something to bark at. Mello has been suffering the last few days from outdoor bathroom experiences.

Perhaps this is his punishment for finally chewing up my glasses, her third time, beyond repair this time.

I stayed calm.

Dwight Ault stopped by this last Tuesday to see if I wanted to join him for breakfast.

He also had time to listen to Mello bark at him. We spent some time together eating breakfast at Perkins and saw Pastor Knutson and his wife.

On the way out I ran into an acquaintance from our earlier days at Gerard and on the way in there was Rollie, a coworker from the night before and a hard worker.

I remember being in Miss Martini’s ninth-grade algebra class and the joy we had with Richard Cummings in the class.

Quite often he spoke up after raising his hand wearing his Richard Cummings smile he always carried with him.

I’ve thought a statue of Richard Eberhardt would be nice sitting on a bench near the high school and now along with Richard Cummings.