I Believe

Joel K. Douglas
  • 4.4 (14)
  • Philosophy
  • Weekly

Philosophy from the American Experimenthttps://joelkdouglas.com/

  1. 4d ago

    Pacifica | A Tale of Data Centers, Clean Water, and the Purpose of Government

    A Tale of Data Centers, Clean Water, and the Purpose of Government How should government measure success? In Pacifica, a fictional dispute over data centers and clean water explores the difference between completing tasks and achieving a mission. Joel K. Douglas connects military planning and measures of effectiveness with USDA rural housing affordability, public spending, and government accountability. The question is whether programs produce measurable public outcomes—not simply more activity, paperwork, or spending. Read the essay and sources: https://joelkdouglas.com/2026/10/29/pacifica/ Music: “Midnight Sun” — First Timer (original and instrumental versions). Artwork: Photo by Ganapathy Kumar on Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/natural-arch-at-the-beach-KkbrXx05n8A

    Pacifica | A Tale of Data Centers, Clean Water, and the Purpose of Government

  2. 6d ago

    The Geld | Would You Volunteer to Pay Higher Property Taxes?

    Would You Volunteer to Pay Higher Property Taxes? Our property-tax statement came with instructions for applying for a homeowner exemption. Should I claim it, or willingly pay more? From William the Conqueror’s geld and the Domesday Book to Shays’ Rebellion and modern Wyoming, I look at taxation, consent, and what government owes the people who fund it. What should property taxes buy? I ask how we measure results in schools, emergency response, and affordable housing, and weigh the trade-offs of shifting taxes from property to sales. Before asking me to forgo relief, show me what it buys, what it costs, and what breaks without it. Read the full essay

  3. Oct 22

    So Help Me

    Abortion, bodily autonomy, and the oath of office: a believer’s argument for a woman’s liberty and the responsibility of leaders who swear in God’s name. What does an oath made in God’s name require of public officials? I look at the Ten Commandments, the Constitution’s promise of liberty, and the difference between killing and murder to explain why the decision about a pregnancy belongs to the woman. Full essay and sources: https://joelkdouglas.com/2026/10/22/so-help-me/

    So Help Me

  4. Oct 20

    Private Jets and Ranch Towns

    Affordability, inflation, and tariffs in a Wyoming ranch town: what elected leaders owe working families, and why tax cuts alone cannot settle that obligation. Private aircraft at the airport in Saratoga, Wyoming, raise a question about whose welfare counts. I examine the costs borne by families, workers, and businesses, and the responsibility of elected leaders to explain how their choices serve justice, general welfare, and the country’s other national goals. Full essay and sources: https://joelkdouglas.com/2026/10/20/private-jets-and-ranch-towns/

    Private Jets and Ranch Towns

  5. Oct 15

    First Dates and Fifty Years

    Who should pay on the first date—and what are two people trying to build together? As my wife and I approach twenty-five years of marriage, I consider shared finances, unpaid work, changing responsibilities, and the good fortune behind a fiftieth anniversary. John Boyd’s ideas about orientation and adaptation offer another way to think about a shared purpose when life changes. Read the essay and sources: https://joelkdouglas.com/2026/10/15/first-dates-and-fifty-years/

    First Dates and Fifty Years

  6. Oct 13

    The Pickup Didn’t Fill Itself

    Where does responsibility for climate change begin, and where does it end? Boulder’s lawsuit against ExxonMobil and Suncor leads me to consider the choices of oil companies, consumers, and governments, along with wildfire management and our dependence on useful energy. Shared responsibility does not mean equal responsibility—or letting a company off the hook if it lied. Read the essay and sources: https://joelkdouglas.com/2026/10/13/the-pickup-didnt-fill-itself/

    The Pickup Didn’t Fill Itself

  7. Oct 8

    The Party That Forgot the People

    What would it mean for Democrats to become the party of the people again? Ahead of the 2026 midterms, I examine political accountability, wages, housing, healthcare, and the difference between helping people become independent and making them dependent on government. Rural Americans need a voice in party leadership, and people who cannot support themselves still need direct, reliable help. Read the essay and sources: https://joelkdouglas.com/2026/10/08/the-party-that-forgot-the-people/

    The Party That Forgot the People

  8. Oct 7

    Poverty, Work, and Dependency

    Can public assistance respect both compassion and independence? A walk in the park leads me to questions about Christian giving, taxes, poverty, and work. I consider the difference between meeting an immediate need and restoring someone’s ability to support a life—and why cutting aid without addressing low wages can leave both workers and employers dependent on the same system. Read the essay and sources: https://joelkdouglas.com/2026/10/07/poverty-work-and-dependency/

    Poverty, Work, and Dependency
See All (158)

Ratings & Reviews

4.4
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

Philosophy from the American Experimenthttps://joelkdouglas.com/

Information

  • Creator
    Joel K. Douglas
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    158
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 I Believe
  • Show Website
    I Believe

You Might Also Like