I’ve traveled to many cities the past 12 months for work and play, and if there was one sight viewed virtually every place I went it was the high-rise construction crane. They are everywhere, all over the world: from housing projects under construction in Jerusalem to casino resorts underway in Macao.

Saturday was caucus day in Nevada for the first time ever, and despite not choosing to participate in this foolish sport, this anarchist couldn’t resist a front row seat to watch democracy in action. Republicans were to report to a government high school by 9am sharp, and as it turned out, be off the premises by 10:30 to allow Democrats their turn.

[This article originally appeared in Liberty Watch.]

“It is only the anarchists who are really conservative.”

The rank-and-file Republican will recoil at that statement, believing it to be unpatriotic, impractical and foolish. The Republicans’ blind allegiance to the flag, the GOP and the state is unwavering: convenient for those who wish not to tax themselves with thinking.

On the surface, the Culinary Union in Las Vegas may have lost its touch in steering election results (the Culinary-endorsed Obama lost to Clinton in the Nevada Democratic caucus straw voting, but he picked up more delegates), but the heavy-handed union, which is part of UNITE-HERE, still has friends in government, at least in New Jersey, and perhaps beyond.

Even at matinee prices, going to the movies requires plenty of mad money. The two tickets were fifteen depreciating dollars, and a tub of popcorn, a bottle of water and a package of licorice came to another fifteen. But for a movie about money: well, it’s only money.

On a recent Saturday morning, the anesthesiologist looked down at me and said “It’s time to give you medicine now.” I responded, “Can you put me out until the market gets better in 2009?” Alas, forty-five minutes later, the nurse woke me and told me to leave. My colon evidently is fine; the real estate market in Las Vegas — not so much.

Comedian Jay Leno recently had a bit about pilots wanting passengers to take on the responsibility of subduing terrorists on the plane. “First I had to start pumping my own gas, then I had to scan my own groceries at the checkout counter, now in order to fly, we must be responsible for making sure terrorists don’t hijack the planes?”

[This is an excerpt from an essay that was originally published in the Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, volume 1 (1891).]