Preliminary Word by Ownership:
Below is the original “About Us” page that we posted. Since beginning our website, our approach has changed somewhat. This is largely because as time has passed the political climate both in the United States and around the world has changed considerably. It has gotten much more polarized, not only here in the United States but elsewhere around the world as well. While we still adhere to and emphasize the belief in the essential need for unbiased objective analysis and the critical thinking for it, we have allowed ourselves to express our opinion on matters, especially where we believe that people of influence, groups, parties, states or nations have said or done something that runs contrary to the principles expressed on this website. Importantly, however, whenever we express and opinion we tell the reader.
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REASONANDBALANCE.COM IS DEDICATED TO PROVIDING
INFORMATION AND THE EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
NECESSARY TO ALLOW PEOPLE
TO ENGAGE IN CRITICAL THINKING
BALANCED WITH DISCUSSIONS
PERTAINING TO HEALTH, FITNESS AND OTHER DIVERSIONS
Critical thinking on vital economic, investment, political and legal issues. That’s what needed today and hopefully this website will provide interested parties with the tools…namely logic and reason,, (based on antecedent objective fact-finding) to engage in productive and legitimate analysis. Folks will hopefully find it educational and enlightening. Occasionally we will also add content dedicated to work-life balance particularly health and fitness, perhaps music as well. As they say: “All work and no play makes Johnny a big bore.” (Please see our video elsewhere on this page.]
David D. Lentz (a/k/a David Dixon Lentz) is the owner of this site. He is a lawyer who has practiced commercial, litigation and governmental law for nearly 40 years. He holds an MBA and was an adjunct faculty member and instructor at Averett University (9/07 to 3/10) where he taught Finance, Financial Accounting, Managerial (Cost) Accounting and International Business. He also taught Management and Organizational Theory at Averett University’s graduate business program in 1993 as an adjunct instructor.
He was formerly a legislative aide to Gerald Baliles at the Virginia General Assembly and wrote position papers in his successful campaign for Attorney General of Virginia before becoming Governor.
We should note that after we launched this website and blog (actually a vlog) we have added several pages, blog posts and videos pertaining to health and fitness–marathon training and running in particular. We will add music (maybe our favorite topic of all) to the mix in the near future.
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All things grow and some change is inevitable. While we still adhere to our original mission of providing the tools (mostly objective and educational) we have come to realize that inevitably when one analyzes one is driven to occasionally opine. Hence we have found it necessary to adopt the following editorial/opinion/commentary policy. As of 8/11/19 the following is in effect:
EDITORIAL/OPINION/VISITOR COMMENT POLICY OF REASONANDBALANCE.COM
1. Reasonandbalance.com (hereinafter “RnB”) hereinafter adopts the following principles in commenting and/or opining on the issues RnB addresses in its blogs, written articles and/or videos.
- To be as fair and objective as possible. To opine and editorialize without bias.
- To attempt to be non-partisan and to act in the public’s best interest.
- To use an objective, unbiased and rational approach in analyzing and solving problems.
- To be mindful that all of mankind is connected to some degree and that as such reasonable compassion should be shown to all, if for no other reason than to allow everyone, regardless of race, color, creed, ethnicity, religion, national origin or sex, to maintain his or her dignity and self-respect– this being necessary to the maintenance of civility and peace between men and Nations.
2. In stating the foregoing holders of public office, public officials, candidates for same and any and all other figures who engage in activities that affect public debate (the” Public Actors”) are subject to criticism if they espouse views or act in a manner that is contrary to the Constitution of the United States or the principles set forth in this statement of Policy .
3. WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, in this regard, Public Actors are subject to criticism if their action, or inactions, are deemed to be contrary to the following principles:
(a) The First Amendment’s principles of Freedom of Speech, Freedom of the Press, Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Religion;
(b) Notions of Due Process of Law, including the Right to Counsel and the Right to Trial by Jury as set forth in the Constitution;
(c ) Notions of Equal Protection of the Law for persons of all races, religions, colors, ethnicities and sexes;
(d ) Separation of Church and State;
(e ) The notion that all public officials and public office holders as well as the government itself said person/officals and the government herein collectively being referred to as the “the Governmental Actors”) is/are subject to the rule of law;
(f ) The notion that that governmental power should be relatively evenly distributed and balanced between the executive, judicial and legislative branches;
(g ) That the judiciary shall not be politicized and shall remain as independent as possible without political manipulation;
(h ) That powers not expressly given to the federal government may be exercised by State governments.
(i ) That the Federal Reserve Bank (the “FRB” or “Fed”) should and must remain as independent of political control by any other branch of government as possible. (In other words, the system in effect as of August 10, 2019 is acceptable and should not be changed in a manner that reduces Fed independence.)
(j ) That all Governmental Actors should avoid even the appearance of ethical impropriety because doing so undermines the public’s trust of Government and its officials, which, in turn, promotes political unrest and instability. For this purpose: “Ethical impropriety” is any act or failure to act which appears to a reasonable person to indicate that the Public Actor is likely to be unduly influenced by personal financial or family considerations at the expense of the public good. Personal prejudice of a Governmental Actor on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnicity, national origin and/or sex is also considered unethical behavior.
4. RnB fears and shall rail against circumstances and activities that promote the rise or existence of dictatorship, autocracy, monopoly, oligopoly, plutocracy and/or any concentration of too much political and/or economic power in a few persons and/or entities. In this regard, the quickly increasing capabilities and pace of technological change are consistently increasing the danger to all peoples of the World that the rise of a powerful person or group could seize power and control all. It is imperative that this be vigilantly guarded against. This is true, particularly in a world where fewer and fewer people, including certain leaders, control more and more of the World’s wealth and the wealth gap is increasing.
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You should be able to click on the links to any ads by third party vendors that you may find of interest and you should be able to consummate a purchase/sale if that is your desire.
IMPORTANT NOTE: This really goes without saying, but please note that regarding links to advertisements (by folks other than us), please know that we are NOT parties to those transactions, and you should look to the firms whose ads are found in the “links” to learn how to order and pay for your purchase etc. They (and not us) are responsible for delivery, returns, and warranty issues. VERY IMPORTANTLY: You should NOT pay for those items at the “Pay Bill” page on this site because those payments do NOT go to the party in the advertisement who is selling the item in question. Thanks.
Our Purpose: To provide you with the basic analytical tools you need to analyze the news and other information related to various economic, political, social and cultural issues. Financial markets, investments and legal matters will also occasionally be addressed.
(IMPORTANT NOTE 1). By using this site YOU AGREE to the TERMS OF USE and Privacy Policy set forth on this site.
(IMPORTANT NOTE 2: From time to time we may SUGGEST that you explore whether to invest in and/or buy or sell certain insurance, investment (stocks, bonds, mutual funds etc) and other financial instruments and options, including certain general types of insurance policies and/or annuities. These are mere suggestions for your further investigation and consideration and should not be considered particularized advice that you should purchase any particular insurance policies and/or purchase or sell particularized investments and/or annuities. Your circumstances may differ substantially from some of the assumptions that are inherent in any generalized article, posting or video pertaining to the matters on this site. More importantly, please note we are not licensed securities brokers, commodities brokers or investment advisors nor do we hold any license to sell any type of insurance or annuity policy or product. Nor are we licensed to practice law or tax accountancy. Notwithstanding any content on this webite or any video or information posted or conveyed on this website indicating or implying the contrary, we do not give individualized investment, insurance, tax or legal advice. Please consult with a duly licensed securities broker, investment advisor and/or insurance agent for individualized or particularized investment, annuity and/or insurance advice. Please consult with a duly licensed lawyer or accountant for any legal or tax advice that you may need.)
Below is the link to our original “About Us” video. While the singing may be a little corny, it does provide a good idea of what this website was and still is largely about: