Ron Knecht: There’s no shortage of things for which to feel thankful

Today being Thanksgiving, some of many things for which I’m thankful:

My parents. When I was born we lived in a tiny apartment half a block from the railroad tracks, but they raised me with love, care and good values and habits; I’m forever grateful. Also, for my siblings and extended family.

My wife, Kathy, who is my best friend ever and has made my life wonderful for 25 years. She’s been an ideal role model and mom for our daughter, Karyn, the best child and sweetest girl ever, and future president.

My mother-in-law, Christena Jensen, the best mom-in-law ever, and her late husband and Kathy’s dad, Vern. (Kathy, being equally close to my mother, claims she has the best.)

The United States of America, truly exceptional as the first country founded not on ethnicity but on a creed of liberty, the rule of law, equal opportunity, strong private-property rights and welcoming people from everywhere. For these reasons, our friends Elva and Maria recently noted they are blessed to have two countries: Mexico, where they were born, and the U.S., where they now are citizens.

The Wall Street Journal, its editorial section and outstanding columnists, and its annual Thanksgiving editorials, “The Desolate Wilderness” and “And the Fair Land.”

The music of Beethoven, Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, Fats Domino and Bob Seger.

CASA of Carson City, its Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children and staffers, board and supporters.

Carson Mayor Bob Crowell, celebrating his birthday today.

Great economists including Ronald Coase, Friedrich Hayek, Milton Friedman, Adam Smith, Mancur Olson, James Buchanan and Joseph Schumpeter.

Friends and colleagues Bill, Doug, Allison, Harlan, Wayne, Roger, Don, James, Ray, Graciela, Fred, Howard, Ron and others.

Casablanca; 2001: A Space Odyssey; Fiddler on the Roof; The Godfather — parts I and II; and It’s A Wonderful Life.

Bethlehem Lutheran School, doing a great job educating Karyn and 200 others.

Autumn, spring, summer and winter.

Great sports role models such as Sandy Koufax, Stan Musial, Bill Russell, Lou Gehrig, Branch Rickey and distance runners generally.

Many area churches and the work they do.

The men and women who’ve served in our armed forces.

The Righteous Brothers singing Unchained Melody; Elvis with Can’t Help Falling in Love; and the Eagles for Lyin’ Eyes and Desperado.

Higher education; my alma maters Illinois, Stanford and San Francisco; Western Nevada College (where I used to teach); and the Nevada System.

Tchaikovsky, Petipa and Swan Lake and The Nutcracker. And the San Francisco Ballet for many great years of the classic Nutcracker choreographed by Lew Christensen.

Our greatest presidents: Washington, Jefferson, Madison and Reagan. And Ben Franklin and Clarence Thomas.

The colors of the spectrum, especially burgundy red.

Carson City Kiwanis; and Friends in Service Helping (F.I.S.H.).

Engineers, other techno-nerds, and business innovators, entrepreneurs and the Internet.

Steak, scotch, snow peas, warm bread with butter, ice cream, popcorn and dark chocolate.

The Simpsons, Calvin and Hobbes, Charles Osgood and Paul Harvey.

The Institute for Justice; Cato, Heritage and Reason foundations; Hoover and American Enterprise institutes; and The Federalist Society.

Athletics; collecting baseball, basketball, football and non-sports cards; Vin Scully and For Love of the Game (best sports film and best date film).

Our dog, Prince.

And the Nevada Appeal, which runs my columns. Happy Thanksgiving.

Ron Knecht is an economist, law school graduate and Nevada higher education regent.