I agree that any talk of restoring this country’s greatness must include a return to the smoke-belching, less-regulated, gas-guzzling, backroom-deal-making era that characterized the United States during its hegemonic, paternalistic, condescending, arrogant post-World War II to 1991 past. If I’ve argued anything in my life, it’s that smog and respiratory distress are about as American… Continue reading What A Great Idea! Let’s Pollute More!
Category: Democracy
Think the Supreme Court is Non-Political? Think Again.
I just spent a week doing what all teachers should have the option of doing in the summer if they didn’t need a second job to make ends meet. I attended a seminar on a content topic that was both fascinating, useful, and timely. It was sponsored by the Gilder Lehman Institute of American History and… Continue reading Think the Supreme Court is Non-Political? Think Again.
You Want Change? Eyes Forward
I’m sure you’ve heard about the latest outrage. Of course you have. It was about foreign affairs or the economy or immigration or something that will make the country weak or less democratic or dirtier or something. You reacted to it on social media. Maybe you organized something or gave money to someone or just… Continue reading You Want Change? Eyes Forward
The Issues That Will Win the Day
Have you noticed that Congress hasn’t passed any laws lately? Yes, I know they’ve probably snuck in some measures having to do with the awfulness of the government being able to help poor people or possibly allowing people to cite religious beliefs as a way to discriminate, but other than that, nothing. I’ve already written… Continue reading The Issues That Will Win the Day
Whither Infrastructure?
What a great word. Infrastructure. People of all stripes and models use it earnestly despite its awkwardness. It means so much and is so difficult to romanticize. I’ll stop. Remember when infrastructure was going to be first on the new president’s agenda? It was going to be the issue that Democrats and Republicans could rally… Continue reading Whither Infrastructure?
The Absolute Power Grab: Ignorance of the Law Becomes Trendy
There’s nothing like studying the Watergate scandal to remind you of what can happen when one person gets more power than they can handle. President Nixon thought he was above the law, but the Supreme Court said otherwise. Now we have Nixon redux or more likely, Trump acid reflux, in the form of a president who believes… Continue reading The Absolute Power Grab: Ignorance of the Law Becomes Trendy
The Last Vestige of Scoundrels
Great statements are considered great for a reason, and this one by Samuel Johnson about false patriotism certainly stands the test of time. Scoundrels will use patriotism for their own ends. If it wasn’t apparent when Donald Trump began his run for president, it is crystal clear now; that his brand of patriotism is noxious, uncompromising, divisive… Continue reading The Last Vestige of Scoundrels
Happy Mother’s Day
Remember not to post anything on the Internet you wouldn’t want your mother to see. Of course, that would exclude 99% of what’s on the Internet. Happy Mother’s Day.
Beware of Smiling Dictators
It’s on. The Kim Jong-un Redemption Tour is officially under way and like any other one-party, all-powerful, illiberal, murderous dictator, he is smiling all the way. Hello. I had my uncle shot. (Smile) Hello. I had my half-brother killed in one of the most unique, sinister plots I could think of. (Smile) Hello. I’m going… Continue reading Beware of Smiling Dictators
After the Nor’easters:Trump Caves on the Budget While the Real Storm(y) is on the Horizon
For all the talk about President Trump almost vetoing the Congressional spending bill, what’s lost is that his presidency will likely turn out to be a textbook case of an outsider with no natural political constituency unable to reorder the bureaucracy or scare enough legislators to bend to his will. After all, here is a… Continue reading After the Nor’easters:Trump Caves on the Budget While the Real Storm(y) is on the Horizon
Secretariat Was a Stable Genius Too
Can someone please tell me what the fuss is all about? Didn’t we know that a minority of people didn’t elect a statesman or someone with a deep and abiding knowledge of public affairs? Wasn’t it clear that Donald Trump was just a real estate guy with a TV show that glorified…himself and…his accomplishments based… Continue reading Secretariat Was a Stable Genius Too
Do Not Let Us Fall Into Temptation
Usually I skip over stories that have to do with the Pope, but I’ve been reading more of them since Francis took the rather large yarmulke a few years ago because he seems to get the part about treating people like humans. He still has work to do with women and the Rohingya, but his proposed new… Continue reading Do Not Let Us Fall Into Temptation