Theoretically, institutions are the threads that weave and bind a nation together. Institutions come in many forms. They can be foundational documents, such as constitutions, governing structures, executive and legislative bodies, and systems of justice and courts. Institutions can be based on principles, such as the Bill of Rights, and democratic practices, such as voting; […]
The House Is On Fire Read More »
Our country seems perpetually in a state where each presidential election is the most critical election of our lifetime. Some say that phrase is hyperbolic and overused, but many don’t take it seriously. Donald Trump’s rise, which has commandeered one of our two major political parties, has represented a Rorschach test for our nation, and
When we were kids, one of the most demeaning experiences you could go through was “being played.” “Being played” means being fooled, being “chumped,” or someone taking advantage of you. It often involves someone that you trust. It was even worse than people snapping and joking about your mother or family. But those were situations
You’ve Been Played Read More »
Lions, and tigers, and bears, Oh my! It’s that time of year again, and in the spirit of Halloween, the Republican Party has trotted out its tired but successful bag of frightening tricks just in time for Election Day. The menu items very rarely change. The themes are always the same. Let’s scare the ****
Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid Read More »
One of my favorite quotations is from Harper Lee, who wrote: “To Kill A Mockingbird.” She said, “you can choose your friends, but you sho’ can’t choose your family, and they’re still kin to you no matter whether you acknowledge them or not, and it makes you look right silly when you don’t.” Political parties
You’ve Got A Friend? Read More »
The status of the United States economy looms large as one of the most important personal and political issues before the 2022 elections. The perception of the economy will play a significant role in determining who will represent us in Congress. Unfortunately, much of our perception is based on mythology, misinformation, and lies to our
Don’t Believe The Hype Read More »
Growing up, when someone called you something other than your given name, we usually complained, “stop calling me names.” Name-calling was usually an act of ridicule or disrespect. Feeling a bit contrarian, my focus in this piece will be about name-calling that glorifies people, groups, or concepts, in my opinion, unjustifiably. I’ll start with the
My 4th-grade teacher, Miss Bogner, a wonderful woman, and teacher, once told our class that ignorance occurs when you don’t have access to information and that it deserves empathy and understanding. Once you have access to knowledge and refuse to inform yourself, any expectation of empathy or compassion dissipates. She called them “willfully ignorant.” Those
Fighting racism and inequality was all the rage in May 2020 when approximately 15 to 20 million Americans took to the streets in at least 200 cities in the United States. Books and videos about anti-racism flew off the shelves, and there was what some observers saw as a seminal moment, a national recognition of
Black Lives Still Matter Read More »
Denial is a potent ass drug, and approximately 77 million Americans are strung out and hitting the pipe hard. Denial is as much a cause for the lunacy and chaos that exists today as an economic downturn or malaise, more than any fear of socialism and more than a delusional notion of freedom. Denial is
