Yesterday, I posted an article in support of a border wall with Mexico. I stand by that article; it was honestly written and well researched.
My conclusions mentioned other things that were at least as important as border defenses, and I’d like to discuss them in more detail. Remember: This is not an either-or (more…)
One of the great dangers to us during the Trump presidency is our tendency to automatically discount anything the man says as either false, foolish, or insane.
There’s a reason we do this: Donald Trump is well known for proclaiming the impossible loudly and repeatedly, as though that would make it true — or convince anyone aside from his more militant followers. However, just because he says something doesn’t automatically make that thing wrong.
I want to be very clear: I disagree with many of Trump’s policies and far more of his statements. I believe him to be ill-mannered and (at best) deliberately provocative (more…)
Whether it’s the news sites or more interactive social media, we keep running into the same effect. I know you’ve seen it, but I’ll remind you anyway. There’s this picture of a ragged guy on the sidewalk wearing his old army jacket. The caption reads “Take care of homeless vets before feeding refugees!”
To some this makes perfect sense; to others it’s horribly offensive. To me it’s an obvious trick, a false dichotomy — don’t fall for it. (more…)
There’s a curious debate going on in this country, and I’m here to settle it.
Republicans are worried about voter fraud. Democrats are worried about voter suppression. Both topics are all through the news right now, and they’ll continue to be trumpeted through the election. If we asked them, most people would say that at least one of these subjects ought to be a matter of blazing headlines, followed by investigations, prosecutions, and convictions.
They say a lot of people in this country don’t vote. I’d say that, for non-voters, we Americans take the subject pretty seriously.
(more…)I’ve been seeing posts and memes: “I stand with Kavanaugh!” “I stand with Ford!”
Let me tell you where I stand.
There was a hearing; I watched. I wish for the sake of those involved that this hadn’t been broadcast live, but it was, and to stay informed I watched, and I listened, and afterward I read summaries and reviews and transcripts. (more…)
I don’t fly.
It’s not that I’m afraid of heights or superstitious about technology, and it’s certainly not a fear of terrorism. Commercial aircraft are insanely safe, especially when compared to interstate highways.
No, I won’t fly because the security offends me.
Before we get too far into this: I’m aware this isn’t an entirely rational (more…)
Do you hear the people sing,
Singing a song of angry men?
It is the music of a people
Who will not be slaves again!
(from the musical Les Misérables)
Not trying to be a downer here, but yes, you will still be slaves tomorrow.
I know; I know. That’s no way to hook people into reading (more…)
While on a trip to Maine last week, I was bombarded by soft-money ads against Senator Susan Collins. Tens of millions of dollars are being spent by the Democratic Party to erode the approval rating of a moderate Republican during a year that she’s not facing re-election. The premise of these ads is that she’s a horrible person for supporting Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, because he’s (according to them) planning to overturn Roe v. Wade. As I understand it, however, these ads are but the latest in a long series, an organized campaign to assassinate the character of one of the last surviving moderates in the Senate. (more…)
There’s never enough time.
This isn’t merely true; it’s a truism. It’s axiomatic, and it applies just about everywhere in life. There’s never enough time to get all the work done; there’s never enough time to visit family, see friends, play with the kids, or take the dog for enough walks. And there’s certainly never enough time to read every book we want to. (more…)
I haven’t written much about Kaepernick, and I’m not going to start now. Let me tell you why. It won’t take long; I promise. (more…)
The Not Fake News 
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