Here Comes the Pain
Donald Trump has promised quick action on a number of fronts upon being sworn in as President. One of his statements after he won the election was, "Promises made, promises…
BASEBALL IN LAS VEGAS?
They want to build a baseball stadium. In Las Vegas. To play baseball. In the summer. When the temperature is regularly in the triple digits. A very large stadium. That…
The Evolution of the Republican and Fox News Perspective of the Ukrainian-Russian Crisis
-Why can't Putin and Russia be a friend and ally to the United States? -Putin may have done a few things wrong, but he is a genius! -Putin and Russia…
Democracy isn’t Easy
Given the rise of powerful anti-democratic forces across the country and across the globe, it can be all too easy to catastrophize about the demise and death of democracy. Trumpism…
The Right to Endanger our Child?
In 2002, Michael Jackson dangled his nine month old son over the edge of a fourth floor balcony of the Hotel Aldon in Berlin so paparazzi and fans could see…
American Brownshirts
The Brownshirts were a paramilitary group organized by Adolph Hitler in the early 1920's to intimidate, threaten, and do violence against his political opponents. Many of the members of the…
And so, the Gun Lobby Wins!
Americans have gone on a gun buying spree. The New York Times reports that in March of last year, federal background checks, which serve as a proxy for purchases, exceeded…
GameStop: The Long and Short of It
So what's going on with GameStop? This blog will explain for the novice what all the hype is about. To begin, let's talk about being long or being short (short…
Bleeding Georgia?
Between 1854 and 1861 Kansas was torn apart over the issue of slavery. The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 established that the determination of whether a territory would allow slavery would…
The Power of Delusional Thinking
In 1952 Norman Vincent Peale published his book The Power of Positive Thinking: A Practical Guide to Mastering the Problems of Everyday Living. Peale contended that the replacement of negative…
Who is that Masked Man?
A firey spirit, with a commitment to truth, a glow of trust, and a hearty "We can do it!" Joe Biden A central issue in the Presidential campaign has been…
The New Red Scare?
The term Red Scare refers to two periods in American History when there were fears of a communist take over of the country. The idea of a Red Scare derives…
OK Boomer: The Millennials vs. The Boomers, Part 2
In my previous post, I discussed the bad economic hand Millennials have been dealt and the tendency of many of them to place responsibility for their problems on the Baby…
OK Boomer: The Millennials vs. The Boomers, Part 1
Many in the the Millennial generation (those born between 1981 and 1996) have become increasingly dismissive and resentful towards the Baby Boom generation (those born between 1946 and 1964). Millennials…
The Plight of Black Americans
"Between January 1962 and July 1965, Los Angeles law enforcement (mostly police but also sheriff's deputies, highway patrol personnel, and others) killed at least 65 people. Of the sixty-five homicides…
To Play or Not to Play
Should professional athletes, such as those in the National Basketball Association (NBA), continue playing their seasons or should they instead boycott the rest of the season to protest and bring…
God’s Punishment?
Fundamentalist, evangelical, and conservative Christians are often quick to see God's hand in misfortunes that befall us, both natural disasters and human created tragedies. They often see such events as…
Is the Post Office a Business?
Article 1 Section 8 Clause 7 of the U. S. Constitution states: "The Congress shall have the Power To.....establish Post Offices and post Roads;..." The Post Office is the only…
The COVID-19 Pandemic, Re-Opening Schools, and Inequality: Who Pays the Cost? Part 2
In my previous post I argued that regardless of whether schools re-open or remain closed, that the cost and risk of doing either will be disproportionately borne by lower-income/lower-wealth households.…
The COVID-19 Pandemic, Re-Opening Schools, and Inequality: Who Pays the Cost? Part 1
The Trump Administration has prioritized re-opening schools this fall despite the threats of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Administration's case for re-opening schools are based on several factors: Student learning is…