It’s tax season, which means it’s time for hard-working Americans to donate to our favorite philanthropic cause: corporate welfare. I know, after four decades of real-wage stagnation for working-class Americans, you’ve all been hand-wringing over the plight of our country’s bloated billionaire class. After all, according to the Economic Policy Institute, the top 1 … Continue reading ‘Tis tax season, Christmas for plutocrats
Donald Trump
Razors, babies and racists, oh my! The week in an America ruled by fear
The absence Tuesday of Martin Luther King Jr., on what should have been his 90th birthday, was made sadder by how far we continue to fall short of his dream. An obvious example came Jan. 10, when Rep. Steve King of Iowa wondered aloud how white supremacy and white nationalism became offensive. Less obvious, but … Continue reading Razors, babies and racists, oh my! The week in an America ruled by fear
The U.S. remains a world leader — we’re just leading in the wrong direction
The United States has long prided itself on being a leader in international affairs. Unfortunately, American influence today is driving us, and many of our allies, off the path of our ideals. Reagan’s “shining city upon a hill” has become a leader in the ideology of nationalism. The multilateral approach that raised us from … Continue reading The U.S. remains a world leader — we’re just leading in the wrong direction
Guns, greed and our spiritual death
“If we do not act we shall surely be dragged down the long, dark and shameful corridors of time reserved for those who possess power without compassion, might without morality and strength without sight.” When Martin Luther King Jr. uttered those words, he was warning us of the greed and undue power surrounding America’s … Continue reading Guns, greed and our spiritual death
The bigger issue with Kavanaugh: We don’t even care if he did it
It’s highly unlikely, even if an FBI investigation materializes, we’ll ever know the full truth surrounding Brett Kavanaugh and his accusers. But, there is a bigger issue than Kavanaugh and his alleged misdeeds: As a society, we don’t seem to care if he assaulted these women. I don't know if Brett Kavanaugh is guilty … Continue reading The bigger issue with Kavanaugh: We don’t even care if he did it
Political expedience is no reason to ignore rape
This piece originally was published as an opinion column in the Enid News & Eagle on Friday, Sept. 21, 2018. Our national attention once again is captivated by the all-too-predictable pattern of hypocrisy and chicanery that surfaces when a woman makes an accusation against a powerful man in America. First, let’s settle one point: … Continue reading Political expedience is no reason to ignore rape
Duty requires courage, not skulking in the darkness of anonymity
Democracy dies in darkness. The New York Times should have read that bit of wisdom on the masthead of its rival, The Washington Post, before publishing Wednesday an anonymous op-ed from a senior White House official “working diligently from within to frustrate parts of (President Trump’s) agenda and his worst inclinations.” The unnamed official claimed to be protecting America from … Continue reading Duty requires courage, not skulking in the darkness of anonymity
Breaking through the echo chamber: lessons in the wake of Helsinki
This week’s whirlwind of Trumpian treason — or at the very least, cowardice — in the face of Vladimir Putin, followed by the president’s furious backpedaling at home, reveals two important takeaways: 1) Trump is a pricey but easily acquired marionette, whose strings beg to be manipulated by ratings and the approval of strong-arm … Continue reading Breaking through the echo chamber: lessons in the wake of Helsinki
Trump and Hobbes visit NATO
Seventeenth century philosopher Thomas Hobbes warned of a state of nature when the ordering powers of mutual contracts are removed — a state of “continual fear, and danger of violent death: and the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short.” For as long as humans have been human, we’ve been organizing into … Continue reading Trump and Hobbes visit NATO
Principled Republicans needed to take back the republic
There's no arena in which we dichotomize and vilify our neighbors more than in our politics. You adore Trump, or you're a socialist. You support all Democrats, or you're a red hat fascist. Some of you surmise from my opposition to President Trump that I must be a Democrat. A leftist. Commie. 'Murica hater. Pick … Continue reading Principled Republicans needed to take back the republic
