When is it okay to “heighten the contradictions”, to allow bad things to happen for the sake of instigating political change? I’ve been noodling on this problem for decades without making much progress, and Trump’s victory has forced me to dig in once again. This is my current thinking, for what it’s worth. Democrats have […]
One Hour until the dread January 20th. 23 hours into the strange TikTok banned January 19th. Trump says he will delay the law banning TikTok by executive order. Can he do that???? Don’t ask me. I’m not a lawyer. However, I do have a first amendment right to play a lawyer on the web. Do […]
Maybe Krugman’s commentary should be entitled differently. Maybe “waking up to reality?” or “When the chickens come home to roost?” or “sorting out the facts from the make believe?” Krugman is on a bender looking at what is being said as factual and how much do the stated fact align with reality. China v Trump […]
January 16, 2025 In his final address to the nation last night, President Joe Biden issued a warning that “an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power, and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and freedoms, and a fair shot for everyone to get ahead.” It is not […]
Wayback Machine: In 68 I left on a jet plane, a Boeing 707 to San Diego. A few busses were waiting for us. They took us to Recruit Depot for a rude awakening. Written by John Denver in 1967, “Leaven on a Jet Plane” was also sung by Peter, Paul, and Mary. We were in […]
As Biden’s presidency winds down, I have tried to collect my thoughts on his presidency, on what went right and (mostly) what went wrong, and why. I want to confess up front that I do not follow “inside the White House” reporting very closely (I have not read any books on the Biden White House, […]
When I was in first grade, we had daily bible readings. Each child was allowed a turn to read a verse or two from their bible. This was in a public school. The problem of how to manage verses from, e.g., Muslim or Hindu children was solved by the fact that in East Tennessee there […]
And an opportunity too! We were living in Michigan at the time. My wife being from NYC and I from Chicago have a taste for bagels and cream cheese. Onion cream cheese for myself and she likes the plain. In the Detroit area, there is a Jewish community. My wife worked for the Jewish News. […]
I am reading the most recent The Guardian article about a new Canadian Prime Minister. The present Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau, resigned as head of the Liberal party. His resignation set in motion a leadership race against the backdrop of a looming general election. An election which will be held amid political turmoil perhaps triggered by Donald […]
Key findings about U.S. immigrants. Look at the first chart, you will see this is not the first time so many immigrants are arriving in the United States. What is occurring today is less than what occurred in 1890 (first paragraph) as a percentage of the present population. The United States has long had more […]