Will the most raucous Republican presidential primary race in living memory result in better policies on the Republican side? Given the shocking political bloodletting, this editorial from Japan’s San-in Chuo Shimpo Shimbun expresses the hope that it won’t all be for naught. The San-in Chuo Shimpo Shimbun editorial says in part: Previous victorious U.S. presidential candidates have been those who...

We can speak of race. And yet, I can see assasinations by mentally ill and armed people… any armed person with an unbalanced mind, any person with poor judgment who is given a firearm … that the issue of who is target is not toward one race. One would have to ignore even a year’s or twenty years’ history in the US alone to think a shooting of a person of any race has only to do with...

by WALTER BRASCH (part 3 of 3) The history of energy exploration, mining, and delivery is best understood in a range from benevolent exploitation to worker and public oppression. A company comes into an area, leases land in rural and agricultural areas for mineral rights, increases employment, usually in a depressed economy, strips the land of its resources, creates health problems for its workers and those...

This is just a spur-of-the-moment, silly, half-baked post. I am sure I will hear about it. I have considered disabling comments. You may probably want to skip it, ignore it, trash it … You ask: Why even write it then? Well, if you must know and have gotten this far, I guess I will have to indulge you. In a very recent post — it doesn’t matter which — the statement was made, “For the last decade,...

By WALTER BRASCH (This is Part 2 of 3. Part 1 looked at a state gag order on physicians; Part 3 examines why Pennsylvania is giving special consideration to the natural gas companies.) The natural gas industry defends hydraulic fracturing, better known as fracking, as safe and efficient. Thomas J. Pyle, president of the Institute for Energy Research, a pro-industry non-profit organization, claims fracking...

The following is an excerpt from a powerful testimonial from Wendell Potter concerning our broken health care industry. Wendell is a former insurance executive and the author of Deadly Spin, An Insurance Company Insider Speaks Out on How Corporate PR Is Killing Health Care and Deceiving Americans. Wendell is a friend of mine with a sincere heart and a deeply held conviction to do what is right in the face of...

I’m thrilled to be a part of the Civic Commons, a social media organization based in Cleveland that works for the civic good. [My project is the EfficientGovNetwork. Charting the Future of Fracking, is one reason why. Take a look at how much has been discussed just since it opened at 8:30am this morning. If you want to get the feel for how extensive the issues and emotions are on this topic, there’s...

As supporters try to put Orrin Hatch, 78, out to pasture and literally dislodge Dick Lugar, 79, zealots in the Senate now are showing their hand against all older Americans by trying to end Medicare for current retirees and enrolling them in a health insurance plan now offered to federal employees by the year after next. A proposal by Sens. Rand Paul, Jim DeMint, Lindsey Graham and Mike Lee would, by their...

The former Army Ranger is pretty good at cutting green beans to a precise length. He can whip up everything from fish tacos to southwestern coleslaw to pork tenderloins glazed with molasses and sherry — and he makes sure the presentation is just right. Big deal, you may say. And, yes, it is a big deal for Jeremy Feldbusch. You see, Feldbusch — a former sergeant — is blind. He was hit by a 155...

by WALTER BRASCH (Part 1 of 3) A new Pennsylvania law endangers public health by forbidding health care professionals from sharing information they learn about certain chemicals and procedures used in high volume horizontal hydraulic fracturing. The procedure is commonly known as fracking. Fracking is the controversial method of forcing water, gases, and chemicals at tremendous pressure of up to 15,000 pounds...

One year after one of the most devastating catastrophes in living memory, there seems to be no end to Japan’s inner turmoil. According to this editorial from Japan’s Too Nippo Shimbun, recently released transcripts from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission not only demonstrate America’s proactive attitude in a crisis, they expose a deep-seated tendency among Japanese decision-makers to underestimate...

UPDATE: Here’s a different take on this story. UPDATE III: Santorum’s press secretary Alice Stewart repeatedly refused to answer questions by Dutch television station RTL4 about Santorum’s outrageous and false claims about euthanasia in the Netherlands. Asked at least three times by the RTL4 reporter to clarify Santorum’s incorrect figures and totally distorted statements about Dutch euthanasia...

As Republicans lurch toward choosing a nominee, the President’s worst mistake of a tumultuous first term is waiting to emerge in the election—-his Pyrrhic victory on health care reform. A new study shows that, more than any issue, it led to the 2110 Tea Party takeover of the House, costing Democrats “almost exactly the number of seats that decided the majority,” and even the furor now over Rush Limbaugh...

WASHINGTON — The nation’s Roman Catholic bishops will make an important decision this week: Do they want to defend the church’s legitimate interest in religious autonomy, or do they want to wage an election-year war against President Obama? And do the most conservative bishops want to junk the Roman Catholic Church as we have known it, with its deep commitment to both life and social...

The Bible says that in Christ each person is a precious stone, a living stone, chosen by God (1 Peter 2:5). Yet when we gaze into the mirror, we often don’t fully see this image. In our spiritual journey, many of us are unwilling to wait long enough for God’s perspective to be revealed in us and through us. The world does not see what God sees, what God saw when he formed you in your mother’s womb. ...

If there is one thing that I find even more offensive than the far-right politicians’ claim that they, and their followers, are the “real Americans” — and by implication that I am a fake American — is their insolent slogan, “We want to take our country back.” I have explained why here and here. But that’s just little ol’ me saying so. I was thus pleasantly surprised to find someone...

There are incidents in life that are so heinous that it takes more than just a vanilla-flavored “how can you be so despicable” story to illustrate it and condemn such. When such craven acts are committed by a celebrity — a hero to more than 20 million folks — it takes more than just a little blogger to make any kind of an impact. When the dastardly, hurtful words are hurled against a young,...

Here in Northeast Ohio, Monday morning shattered when news of a high school junior shooting several of his schoolmates started streaming into my inbox via news alerts. At 8:18 a.m., I read: Breaking News: Report: Geauga County Sheriff’s Department and OSHP heading to Chardon High School (the original item isn’t even there anymore, there’ve been so many updates) I didn’t have to read another...

This is entertainment? Via ABC: “So Miss Fluke, and the rest of you Feminazis, here’s the deal. If we are going to pay for your contraceptives, and thus pay for you to have sex. We want something for it. We want you to post the videos online so we can all watch.” And “Three thousand dollars for birth control in three years? … They’re admitting before congressional committee that they’re having...

I hope Mr. Breitbart rests in peace now. And that his 4 kids and wife will be comforted. It appears he had a heart attack or stroke, out for a walk, suddenly fell down. A stranger dialed 911. He was dead it seems when emergency help arrived. Again, may his people be comforted. I’d just remind, even if it could cause a few people to awken sooner rather than later… that many people, esp men, but women...