Is your faith in democracy waning? AP Photo/Andrew Harnik Pippa Norris, Harvard University Questions about the legitimacy of the 2016 U.S. presidential election continue to reverberate and deepen partisan mistrust in America. Doubts have been compounded by the indictment of 12 Russians following intelligence reports of Russian interference with … [Read more...] about Putin’s interference in US elections undermines faith in American democracy
There is just one way to constrain this lunatic administration: Vote
WASHINGTON -- Last week it was Russia, Russia, Russia. This week began with a bombastic, all-caps screed about Iran -- and, of course, more wailing about the purported "Mueller Witch Hunt." In between was a stray tweet about football and the national anthem, just to stir the racial pot. President Trump is wagging the dog so hard, I fear he will injure himself. Through it … [Read more...] about There is just one way to constrain this lunatic administration: Vote
Democrats Double Down On Stupidity
According to Democrat logic, Donald Trump colluded with Russians to hack into the Republican National Committee. That is a reasonable conclusion drawn from a particular action taken by the Democratic National Committee. From CBS News: "Three months after filing a lawsuit against the Trump campaign, the Russian government and WikiLeaks that alleges a massive conspiracy to … [Read more...] about Democrats Double Down On Stupidity
Democrats Scapegoating Vladimir Putin
Democrats continue to use Vladimir Putin as a scapegoat. They blame him for the fact that Hillary Clinton isn't President of the USA. Such blaming is foolish at best. Clinton isn't the USA's President because of her behavior, not because of anything done by Russians. Yes, some Russians meddled in the 2016 U.S. presidential race. They hacked into the DNC and tried to hack … [Read more...] about Democrats Scapegoating Vladimir Putin
We knew who Trump was
WASHINGTON -- The most frustrating aspect of the backlash against President Trump's servility to Russian President Vladimir Putin is that nothing that happened last week in Helsinki should have surprised us. What's changed is that so many who insisted in 2016 that Trump was not as bad as he looked, that he was a pragmatist at heart, and that we should take him "seriously but … [Read more...] about We knew who Trump was
Should Amazon replace public libraries?
[UPDATED] LIU Post economics professor (and department chair) Panos Mourdoukoutas thinks the answer is yes, that "Amazon should open their own bookstores in all local communities" in order to "replace local libraries and save taxpayers lots of money" [1]. Yes, that's in his lede paragraph. My answer: not just no but hell no. … [Read more...] about Should Amazon replace public libraries?
Cartoon: Play Nice with Badguys (Cartoon, Column and Video)
After 9/11, President George W. Bush didn’t fly to Europe to quarrel with our allies and accuse them of not contributing enough to their defense. He didn’t go to England and tell a British tabloid that Tony Blair’s rival would make a great Prime Minister. He didn’t go to Helsinki and hold a summit, including a two-hour private chat, with the leader of the Taliban. He didn’t … [Read more...] about Cartoon: Play Nice with Badguys (Cartoon, Column and Video)
Great Music – Chapter 25
Up to this point my Great Music series has concentrated on piano music. Some of you might think that as a piano teacher, I might be biased toward that genre of music. Well- you are right. However, I love just about any kind of music from Classical, to Broadway and movie music to pop music. This week I am going to introduce another love of mine, choral music. For this I have … [Read more...] about Great Music – Chapter 25
Traveling while black’ guidebooks may be out of print, but still resonate today
Cotten Seiler, Dickinson College In the summer of 2017, the NAACP issued a travel advisory for the state of Missouri. Modeled after the international advisories issued by the U.S. State Department, the NAACP statement cautioned travelers of color about the “looming danger” of discrimination, harassment and violence at the hands of Missouri law enforcement, businesses and … [Read more...] about Traveling while black’ guidebooks may be out of print, but still resonate today
Cartoon: Putin’s holidays in Siberia
Donald Trump sees dead people
Donald Trump sees dead people. He doesn't just see them. He talks to them and relays their thoughts back to the living. This president may do things large, but he is also a medium. A few weeks ago, while posthumously honoring a World War II hero, Trump gave the man's family a report on their departed loved one. He was "looking down from Heaven, proud of this incredible … [Read more...] about Donald Trump sees dead people
This Pause Doesn’t Refresh: Inconvenient Truths & Uncomfortable Scandal Questions
In the blink-of-an-eye space of only seven days, the Russia scandal shifted into overdrive with the indictment of 12 Russia intelligence officers and arrest of a sex-peddling covert Russian agent in Washington, President Trump's extraordinary capitulation to Vladimir Putin at the Surrender Summit, as well as a host of other pot-boiling developments. And so this may be an … [Read more...] about This Pause Doesn’t Refresh: Inconvenient Truths & Uncomfortable Scandal Questions
Some Weekend Photography
Those who have been contributors to and readers at The Moderate Voice for more than two years fondly remember Ron Beasley, “Veteran, Engineer, Photographer and Moderate Voice Assistant Editor,” as described by Joe Gandelman in a eulogy to Ron when he passed away at age 69. Joe also mentioned what a great photographer Ron was and how he had encouraged Ron to start posting … [Read more...] about Some Weekend Photography
People Profiting From Sensationalism
"Fear and poverty stimulate greater interest in news." So writes Roy Greenslade in a 2007 article for The Guardian titled The good news about bad news - it sells. Greenslade is correct. That which stirs up strong negative emotions is going to attract attention, and people can profit from that attention. A PBS article about the Spanish-American War illustrates how people have … [Read more...] about People Profiting From Sensationalism
One of the Most Disgraceful Presidential Scandals
[ Note: This is not about payments to a former Playboy model who said she had an affair with Mr. Trump] The recriminations and condemnations were swift and damning A respected Representative said, “There’s no way we can excuse what the president did…When you have the world watching, it did not show the seriousness of purpose that you need from a … [Read more...] about One of the Most Disgraceful Presidential Scandals
An Incredible Offer (Cartoon and Column)
When Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed to allow Robert Mueller to fly to Russia and question the people there he’s indicted in exchange for the U.S. to send over American citizens Putin wants to throw out of high rises, Donald Trump should have given a very quick and negative response. Trump should have said, “let me think about it and now that I have thought about … [Read more...] about An Incredible Offer (Cartoon and Column)
Bloody uprising in Nicaragua could trigger the next Central American refugee crisis
Militias guard a barricade after police and pro-government militias stormed a rebel-held neighborhood in Masaya, Nicaragua, on July 17, 2018. AP Photo/Cristibal Venegas Jose Miguel Cruz, Florida International University Central American migrants have long been at the center of what consecutive U.S. administrations have called the immigration … [Read more...] about Bloody uprising in Nicaragua could trigger the next Central American refugee crisis
The ‘deep state’ stands between us and the abyss
WASHINGTON -- Before this hare-brained and reckless administration is history, the nation will have cause to celebrate the public servants derided by Trumpists as the supposed "deep state." The term itself is propaganda, intended to cast a sinister light upon men and women whom Trump and his minions find annoyingly knowledgeable and experienced. They are not participants in … [Read more...] about The ‘deep state’ stands between us and the abyss
What Does the Environmental Impact of Self-Driving Cars Look Like?
Self-driving cars are both a popular and contentious topic, especially when they keep making the news for getting into accidents. In theory, once self-driving cars become more common, they could reduce the overall number of accidents by up to 90 percent. While they can save lives, will self-driving cars be better for the environment? Let's take a closer look at the … [Read more...] about What Does the Environmental Impact of Self-Driving Cars Look Like?
If Brexit – and Democracy – Means Anything, It’s Time for Pitchforks
Many people regard Magna Carta as the first Constitutional guarantee of the basic liberties of the English-speaking world. Fewer people know that Magna Carta wasn’t imposed on King John just because he abused his power (which after all has been true of most kings and governments throughout history), but because he had handed away the sovereignty of England to a foreign … [Read more...] about If Brexit – and Democracy – Means Anything, It’s Time for Pitchforks