The National Football League is an industry that provides entertainment via football games. Like every other industry, it answers to the law of supply and demand. The NFL will go on as long as people are willing to buy tickets to NFL games, watch NFL games on TV and buy NFL merchandise. The 2017 NFL season has been irksome for some people because NFL players have chosen to … [Read more...] about Free Speech and the NFL
California As Prophet: Moving Toward A Better Future As Trump’s America Flails?
Trump’s cabinet loves living large
WASHINGTON -- So are there members of President Trump's Cabinet who don't travel by private jet? Put another way, do any of our top officials understand the difference between public service and personal luxury? Trump may not have Made America Great Again for you or me, but he's made it pretty sweet for political appointees who want to jet around like billionaires at other … [Read more...] about Trump’s cabinet loves living large
4 Industries on the Verge of a Robotic Disruption
The idea of robots has loomed over many industries for years. Many laborers fear the onset of technology that would render their jobs unnecessary, and automation may seem to be that career-ending development. But, in many cases, robots aren’t created to strip human workers of their paychecks. Instead, robots fill the gaps of labor shortages or make humans more effective at … [Read more...] about 4 Industries on the Verge of a Robotic Disruption
Cartoon: Russian Plot
Let’s Be Honest About Trump’s Tax Plan
Under great fanfare and before a partisan audience, Trump pitched in the sketchiest way his tax plan yesterday. A plan that would allegedly benefit the middle class and lower-income households, increase investment, spur growth, create broader prosperity. In all fairness, I have not seen the details of the proposed tax plan and, since I am not a tax expert, I probably would … [Read more...] about Let’s Be Honest About Trump’s Tax Plan
The Specter of Arlen is Haunting America
The late Arlen Specter rose through Pennsylvania state politics to the office of U.S. Senator. His journey was instructive. From 1951-1965, he was a Democrat. He read the shifting winds, running as a Republican and winning the race for Philadelphia District Attorney. In 1980, he was elected Senator, where he remained for the rest of his career. He was often controversial but … [Read more...] about The Specter of Arlen is Haunting America
Meet the New Face of Republican Extremism
Thank you, Alabama Republicans! Thank you for choosing a Senate candidate whose reactionary ravings and paranoid fictions make Donald Trump look semi-sane. Seriously, could Democrats have ever imagined receiving a better gift than Roy Moore, the bat-crazy theocrat who has twice been dumped from his post on the Alabama Supreme Court? Democrats are always on the lookout for a … [Read more...] about Meet the New Face of Republican Extremism
Alabama’s rebel yell from the right
WASHINGTON -- In Alabama's Republican Senate primary on Tuesday, Steve Bannon defeated Donald Trump. The state's GOP voters showed how sharply divided their party is. And right-wing insurgents were given a license to challenge Republican incumbents all over the country in 2018. Judge Roy Moore's victory over Senator Luther Strange was a sign of just how extreme Republican … [Read more...] about Alabama’s rebel yell from the right
Check out the United Arab Emirates’ plans for building a Martian city—on Earth
To prep for the one that will actually be on Mars, naturally. Before Mars, they'll build a city in a more familiar desert. UAE The government of the United Arab Emirates recently declared intentions to build a city on Mars in the next century or so. Their first step? A prototype city on Earth. This week… … [Read more...] about Check out the United Arab Emirates’ plans for building a Martian city—on Earth
Cartoon: King Trump
100 Cities / 100 Memorials Announces the First 50 Official ‘WWI Centennial Memorials’ and Launches Round 2
About a year ago, the World War One Centennial Commission — the same organization that is sponsoring the design and construction of the new National World War I Memorial in Washington, D.C. (below) — along with the Pritzker Military Museum and Library announced a unique project to encourage individuals and communities across the country to restore and preserve their local … [Read more...] about 100 Cities / 100 Memorials Announces the First 50 Official ‘WWI Centennial Memorials’ and Launches Round 2
The sad suspicion about Trump’s shameful treatment of Puerto Rico
WASHINGTON -- Suppose that the entire San Diego metropolitan area had lost electrical power, and it wouldn't be restored for months. Or, suppose that most of the ports, roads and cellular towers in the Seattle metropolitan area had been destroyed, and a major dam had failed. Or, that the combined populations of New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont had seen much of their … [Read more...] about The sad suspicion about Trump’s shameful treatment of Puerto Rico
Trump, Polarization and the Culture Wars
There's a strange parlor game out there among pundits where any time Donald Trump or some other polarizing figure says or does something outrageous and stokes up a big old culture war backlash, that it will all somehow play into Trump's hands. Steve Bannon says he'd love to argue about Confederate monuments or flags! The liberal media got suckered into siding with unpopular … [Read more...] about Trump, Polarization and the Culture Wars
Reflections of “A Nation of Immigrants” – Part 5
No discussion of America being a “melting pot” would be complete without mentioning the significant contributions made by descendants of the African men and women who were brought to America as slaves. We would have loved to include in this series about “A Nation of Immigrants,” the stories of African American readers and authors and their ancestors who have helped make this … [Read more...] about Reflections of “A Nation of Immigrants” – Part 5
Alabama Win for Moore is Victory for Steve Bannon
Washington Republicans were startled on Tuesday and President Donald Trump was dealt a political setback as his chosen candidate to win the U.S. Senate race in Alabama was defeated by an insurgent candidate backed by his former chief strategist Steve Bannon. Roy Moore, the 70-year-old former Alabama State Supreme Court Justice, defeated the incumbent senator, Luther… … [Read more...] about Alabama Win for Moore is Victory for Steve Bannon
Trump Will Never Pivot
Ezra Klein explains that Donald Trump is beloved by the Republican base because he is one of them on vox.com. It’s become a joke on politics Twitter that Trump’s pivot is always around the corner, that the media can’t stop announcing that this is the moment Trump finally became president. But there will be no pivot. There will be no moment Trump suddenly and permanently grows … [Read more...] about Trump Will Never Pivot
In Defense of immigrants
In the past year we’ve seen an obvious hostility towards immigrants, from “rapists and murderers” to the pointless and counterproductive travel ban. Because native-born Americans by definition aren’t immigrants, they often have some whacky ideas about the processes and circumstances attendant to starting one’s life anew in the United States. The further right one’s … [Read more...] about In Defense of immigrants
Cartoon: Disrespecting
Senate Republicans pull plug on latest Obamacare repeal bid
US Senate Republicans have aborted their latest plan to dismantle Obamacare, they said Tuesday, after it became clear President Donald Trump's party did not have enough support to pass the measure. Grim-faced lawmakers, who hoped to hold the vote this week, made the announcement shortly after a Republican luncheon in which senators discussed the impasse, and… … [Read more...] about Senate Republicans pull plug on latest Obamacare repeal bid