Rrobiek, a Belgian Malinois military working dog, and his handler, Army Staff Sgt. Charles Ogin, 3rd Infantry Regiment, bond with each other during work in Baghdad, Feb. 15, 2017. Army photo by Sgt. Anna Pongo One of my favorite subjects is “Military Working Dogs.” (MWD) It has been a while since I have written about our four-legged warriors, but this time I don’t even … [Read more...] about Military Working Dog, Human Handler Bond in Baghdad
Cartoons: Putin’s Bear Buddy
This cartoon is licensed by Cagle Cartoons to run on The Moderate Voice. … [Read more...] about Cartoons: Putin’s Bear Buddy
On Terrorism Trump Is Our Own Worst Enemy
The jihadis shoot their propaganda across the internet in search of the Western world’s frightened and dispossessed. On Twitter and Facebook, from YouTube to Google Play, the Islamic State militant group (ISIS) traffics in lies, bombarding Western Muslims seeking adventure, compatriots or an outlet for their religious fervor. The message is stark, terrifying: Your countries … [Read more...] about On Terrorism Trump Is Our Own Worst Enemy
The Perception of America’s Problems
A Pew Poll taken right after the 2016 election verified the gap that existed between Trump and Clinton supporters on their perception of a number of different issues facing America, a partial explanation for how they voted. However, some of their understandings of life in America were in direct contradiction to statistics from the government, academic institutions, or quality … [Read more...] about The Perception of America’s Problems
Moonlight won Best Picture: let’s put away our black cards
(Taken from Chocolate Films) Moonlight won the best picture Oscar for 2017. No one in their right mind who has seen the film can be mad at that. Whilst it wasn't my favourite film of the year (hello, Hidden Figures), I believe that it was the most important out of the bunch. What did bother me was how quickly the La La Land hate train gathered pace. My timeline after the … [Read more...] about Moonlight won Best Picture: let’s put away our black cards
The Alternate Reality of the Political Right
In a previous post, I talk about the alternate reality of the Political Left. Now, to be fair and balanced, I am going to talk about the alternate reality of the Political Right. In that alternate reality . . . #1 The USA is a Christian theocracy. Thus, a prayer in the name of Jesus must be spoken during every public meeting that involves government officials. Uh … no. … [Read more...] about The Alternate Reality of the Political Right
The HeartGift Organization: A Noble Vision in Progress (Update)
Update: Please scroll to the bottom for a video of HeartGift's work. The video is a couple of years old, but the message is timeless. Original Post: It is an unfathomable tragedy when an innocent child dies, especially when such a death occurs simply because specialized medical care is not available, accessible or affordable in the child’s native country. In … [Read more...] about The HeartGift Organization: A Noble Vision in Progress (Update)
No Tax Deduction for Donations that go Outside the US
The United States provides a tax deduction for qualified charitable giving. A decent percentage of this money, well into the tens of billions, is sent outside the country. I am certain these are very good causes, but my question is: Should the United States government subsidize monies spent to help out non-US residents when there is so much need here? I propose that the … [Read more...] about No Tax Deduction for Donations that go Outside the US
The Oscars Were a Horror Show!
February 27, 2017 Note to readers: This is the latest entry in Super Baby DonDon’s diary. The series imagines that President Donald Trump has the emotional make-up of a five-year-old and confides his deepest thoughts—such as they are—to Andrew Feinberg, and to readers, every day. In his private moments, he always thinks of himself as Super Baby DonDon. So, those … [Read more...] about The Oscars Were a Horror Show!
The Republican replacement plan: Robin Hood in reverse (Editorial)
By now, the insane risk of repealing Obamacare without a replacement plan is pretty well established. About 21 million Americans would lose their health coverage, a number that would only grow. Premiums would likely double on the individual market. In New Jersey alone, $4.2 billion in federal funds would be lost annually, according to a new… … [Read more...] about The Republican replacement plan: Robin Hood in reverse (Editorial)
Meet Felix Sater, The Best Friend That Trump Claims He Never Had
RUSSIAN EMIGRE SATER IS EVEN DIRTIER THAN THE DONALD When last we checked in on Donald Trump's Russia scandal a couple of weeks ago, it was bubbling away nicely and threatened to come to a boil. It hasn't yet. Not quite, but we now know enough about the relationship between the president and a smorgasbord of Russian interests to reach certain conclusions. This is because … [Read more...] about Meet Felix Sater, The Best Friend That Trump Claims He Never Had
Is TRUMP/ GOP poised to decimate poor families?
As if pointing their daggers at dismantling health care for the poor is not enough. Will with Trump's new directive to 'cut,' domestic programs and bloat military ones, amount to 'take downers' going after the low and no income people's access to food support with almost 20 percent of the nation already in degrees of no-job food scarcity. Stay tuned. 'The Blob is on … [Read more...] about Is TRUMP/ GOP poised to decimate poor families?
Democracy: Over and Under (Guest Voice)
Democracy: Over and Under by Anthony Stahelski Democracy is a system of governance built on attempts to accommodate opposing needs and desires. These attempts often result in less than satisfying compromises. This is particularly true for domestic issues, since power is shared among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, and various other constituencies. … [Read more...] about Democracy: Over and Under (Guest Voice)
Trump and Bannon are the ‘corporatists’
WASHINGTON -- Just when you despair that only chaos animates the Trump administration, along comes Steve Bannon, the White House ideologue, to offer the Rosetta Stone illuminating what this circus is all about. And when you realize what Trump & Co. might really be up to, your despair turns to alarm. There is no way of knowing how much Donald Trump truly cares … [Read more...] about Trump and Bannon are the ‘corporatists’
Trump’s takeover of conservatism is complete
WASHINGTON -- President Trump, addressing the annual Conservative Political Action Conference on Friday, reminisced about the "very exciting" moment several years ago when he had his coming out as a conservative. I was there when Trump spoke at that 2011 CPAC gathering, at its former site in the Marriott ballroom in Washington's Woodley Park neighborhood. Then, as now, … [Read more...] about Trump’s takeover of conservatism is complete
Frum: Risks of Working for Trump
David Frum considers the risks of working in the Trump White House in The Atlantic. So how should a public-spirited person respond to an invitation to serve the country during the Trump year? Let’s start by assessing the four basic risks: 1) This administration has begun its career by shredding post-Watergate ethical standards. Trump has not effectively severed his … [Read more...] about Frum: Risks of Working for Trump
Is My Teen Using Drugs? Can I Know For Sure?
Prescription drugs, especially opioids, are a growing threat to the health of young people, with 6 percent of teens 12 to 17 saying they use the drugs for non-medical reasons. And in 2014, prescription drugs caused the overdose death of 1,741 young people ages 18 to 25, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. If those statistics aren’t alarming enough, studies … [Read more...] about Is My Teen Using Drugs? Can I Know For Sure?
How Washington ranchers are learning to cope with wolves, with lessons from Uganda
Bill Johnson lives with his seven border collies in a log house that he built himself in the Teanaway Valley, just over the Cascade Mountains that divide rural eastern Washington state from the more urban western part. Johnson’s been a cowboy here for about 16 years. When he started, there were no wolves around, but that… … [Read more...] about How Washington ranchers are learning to cope with wolves, with lessons from Uganda
TRUMP WANTS MEDIA TO STOP QUOTING ANONYMOUS SOURCES
by Miriam Raftery (Washington D.C.) – In a statement reminiscent of Richard Nixon at the height of the Watergate scandal, President Donald Trump slammed media reporting on his administration’s ties to Russia adding that media outlets “shouldn’t be allowed to use sources unless they use somebody’s name.” Yet calls for an independent investigation into Trump’s Russian … [Read more...] about TRUMP WANTS MEDIA TO STOP QUOTING ANONYMOUS SOURCES
Will the two anti-Trump axes of opposition unite?
I think it's important to keep in mind the two axes of opposition to Trump. On one axis is the partisan-ideological objection to Trump as hard right reactionary populist. On this axis he is enabled by a GOP Congress mostly (though not entirely) in line with the Trump-Bannon ultra-nationalist/hyper-capitalist worldview (with pseudo-concern for American workers, though only … [Read more...] about Will the two anti-Trump axes of opposition unite?