The Snake’s Spots

The American public has an amazingly low opinion of Congress. Many reasons are giving ranging from they get nothing done to they do too much. What is most worrisome, however, is the low regard for Congressional members’ personal integrity. The public views that all these members are for sale and their words cannot be trusted. [...]

The Big Questions

There are a lot of voices saying things like Obamacare is going to wreck the economy, or that the taxes are too high, the deficit is too large, and we have to cut spending. These voice, however, do not offer any idea how to accomplish this, or what the consequences might be. Healthcare impacts the [...]

Progressive Delusions

Progressivism is a difficult term to pin down. Some call it a fancy name for being liberal. Others call it the code word for socialism. And the Tea Party, conservatives, and most republicans say it is about tax and spend. But in truth, it is about America and what America has stood for over the [...]

Tea Party Delusions

Tea Party members are said to be mostly educated, older, and relatively speaking well off Americans. They rail against taxes and government over reach. Their enemy is the Federal Government, their friend is the Constitution. Most adherents are pleasant and reasonable citizens on most all matters outside of politics. Why this huge change? Last evening [...]

Already Discounted

Headlines in todays papers cry that the “signs” all point to the end of the recession. You might ask, especially if you are unemployed or a public service employee awaiting a pending layoff due to budget shortfalls, what “signs”? One sign is the stock market which is now above 11,000 and looks like it still [...]

The Race to Second Class

There is much to admire about Europe.  Europeans enjoy public transportation that takes them almost everywhere for a reasonable amount. They have the best health care in the world (maybe Japan is better than some) and all residents are included. They live in clean and safe cities. They all remember their country’s proud pasts and [...]

Comprehensive Immigration Reform

Comprehensive Immigration Reform is about undocumented Mexicans who reside in the US. Of course the language of the bill will be broader, but current laws and practices are generally good enough to control all other immigrant groups. Why comprehensive, why now? If only from a pragmatic viewpoint, Mexicans present a special set of challenges. Mexicans [...]

The New Economy

Every so often a forest is reduced to charred stubs of trees. At first this looks sad but soon new growth emerges and in hardly any time, a vibrant new forest takes over. Will that be the case with our economy? The recession that began in late 2007, early 2008, and blossomed in 2009, has [...]

Specter versus Sestak

This week Arlen Specter broadened his campaign attack upon Joe Sestak. Senator Specter, who turned 80 on Februrary 12, 2010, shifted his campaign to a “take no prisoners” style. In a TV spot, Specter demeaned the 31 year, 3 star admiral career of Sestak. Why would he go so negative, so early? One reason may [...]

The Worm Turns

Republicans Senate leaders Mitch McConnell and Judd Gregg shifted their tone effortlessly yesterday as public feedback indicated general support for some kind of Wall Street reform. In the process, a little more light has been shed upon what is really behind Republican opposition. Would you believe bankers’ money? The Senate is still evolving their version [...]