The Conversation About Guns Could Be Smarter
Would I like to live in a society with little crime and no gun possession, except for hunting and target practice? Of course I would. But the America of 2022 is not such a place.
The Pro-Death State of Texas
You can bet that politicians will continue going on and on about protecting "unborn babies" while giving free rein to those who kill born babies.
Economy May Soon Reveal Who's Been Swimming Naked
Tides go out but also come back. Savers who kept their clothes on, even when lower interest rates tried to seduce them into heavy borrowing, may be best positioned to get back into the swim.
Ukraine Is Our War and Biden Our Wartime President
As a wartime president, Joe Biden has one mission: to stop the aggressor.
Who Says Democrats are Soft on Crime?
Calls for building mental health services should be heeded. The growing consensus, though, is that social workers can help police but can't replace them.
Stupidity Will Live On in Infamy
Some on the right cheered on Russian President Vladimir Putin. They've pretty much gone into hiding or are trying, unsuccessfully, to delete from national memory their attempt to undermine President Joe Biden as he was responding to a fast-moving crisis.
Identity Politics on the Court Must Be Subtle
If President Joe Biden insists on going the identity route, could he at least be subtle about it?
Is the Zoom Glass Ceiling Really About Gender?
The Zoom glass ceiling isn't entirely about women.
Not Getting Vaccinated Can Be Child Abuse
The vaccinated majority is rapidly losing interest in the fate of the unvaccinated—and that's putting it diplomatically.
As Presidential Nominee, Kamala Harris Is Not the One
Democrats badly need voices from the rest of the country in positions of prominence.
Yes, Our Economic Problems Are 'High Class'
How many tears must be shed for cyclists who have to wait a while for their $1,200 bikes? As problems go, that's pretty "high class," don't you think?
Republicans Don't Want to Pay Their Own Bills
Republicans will not win hearts by insisting that they don't have to help America repay its debts—especially since they racked up so much of them.
Republican Excesses Bring New Hope to Democrats
Riding on the wings of Republican excess, Democrats could well sail to an unexpectedly solid showing in 2022.
Recall That Rudy Giuliani Had a Finest Hour
In 2018, he attended a game at Yankee Stadium, and when the announcer said, "The New York Yankees wish a very happy birthday to Mayor Giuliani," the crowd burst out with boos.
Who Wants to Move to Texas?
Texas has cool progressive cities—Austin's at the top—that fit right into the knowledge workers' list of allurements. But these diabolical state laws and restrictions apply to those places as well.
The Pandemic Won Many Over to the Cosmetic Surgery Knife
This may sound counterintuitive, but the shutdowns that greatly constricted physical contact with others actually boosted requests for facelifts and other cosmetic procedures.
The 2 Americas of COVID-19
The vaccinated half is moving forward, and the unvaccinated half is falling behind. What a strange place we've become.
Black Democrats Save the Party Once Again
How often must people of color save the Democratic Party from its left fringe? As often as they have to, unfortunately.
Taxes Are for Raising Revenues, Not Punishing Rich People
There's no need here to spin a morality tale about the evils of great wealth. The case for raising taxes on those who could most easily pay them is good.
Republicans Fail to Destroy Obamacare, Lucky for Them
With a few exceptions, Republicans simply aren't interested in doing the work on health care, which requires accepting trade-offs.
Must We Care If You Don't Get the Shot?
Get the shot or don't. Just don't overestimate how much we who have done our personal and civic duty really care.
Rethinking the Land of Plenty
We who got comfortable in the Land of Plenty may have to change our assumptions.
Republicans Actually Need the Jan. 6 Commission
If Republicans don't want to help construct a respected explanation of the awful events of Jan. 6, then fine. Democrats will be happy to do it.
The 2022 Midterms Might Surprise Us
Some Republican operatives may hope that the voters will have relegated the Jan. 6 outrage to "the past." Good luck with that.
2020 Brought Us Startling, Weird Numbers
Commonly quoted stats are dribbling in, but because they are being compared to those of the wildly abnormal pandemic year of 2020, what should we do with them?