Tax Sham 2018

There has been much made in recent months of Americans realizing that their 2018 tax refunds are significantly smaller than in past years thanks to the Republican tax scam. This phenomenon has been well documented in the media, both social and mainstream. The story that has yet to emerge, but I expect will as people […]

Bordering on Obsession

Regardless of one’s thoughts or feelings on the subject of Donald Trump and his border wall, there is one element of the current controversy that should terrify and outrage his supporters as well as opponents. On January 4th, on the heels of a new Democratic majority taking its place in the House of Representative, Donald […]

American Caliphate

Were the founders of the American republic religious people? Probably, but whatever the answer they had enough humility and foresight to realize that religion, especially the great monotheistic traditions, was a dangerous foundation upon which to build a new nation. Additionally, they seem to have understood that a government wrapped in theology would be a […]

Let Them Eat…

Last week marked the end of another school year for most of our students in Alamance County (NC) and across the country and along with EOG exams and farewell parties comes the end of National School Lunch Program (NSLP) funded meals for schoolchildren. Why does this matter? It matters because there is abundant evidence that, […]

Just Incentivize It

Why is it that our elected officials at the city and state levels are so quick to promise the moon to corporations looking to expand, relocate or establish themselves? The short answer, of course, is that they are not looking for long term returns or benefits for their constituents but are instead looking only at […]

The Great Undoing

There is a coup underway in the United States of America. Some have made an excellent argument that this coup has been going on for several years and is nearing a point of completion. The American electorate has been conscious participants and unwitting victims, but this coup has taken place all the same. This isn’t […]

Terrorism and the Great White Hope

Once again the United States has to clean up the blood and broken glass after another mass shooting. Right on cue, the powers that be began lowering flags and calling the murders “an act of pure evil“. Such has become the predictable response from most members of government in the shadow of these disasters and, […]

The War in Our Heads

Is there a war against conservative free speech in this country? If we are to believe the tirades coming from such right-wing organs as The Daily Caller, there is no doubt that a war is raging between the Quixotic champions of the First Amendment (the vilified, threatened and intimidated voices of the political right) and the […]

Freedom from Embarrassment

The United States Constitution is, on the whole, an excellent guardian of the rights and powers any citizen of the country can and should exercise. Foremost among these rights are the right to freedom of expression and freedom of the press, both protected by the First Amendment. These freedoms, it has been argued, are the foundations upon […]

Kids > Bombs

There seems to be two unassailable truths when it comes to policymaking and government budgeting: 1) military spending is sacrosanct and 2) education related spending, however much it’s praised during campaigning, is always a viable source of savings. Let us, for a moment, consider the case of a program called 21st Century Community Learning Centers, […]