Year: 2021

For some time now, my good libertarian friend has continued to send me information extolling libertarian values and criticism of the two major political parties, the Democrats and Republicans. He has always been particularly exercised about the Libertarian Party’s continual struggle with ballot access, the nemesis of all third parties in our two-party system. He…

The Republican Party has been around since its founding in 1854 in the little hamlet of Ripon, Wisconsin. It was cobbled together from disgruntled Democrats, the Free Soil Party, former Whigs and anti-slavery advocates in opposition to the Kansas-Nebraska Act which permitted the expansion of slavery into the territories. After running John C. Fremont as…

In my continuing effort to bring news and views of American politics from beyond our borders, I’m printing this piece from my Canadian friend up in Almonte, Ontario. It helps to see how others see our politics. Much to lament in U.S. hearings on Capitol revolt Ottawa Citizen 30 Jul 2021 ANDREW COHEN Boston Andrew…

Given all the unpleasantness, bad news, threatening weather and the *”dumbing of America.” I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Perhaps, things will start to turn around in August. If image is blurry, please click on photo. *A quote from a friend which seems apropos.

Today, during lunch, I turned on the television and watched the beginning of the Congressional select committee investigating the assault on the Capitol this past January 6th. The testimony of the police officers who defended the Capitol that day was absolutely riveting. I found them to be credible, articulate and surprisingly thoughtful about their experiences…

The news is not good. In fact, it’s terrible, especially about the rise in Covid and our inability to cope with it even though we have the tools to do so. Most of the explanations as to our dysfunction focus on the large number of unvaccinated people out there. There are many reasons for this,…

It has continued to rain here for most of the week, so much so that the large trees are beginning to come down for lack of support. The soil can only stand so much water before things start letting go. A big tree fell across the highway down by my front gate and was cut…

I must admit that until recently I had never heard of “critical race theory.” After I scampered about and found out, I was dumbfounded as to how this phrase has become an epithet for the Republican right to excoriate Democrats. CRT simply describes the history of race in the United States. Many of us, if…

I get lots of pleasure from my dogs every day. For one thing, they don’t seem interested in politics and never bring it up. Certainly they don’t see the world through an ideological prism. In contrast, however, I have some friends who view most everything through a political lens according to their preferred ideologies, be…

As if we needed more proof of how desperate and venal Republican leadership has become, the recent action by Tennessee Republicans stopping outreach to children for all vaccines certainly provided it. Lots has already been written about this, much of it expressing disbelief as to the motivation of Republicans and their fellow travelers. My friends…