General Commentary Archives | Page 6 of 9

Making Elections Great Again: A Prescription To Increase Electoral Fairness in the Age of Citizens United

November 13, 2017 Elections, General Commentary

In 1992, I was a junior in high school in Manchester, the largest city in New Hampshire. At the time, Manchester had a population of about 100,000, and during that cold winter it seemed at least half of those people were presidential candidates. Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, Bob Kerrey, and Jerry Brown all made appearances at my high school.

Political Cartoon

November 10, 2017 General Commentary, Gun Violence

"Seeking Better Angels of Our Nature" Contributing Editor: Jamie Domnick Twitter: @JNick9456 Instagram:JNick9456 Currently a student at the University of Wisconsin--Green Bay; double majoring in Democracy & Justice Studies, and History. At the beginning of my college career, I intended to major in Art and then perhaps teach the subject. However, as I continued to take various classes, I soon

Mueller Can’t Fix Our Broken Brains

November 10, 2017 General Commentary

In a brilliant article written for Vox.com by David Roberts, we are introduced to what the author calls an “epistemic crisis” that has changed the very nature of knowing itself, at least for many Americans: Epistemology is the study of knowledge, and of the rationality of belief. Some things we think, some things we believe, and some things we know

A Woman Without A Party

November 9, 2017 General Commentary

My background. I am in my early forties, a doctoral candidate, and a public-school teacher of 15 years. I was raised in the Midwest, middle class, in an extremely segregated metro area. It was the 1980s. My family were diehard Reagan Republicans, as was I. Perhaps I still am, though the “Republican” part of that moniker has made me more

Just What A Predator Needs

November 8, 2017 General Commentary

A Marriage and Family Counseling licensing exam question asks what a child molester looks like. A scary monster? The answer is that there are no distinguishing physical characteristics, i.e. they look normal. Kevin Spacey and Dustin Hoffman joining ranks of WeinsteinGate dispel Harvey Weinstein as archetype. Webster defines 'predator' as: "one that preys, destroys, devours." Thanks to Oprah discussing child

Conversation With a Retired Lieutenant

November 7, 2017 General Commentary

It’s not everyday you get to eat with a retired Lieutenant and talk about social issues going on in this society. That’s exactly what I was able to do this October evening, Going in I was scared Working up my nerves to have this conversation and I’m 6’6 315 but it was a conversation worth having. Retired Cop Dom Interview

Frozen: The Story Of A Deportee Who Couldn’t Talk

November 6, 2017 General Commentary, Immigration

My name is Ella. I am from Uganda. I identify as lesbian, and I have been in a long term relationship with my girlfriend. Uganda is not tolerant of such relationships so we had to keep things secret. Things were okay until the night of 23rd October 2016. We were in a lodge making love and people in the city

Toto, We’re All Going to Kansas: Trump and Ryan’s Dangerous Tax Folly

November 6, 2017 Economic Issues, General Commentary

In 2012, Kansas Governor Sam Brownback started a grand experiment designed to forever prove the supremacy of Conservative “trickle-down” economics. Huge tax cuts, especially for large businesses and rich people were supposed to spur growth and wealth was supposed to flow downhill. Well, as we all know it’s not wealth that flows downhill. In 2016, years after Kansas had been

Let’s Change The Channel

November 3, 2017 General Commentary

I hear this all the time: “________ is dividing this country!” Insert anyone’s name from contemporary politics in there and the chances are good that you’ve heard that, too. “Bernie is dividing this country!” “Trump is dividing this country!” “Hillary is dividing his country!” “Oh yeah? Well, what about Obama! He did nothing but divide this country for 8 years!”

Greg Boyle: Hubris to Humility

November 2, 2017 General Commentary

Greg Boyle founded Homeboy Industries 30 years ago to help those that nobody else was interested in helping – inmates and ex-cons – giving them a chance to reassimilate. Today, it's a thriving $16M social enterprise that helps thousands of men and women a year By Allana Baroni [Reprinted from CSQ Magazine] Seventeen years ago, during a visit to

Looking for a Hero (White Horse Optional)

November 2, 2017 Elections, General Commentary

In November of 2016, my middle daughter, Rosabel, was able to vote for the very first time in our presidential election.I remember being so excited for her because, as many of us assumed, we were about to elect our first woman president. We were also painfully aware of the alternative a brash, arrogant narcissist; an accused sexual predator who had

#HerToo

November 1, 2017 #MeToo, General Commentary

Abduction. Child marriage. Rape. Forced prostitution. These are the stark realities for millions of women and girls across the globe—and their stories are not being heard. Just last year, 9 million girls were forced to have sex against their wills. More than 700 million women alive today were married as children; some 250 million were married before age 15. And

America’s Hypocrisy on Gun Deaths

November 1, 2017 General Commentary, Gun Violence

In 2015 and 2016, a tropical mosquito-transmitted disease infected some 42,000 Americans in the continental United States and its territories. There was a coordinated governmental effort to control and contain spread of the virus. Major League Baseball moved games from Puerto Rico to Miami in response to player concerns about the disease. Olympians withdrew from their respective teams rather than

VOICE OF REASON FROM A PRO-GUN AMERICAN

October 31, 2017 General Commentary, Gun Violence

I want to start off by saying that I am a gun owner. I grew up around guns in Arkansas, and, more importantly, I grew up with responsible gun owners. Guns do not scare me; it is the person holding the gun who does. The conversation around gun issues can sometimes be uncomfortable, so prepare yourself for discomfort. Since 1968,

When Something Smells (White)fishy, Throw it Out!

October 31, 2017 Economic Issues, General Commentary

Heard the news Sunday that Puerto Rico’s Electric Power Authority (PREPA) has (finally!!!) decided to back out of the (insane) three hundred million dollar contract with Whitefish Energy (who?). If you’re not up on the story, here are the pertinent details: Puerto Rico’s power grid was all but destroyed during Hurricane Maria (Yes, Mr. Trump, those are US Citizens over

Me Too. The Movement & it’s Importance

October 31, 2017 #MeToo, General Commentary

I can't remember the first time I was aware of the set of rules that govern a woman's life. I don't remember explicitly being taught them. I do remember, at much too young an age, that men looked at me in a way that made me uncomfortable. I don't mean men in my life like family members or friends of

Donald Trump’s Useless Eaters: #FreeRosa in the era of ascendant Fascism

October 30, 2017 General Commentary, Healthcare, Immigration

In 1933, Adolf Hitler became Chancellor of Germany. In the same year, his National Socialist (Nazi) Party began a systematic campaign of public ridicule and private sterilization, isolation and murder of the disabled in Germany. When the Nazis were not stopped from claiming these first of their victims, the most vulnerable population among their citizens, the way was paved for

Be a Man: The Hidden Truth of the American Male

October 30, 2017 General Commentary

As a nation, events are forcing us to ask some important questions about who we are, who we should be, and how to reconcile the two. As men within this nation and her culture, recent events revolving around the treatment of women and the #metoo movement should inspire the same introspection. How could this happen, and why is it a

“Trick or Treat.”

October 29, 2017 #MeToo, General Commentary

Harvey Weinstein in the wild - Halloween themed. Contributing Editor: Jamie Domnick Twitter: @JNick9456 Instagram:JNick9456 Currently a student at the University of Wisconsin--Green Bay; double majoring in Democracy & Justice Studies, and History. At the beginning of my college career, I intended to major in Art and then perhaps teach the subject. However, as I continued to take various classes,

#FreeRosa

October 27, 2017 General Commentary, Immigration

Imagine a ten-year-old girl is suffering from critical gall bladder pain. She’s been nauseated, maybe vomiting. Oh, and she has cerebral palsy. Her family takes her to the hospital, she’s changed into a hospital gown, and as the doctors place her under the fog of general anesthesia, a nurse reassures her everything will be okay. Now imagine that same little

Wooden, Weinstein, Women & Washington: WTF? Where Are We? Where Do We Go From Here?

October 27, 2017 #MeToo, Civil Rights, General Commentary

When Dave Roberts (the manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers) and I played baseball at Ucla, one of the many amazing experiences we had was to have Coach Wooden come speak to us and share his incredible philosophy of life with the team. Coach Wooden, for those of you who don't know, was the winningest coach in college basketball history

What My Country Can Do For Me

October 26, 2017 General Commentary, Healthcare

Last week, two days after being laid off from what once looked like a completely secure job, I found myself dialing 9-1-1 and requesting an ambulance for my disabled daughter. From the back of the ambulance, I digitally signed to accept a severance package that was less than what I hoped for, because it kept my family’s insurance active until

What Color Are America’s Better Angels?

October 26, 2017 General Commentary

Like so many Americans, we struggle to fathom current events and the ongoing resurgence of racial tensions in our country, and to reconcile them with our personal experience. On the road for Lovin America, we get to know people from every corner and culture in our country as individuals, and acceptance is easy, the exchanges human and inspiring. And yet,

Here are three key ways you can help fight Trump corruption and defend our Constitution

October 25, 2017 Elections, General Commentary

Launched on the day of the Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United ruling, Free Speech For People is a recognized leader of the movement to challenge big money in politics and unchecked corporate power — and now its team of legal experts is taking on the unprecedented corruption of the White House under President Trump. Here are Free Speech For People’s

When They Go Low, We Go Local

October 25, 2017 Elections, General Commentary

They say all politics is local. It’s where the magic happens -- where change happens one vote, one bill, one life at a time. It’s a quaint idea, imagining how truly powerful all of the Leslie Knopes of our country are, toiling day and night on legislation, holding town halls for their constituents, and fighting for what’s right. But is

When Men Talk to Men About #MeToo

October 24, 2017 #MeToo, Civil Rights, General Commentary

My wife and I used to swap cars a lot. We had two, but only one was big enough to cart the kids around, so the other became the “work car” and whoever had a shift that day would use it. This meant putting up with a lot of adjustments before getting on the road – seats, three mirrors, the

#MuslimBan3 Blocked: FAQ

October 24, 2017 Civil Rights, General Commentary, Immigration

What does this mean? On 24 Sept Trump announced the third version of his travel ban, EO-3, affecting nationals of 8 countries. Part of it went into effect that day, but was to be fully effective on 18 Oct. This ban was swiftly challenged in court, both in Hawai'i and Maryland, and both courts agreed that an injunction (an order

Trump hasn’t changed grassroots America

October 23, 2017 General Commentary

People 1 – Trump nil This image on the Facebook page for the Progressive Secular Humanist Examiner speaks volumes. And it had me thinking. I’ve been in the United States for almost two months now, have met and talked to hundreds of people, seen thousands – and I’ve only met ONE Trump supporter. A Bulgarian immigrant (go figure). Having visited

If Nixon Had Twitter

October 23, 2017 General Commentary

Every time the president logs into his Twitter account, the world tenses up. As his mania flows through his tiny thumbs and out into the Twitterverse, we all get a daily response to the question “What would a madman think of current events?” It got me thinking. Social media may be the dominant form of human communication on the planet,

How victim blaming puts you in Donald Trump’s locker room

October 20, 2017 General Commentary

If you aren’t familiar with the #MeToo campaign by now, you probably don’t check social media often. These two words united millions of females (and some males!) together in support and solidarity of each other. I could ramble on and on about how important this discussion is but what I really want to talk about is the backlash it received.

RESISTANCE ADVENTURES IN THE TWITTERVERSE

October 20, 2017 General Commentary

Before Trump, my personal Twitter account got very little play. I shared the occasional news story or joined a trending event, like the Academy Awards. After Trump, Twitter has become my primary online source for news, outreach and discussion. Twitter is great for this. But if you spend time in the comments section on a divisive topic, you can walk away more depressed

A Product of My Culture

October 19, 2017 General Commentary

"I'm a product of my culture. Nobody taught me differently. It's not my fault." This is the weak cry of weak men on social media, insisting that we are not all part of of the #MeToo problem. But at some point, we became adults. We knew what was modeled was wrong. Was unhealthy. Was toxic. Was harmful. Do we really

“UNGRATEFUL” IS THE NEW “UPPITY”

October 19, 2017 Civil Rights, General Commentary

“Uppity” was used primarily in the south during the civil rights movement as a derogatory term towards black Americans who “did not know their place.” In America, many believe there is a certain manner of behavior that black people should follow. Where should black people live? Dilapidated communities, with houses run by single mothers, with a high per capita of

A Woman’s Burden

October 18, 2017 #MeToo, Civil Rights, General Commentary

Women are sponges. Women are dynamic beings. Frankly, we're all dynamic beings. Most of us are, anyway. I believe complexity and the ability to love is what wedges us from the animals. Women, though, are exceptional. Equipped with caution and foreboding, they are usually in sync with any and everything around them. Vigilant of the late-night straggler coming out of

#MeToo – A Timeline

October 17, 2017 #MeToo, General Commentary

1973. Mom's a secretary at a state college in Pennsylvania. The man she works for is highly educated, highly respected. She types 90 words a minute. Her shorthand is impeccable. She wears skirts and modest blouses, just as the dress code requires. He tells her how much he likes watching her walk away. From that day on, she no longer

WAR ON SEX: Trump Needs to Keep His Tiny #HandsOffMyBC

October 17, 2017 #MeToo, General Commentary

I'm not one for writing love letters, but if I were, I'd pen one to birth control. Because I was empowered to determine the timing and spacing of my children, I've been able to pursue and achieve academic success, build a career and travel the world. Without the Pill (and now IUD), I wouldn't be the woman I am today.

Why am I Running? Two Storms, a Campaign and a Baby Named Zander

October 17, 2017 Elections, General Commentary

Running for office was not what I expected. I knew I would have to devote time to campaigning and I knew I would have to put myself in an uncomfortable position of asking for money. But it has asked so much more from me - for while I recognize that I was not asking for money for me personally but

Critical Thinking in the Era of Trumpian Rhetoric

October 16, 2017 General Commentary

In his book-length poem The People, Yes Carl Sandburg quotes a "battered barrister" as saying, "If the law is against you, talk about the evidence...If the evidence is against you, talk about the law, and, since you ask me, if the law and the evidence are both against you, then pound on the table and yell like hell." Donald Trump

The Tragedy of Politics

October 16, 2017 General Commentary

I have had a passion for politics for quite some time now, and though I'm well aware as a college student that in the grand scheme of things my opinions don't matter very much, as of late I've grown quite weary of the direction and associated taboos attached to the modern political conversation. I've certainly changed a great deal in

That Son of a B****

October 13, 2017 Civil Rights, General Commentary

Contributing Editor: Jamie Domnick Twitter: @JNick9456 Instagram:JNick9456 Currently a student at the University of Wisconsin--Green Bay; double majoring in Democracy & Justice Studies, and History. At the beginning of my college career, I intended to major in Art and then perhaps teach the subject. However, as I continued to take various classes, I soon discovered my passion for equality and