I wish I could mandate that only those who have lived in poverty be allowed to make laws regarding the poor. In “Getting Jobbed,” Virginia Sole-Smith outlines the absurdities that result when myths about the poor are translated into law by the Congress.  (Harper’s, October, 201

One of my blog readers is a baby boomer. We’ve never met but sometimes he comments on a blog, particularly in support of  women’s issues.   Being curious,  I emailed him one day to ask how he came to be so sensitive to the goals of feminism.  His answer: “I’ve got daughte

Fear and ignorance make a powerful cocktail for evil. Add personal ambition to the mix and what emerges is a concoction so dark, angels weep.  When I hear talk about building walls between nations and separating children from their parents by enforcing immigration laws, I whiff the p

For a wonderful example of how the elite bring contempt of the masses upon themselves, look no further than Grayson Carter’s editorial attack on Donald Trump. (“Steel Traps And Short Fingers,” by Grayson Carter, Vanity Fair, November 2015 pg. 68.)   Trump is an easy punching b

Subliminal messaging contends the unconscious mind can be reached by tricking the conscious one. Want to sell more popcorn at the movies? Flash popcorn on the screen fast enough so that the word seems invisible and wait by the cash register for your customers. The theory had its heyda

The United States judiciary is one of the oldest and most distinguished in the world, often used as a model by other countries. (“Withholding Judgment,” José Alberto Cabranes, 9/10 Foreign Affairs, pg. 133.) Yet, as writer José Alberto Cabranes reminds us, its powers are limited

“There is no good answer to being a woman,” writes Rebecca Solnit in a recent essay. (“The Mother of All Questions,” by Rebecca Solnit, Harpers’, October 2015, pg. 5) Expanding on that thought she explains, a mother is under the gaze of society’s judgment. Too much or too

In her new book, Unfinished Business, Anne-Marie Slaughter writes “the next phase of the woman’s movement is a men’s movement.” (“The Truth about the ‘having it all’ Lie,” by Betsy Fischer Martin, More, September 2015, pg. 57.) Of course, breaking the mold for men has

Though a staunch defender of the First Amendment, I’ve experienced moments of discomfort because of it. While in politics, I questioned the legitimacy of Rap lyrics that encouraged the brutal treatment of women, for example. If the subject were race, I pointed out, the writers could

The reasons are many for moving into a retirement center while a person is healthy enough to enjoy the spa-like amenities. Nonetheless, Death is a permanent resident and is never completely hidden from view. Recently, a 101 year-old man at the center chose not only to acknowledge Deat