Patriotism is out of favor these days, dropping from 70% support in 2000 to 38% today.  (“The Strange Triumph of a Broken America,” by Michael Beckley, Foreign Affairs, Jan/Feb. 2025, pg. 50.)  Because we choose our leaders in a democracy, the decline says the voters are unhappy

I am one of J. D. Vance’s “cat ladies.” Being childless, I have explored the universe without the need to pack a breast pump. That may be selfish of me, but I am unashamed. After all, I contributed to the well-being of the young as a teacher for many years.  Sadly, I won’t li

Support for Republicans in the next election is rising because the economy is down, some say.  Even women independents are leaning toward Republicans despite the party’s hostility to female rights and its aim not only to end all abortions but contraception as well. Men may have the

The barriers to truth are many. People’s perceptions vary. They have biases. They ignore evidence, leave out facts, lie to themselves or diminish the importance of facts that give offense.    A writer complimented Kamala Harris on her fashion sense, recently.  By focusing on her

Lately, I’ve wondered if the human brain is capable of living up to its democratic ideals. What raised this question was an article I’d read about bone development in a child’s hand.  At the age of three, a youngster is unable to hold a pen because he or she lacks sufficient bo

Recently, Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, called Nancy Pelosi to express his objection to the many tech anti-trust bills making their way through the U. S. House. If he hadn’t been serious when he made his comments, it would have been funny: Apple is concerned the current proposals would ha

A large book agency has asked to see the first 50 pages of my memoir, “Getting Lost to Find Home.”  I’m not turning cartwheels.  Most agents ask for sample pages as part of the query.  This one required a query before deciding to see more. Call it a baby step forward.  A req

The 2020 election is probably one of the most strange in American history.  We have a president whom some experts believe is mentally ill and who is so desperate to win reelection, he refuses to disavow support from QAnon,  a cult-like group that believes “deep state” officials

The Democrats in Congress are proposing several bills to curb presidential powers and to strengthen the system of checks and balances the Constitution provides. The changes offer increased protection for whistleblowers and agency watchdogs, prohibits a president from receiving payment

Call me a masochist, but every morning I open my computer to trawl for news.  Reliably, the headlines capture the worst of times: Joe Biden’s campaign files have been hacked; rattlesnakes bite two Yosemite hikers; west coast fires make the air unbreathable… One columnist expresse