At the first Democratic presidential debate in June, Mayor Pete Buttigieg had strong words for Republicans. His words were uncharacteristic, not for the widely maligned (among Democrats) immigration policies he attacked, but for the vehicle he used to attack them. “For a party that associates with Christianity to say it is O.K. to suggest that … Read more
Climate change threatens to transform the world as we know it. At the current rate of global greenhouse gas emissions, climate change could displace two billion people due to rising ocean levels, cost the U.S. economy billions of dollars, and cause upwards of 250,000 additional deaths per year — all before 2100. Yet popular rhetoric … Read more
Hafez (center) and his son Bashar al-Assad (right) at their home in Damascus in the early 1970s. On September 27th, 2019, a marathon was held in Aleppo, Syria. The event marks an uneasy return to normalcy for the city’s residents, as Aleppo saw fierce fighting between the Syrian Army and rebel forces throughout the Syrian … Read more
In Federalist 1, Alexander Hamilton explains that the “vigor of government is essential to the security of liberty.” That phrase leaves open the question, what do we define as “vigor of government?” Since the nation’s founding, Americans have combined individual self-interest with the common good to establish an energetic and thriving government. For almost 250 … Read more
In the months, weeks, and days leading up to the impeachment of President Donald Trump, he and his supporters have claimed for their defense a central pillar of American government: democracy. Impeaching Trump is wrong, they argue, because it is anti-democratic. Take, for instance, the impassioned letter Trump sent to Speaker of the House Nancy … Read more
Just a two-hour drive and a ferry ride away from Harvard Square is Martha’s Vineyard, a bustling vacation island for prominent politicians, businesspeople, and celebrities. Summer residents find a different pace of life, exchanging hectic ports for picturesque bike paths and glass high-rises for charming beach houses. However, among its peculiar distinctions comes another trade-off: … Read more
“Presidents come and go, but the Supreme Court goes on forever.” These words from William Howard Taft — the only person to have served as both president of the United States and chief justice of the Supreme Court — reflect a faith in the sanctity in the Supreme Court that today is under attack. With … Read more
Picture this: You have finally worked up the courage to tell your parents that you are gay. Today is the day and despite all the homophobic side comments and dodged questions about dating, you are finally going to do it. You are shaking, tears well up in your eyes, and your throat starts to close … Read more
Cutthroat politics, government scandals, and attack ads dominating the airwaves. These problems are not unique to the United Kingdom facing Brexit, or the United States with its current partisan split. Indeed, these characteristics are beginning to plague a nation that few would expect: Canada. On the international stage, Canada has developed a reputation for moderate … Read more
Few Floridians encounter Miami-Dade County’s Urban Development Boundary regularly, but from the air, the imaginary north-south line which splits the region is South Florida’s defining feature. The dividing line between the vibrant Everglades and neighboring suburbia is stark. However, it is also flexible. Within narrow guidelines, the Board of County Commissioners has the power to … Read more