Say what you want about Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, but you can’t deny the fact that they’ve done an impressive job raising their children. The two candidates’ daughters are remarkable young women. Perhaps that’s why they’ve been pushed into the spotlight—acting as an extension of their parents’ campaigns. Looking past the clashing visions of … Read more
The morning of November 9, 2016 arrives, and individuals around the globe wake up to one stunning news headline: “Trump Looks to Make America Great Again”. Donald Trump, the billionaire, real estate mogul, and controversial television celebrity, now holds claim to one additional title: president-elect of the United States. This scenario, once unthinkable a mere … Read more
With a majority vote this November, Massachusetts could add its name to the growing list of states with legal recreational marijuana. Question 4 on Massachusetts ballots would allow adults of age 21 and older to purchase, consume, and grow marijuana, and would establish a system to tax and regulate its sales. Though the measure has … Read more
“Threatening to upend a basic pillar of American democracy, Donald Trump refused Wednesday night to say he would accept the results of the November election if he loses to Hillary Clinton” That was the opening sentence of the article the Associated Press sent out to their thousands of partner media outlets around the country as … Read more
In 2012, San Diego Unified School District officials made a minor addition to the high school graduation requirements: two to four courses in CTE—Career and Technical Education, the 21st century rebranding of “Vocational Education.” In response, 100 parents marched in protest and an online petition against the move totaled over 1,300 hundred angry signatures. Within … Read more
Americans listening to the speeches at the Republican National Convention in July could be excused for thinking the United States was coming apart at the seams. Speakers preaching fear, decay, and lost greatness tugged at the heartstrings of attendees and viewers. Although the speeches were certainly laced with bombast, the core message was not inaccurate. … Read more
Deconstructing the way that politicians use language is vital for the citizens in any democratic society. We would like to believe that we, the people, are careful judges of “politician speak,” capable of recognizing inconsistencies and lies, and proud of our capacity to rationally select decent candidates. Or, perhaps not. Actually, definitely not this election … Read more
Last January, in our nation’s capital, over 380 people were trapped underground for more than an hour while their Metro car filled with acrid smoke. The incident left one elderly woman dead, dozens hospitalized, and millions of commuters who use the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority service on edge. Unfortunately, this tragic accident at L’Enfant … Read more
The present moment provides some good reason for optimism for pessimism. Of the two persons with any chance of being elected president this fall, only one can claim to have never officiated at the disintegration of a North-African state; unfortunately, the same one has advanced a doctrine of foreign policy that can be summarized as … Read more
“The only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.” It’s a phrase we’ve all heard before—on the news or scrolling through our Facebook feeds. It’s been circulating for at least four years, ever since NRA executive vice president Wayne LaPierre first said the phrase at an … Read more