Those who know me may think me an unlikely candidate for such an undertaking. I grew up in a very religious and conservative household, and was a Republican for my early adult life. However, my views on some issues, especially social issues and foreign policy, changed over the years, and I found myself more and more drifting away from the two major parties. I now vote third party in most elections, primarily Libertarian, though I do occasionally vote for both Democrats and Republicans on a case-by-case basis.
That’s Not Their Job: What Supreme Court Justices Can and Cannot Do
The Roberts Court, November 30, 2018. Seated, from left to right: Justices Stephen G. Breyer and Clarence Thomas, Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., and Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Samuel A. Alito. Standing, from left to right: Justices Neil M. Gorsuch, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Brett M. Kavanaugh. Photograph by Fred Schilling, Supreme... Continue Reading →
How a Third Party Candidate may Win Indiana
Indiana's gubernatorial race is shaping up to be among the most consequential this year with three contenders vying for the seat instead of the usual two. The race has largely been focused on the handling (or mishandling, depending on who you ask) of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic by Republican Governor Eric Holcomb. Governor... Continue Reading →
Ranked Choice Voting Will Make its Debut in Maine
Photo by Element5 Digital on Pexels.com This election cycle has already been an incredibly unusual one, given the low quality of candidates provided by both major parties. But there is another dimension and norm being tested in Maine in 2020, and two other states, Alaska and Massachusetts, will decide whether or not they wish to... Continue Reading →
A Return to the Divide
By Bob Knudsen Hello friends, it has been some time since anything has been published to this site. I got married, got busy with life, the universe, and everything, and then the 'Rona hit and 2020 happened and, well, you were there. Anywho, I am looking to start blogging here again and am looking for... Continue Reading →
There and Back Again: My Journey Into and Out of Orthodox Judaism and the Religious Right (Part 3)
This is part 3 of a multi-part series on conservatism in Orthodox Judaism. For part 1, click here. For part 2, click here. By Kristin Fleetwood In this, the third part of this series, I'd like to talk about one of the potentially tougher and more painful subjects associated with joining and then leaving a... Continue Reading →
Illegal Immigration Has Risen to Obama Administration Levels
By Jeffrey Charles Despite the progress the Trump administration has made when it comes to decreasing illegal immigration, it appears the rate at which undocumented immigrants are entering the country have recently increased. Earlier this year, the United States saw a marked decrease in illegal immigration. The decrease was largely a result of President... Continue Reading →
Being Poor Costs Money: The Surprising Ways Being Broke is More Expensive Than You Think
By Leah Richard I was laid off from a $70,000 a year job a few years ago and embarked on a journey that taught me alarming lessons about what people have to live through every day. Canned food is crap that will raise your blood pressure, the stress of not being able to pay your... Continue Reading →
How Trump Lost the Transgender Military Issue
By Allen Watson Through a series of tweets in July, Donald Trump surprised many, including his military leaders, by announcing a ban on transgender people in the military. He was met with immediate backlash, and not just for the way he announced the policy shift. By overturning Obama’s 2016 policy, Trump sent a powerful signal... Continue Reading →
There Is A Crisis Of Free Speech In America
By Jeffrey Charles Right now, there is a war being waged on the First Amendment, and the majority of Americans have no idea it’s happening. There are individuals in our nations that have shown blatant disrespect for the right to free speech. Some have used violence to silence those with whom they disagree. Others... Continue Reading →
President Trump Will Survive His First Term
By Cameron Dominy A friend of mine recently tweeted that he was sure the President would soon “resign in disgrace.” As tweets go, it won’t age well. It isn’t his fault, really, for being so fatalistic. He expects the Democratic Party to come through on the promise they’ve made continuously for the past year. This... Continue Reading →