Have you heard the latest – the report on the best countries for children? Once again, the US does not look too good: it came in 36th (“right below Boznia & Herzegovina and right above Russia”). According to the Business Insider report by Chris Weller, “In honor of Children’s Day on June 1, international NGO […]
Present
Blog posts relating to the present such as social justice issues
Emerging Democratic Leaders
Since the election, the pundits who favor the left have been wringing their hands about who the “real” leader of the Democratic Party is. No one is emerging as the person who should run for President in 2020 – OMG! The most charismatic figure on the left may well be Bernie Sanders – but he’s […]
Adopting a New President
I had a wild thought: I’d like to adopt for myself a new President! There are quite a few to choose from now: Justin Trudeau in Canada; Emmanuel Macron in France; certainly Angela Merkel in Germany; Gudni Johannesson of Iceland; or Nicola Sturgeon of Scotland. There are probably others we can think of. I am […]
AARP on the High Cost of Drugs
As much as I admire and support AARP, of which I am a member, I am a little disappointed in the recent article in AARP Bulletin entitled “Why Drugs Cost so Much” by the editors (May 2017 and online). While I appreciate the attempt to help the American public by tackling this vital issue, I […]
Keeping an Eye on ALEC
Have you heard of ALEC, the American Legislative Exchange Council? I hadn’t, until I viewed the stunning and horrifying documentary 13th with a group of fellow parishioners at my church. Looking at ALEC’s website, one might think it is a progressive organization that works extensively on such things as criminal justice and pension reform. The […]
Doublespeak and American “Greatness”
Supporters of President Trump may not agree with this, but many Americans (and presumably others around the globe) would maintain that much of what Trump, other administration officials and many conservative lawmakers consistently use is doublespeak – “language used to deceive usually through concealment or misrepresentation of truth.” The term was originally associated with George […]
Water Justice: A Report on Trinity Institute 2017
Trinity Church Wall Street: not an institution one might automatically think of in terms of social justice. But for the past 40 plus years, this historic Episcopal parish in Lower Manhattan has hosted Trinity Institute, an annual conference open to all that “presents emerging and inclusive theological and social perspectives and engages participants in inquiry, […]
Truth and Trump per Time
Kudos to Nancy Gibbs, reporter Michael Scherer and Time magazine for their superb treatment of President Donald Trump’s disturbing relationship with the truth and what that means for our nation. Gibbs in her “From the Editor” piece was clear and forthright: “Trump says a great many things that are demonstrably false.” She reminds us that […]
Barnicle, Sanders, Insurance and Health Care
On March 29, 2017, on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders was being interviewed on a range of current topics. When it came to veteran columnist Mike Barnicle’s turn, his question earned Sanders’ praise. The Senator remarked that this was one of the first times this question had been raised on TV. The question? […]
“Dismantling,” Conservative Philosophy and the Common Good
Steve Bannon at the White House is promising (threatening) to “dismantle the administrative state,” primarily referring to our national system of taxation, trade agreements, and regulations. The budget outline that President Trump has submitted appears to support that mission in many ways and shows how the mission might actually go beyond these basics. I believe, in […]