I feel a little like Bing Crosby interrupting the Ed Harris TV Show, when he turns to camera 2 and says “but this is a message going out to the men of the 151st Division who served under…” and etc, and etc. I’m turning to camera 2 and saying, “Hey, …
I believe there are three things particularly pernicious to the health of the body politic. Outright lies by politicians. Outright cheating at the ballot box. Efforts to stifle any citizen’s free access to the ballot box, outright or subtle. Concerning the first: yeah, yeah, I know. Politicians have stretched the …
Yesterday, June 19th, we celebrated America’s newest federal holiday. When Joe Biden signed it into law on Thursday, June 17th, it squeaked into the record books barely 48 hours before festivities were due to kick off. Finally, Americans have red circle on their calendars honoring the day in 1865 when …
For a variety of reasons, I missed posting on the last Sunday in May, over Memorial Day weekend. I wanted to write about what the day signifies, why we have such a day in our country’s holiday calendar. We are called to “honor and mourn the military personnel who have …
Our nation’s Constitution has several Amendments to ensure the enfranchisement of all sorts of subgroups. Congressman John Sarbanes has added his voice to the chorus of people who wish to enshrine everyone’s right to vote. The stated purpose of the For The People Act of 2021: To expand Americans’ access …
No, this is not a left-over snipe at the failed Texas power-grid (thanks to the state’s failed regulatory system). It is a sorrowful acknowledgement that I am powerless to step in and right wrongs and injustices everywhere I see them. So, unhappily, is Congress — at least for the moment. …
Speak Out: Pass the For the People Act One of my great passions is stopping the systematic disenfranchisement of American voters across the country. Outright disenfranchisement — taking away a citizen’s right to vote — is pretty damned blatant. The laws doing so must be very creative. For example, a …
In January, I tested the Braver Angels waters, as a participant in a training about communication. In hindsight, their timing was sensational, because it was held a few short days before the assault on the Capitol. Today, I tested its debate format, as a listener. The night’s topic: “Voter fraud …
The Constitution guarantees all American citizens the right to cast a ballot in any election they’re eligible to vote in. The evolution of the Constitution — through its amendments — shows how America’s thinking about allowing and prohibiting voting has changed. Where the original reserved voting for the white, landed …
So many issues, all so urgent, all so important! Where shall we start? Our friends at The New York Times’ Year of Living Better have a suggestion. Begin by exploring how you can participate in politics. The most obvious way to act “politically” is to vote. America just concluded a …
