Sometimes it seems as if “compromise” has become a dirty word. It’s worth remembering that it was a compromise, Democratic Capitalism, that made the United States the country it is.
Democratic Capitalism is capitalism moderated by the power of democracy to ensure we all have a chance to participate in our economy, share in its benefits and that everyone plays by the same set of financial and legal rules.
Continue readingAs a longtime Republican who voted against Donald Trump twice, I’m relieved that this chapter of our history is almost over. But it’s hard not to be disappointed by the campaign that Democrat Joe Biden ran. Our divided country needed a debate on the proper role for government in our society. We didn’t get it.
Published in St. Louis Post-Pispatch 12/01/20
It’s been a great month for democracy.
Not because Joe Biden won, although I am happy about that. It’s been a great month for democracy because the citizens of the United States of America proved yet again that we recognize, and cherish, this beautiful system of government we have built. We cherish the right of every American – every American – to participate in the process of choosing our leaders.
Continue readingEarly Sunday evening, I watched a 77-year-old grandmother get punched by a Ferguson protester. She told him to stop spray-painting graffiti. She turned to talk to another protester; he took two steps toward her and cold-cocked her in the jaw, knocking her off her feet.
Published in St. Louis Post-Dispatch 06/04/20
Information about our federal coronavirus preparedness and response is slowly starting to come out. However there’s one critical piece of data that we will likely never learn: How many people were turned down for tests because of lack of testing capacity?
Published in St. Louis Post-Dispatch 04/11/20
If nothing else, the global pandemic is highlighting the interdependence of the global economy, and hopefully the need for international cooperation. Global oil production is yet another example of this interdependence.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/04/10/trump-mexico-oil/
Continue readingThe Green New Deal didn’t make sense before the pandemic. It makes even less sense now. What we need is an Old Energy New Deal, focused on making our existing energy infrastructure more efficient, less polluting. It’s not glamorous, but it will bring the most meaningful change.
Continue readingIt’s a rough time for our country, but we will get through it, and we will eventually get back to the presidential election. When we do, I’m hoping its with a more civil, less hateful approach. And that includes how we talk about President Trump.
Continue readingWe need to get through this crisis, and we will. Once we do, we need to have a real conversation about the proper role of government. What do we as individuals take responsibility for, and what responsibilities do we place on society, on government? It’s not an easy question – where does individual responsibility end, and government responsibility begin? Where do the rights of the individual end, and the rights of the group begin?
Continue readingLost in the global bad news over the weekend was a bit of good news – Israel became a little more democratic. For the first time ever, the parties representing Arab Israelis have agreed to participate in a coalition government. The Blue and White Party, in its efforts to cobble together a majority in Israel’s legislature, the Knesset, had asked the Joint List of Arab-majority Parties to join its governing coalition. With these added voted, the Blue and White Party has a majority of votes and has been given the right to form a new government, with its leader as Prime Minister.
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