Rights and Democracy
If You Make Under $75,000, You Lose
Sam Rayburn, a legendary speaker of the U.S. House in the 1940s and '50s, offered this piece of ethical advice for lawmakers who were conflicted over whether to vote for the people or the lobbyists: “Every now and then,” he said, “a politician ought to do something...
Michael Who?
This Tax Plan Is Going to Cost a Lot More Than Advertised
House Republicans and Donald Trump are ballyhooing the wonders of their new tax plan. It’s called the "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act," which we’re told will mean "More Jobs, Fairer Taxes, and Bigger Paychecks." Hallelujah! We can see the Promised Land! But before we pop the...
A Mass Murderer’s Love Song to Trump
"We've had a great relationship," exulted a giddy Donald Trump, following his two-day schmoozefest in Manila with the thuggish Philippine president, Rodrigo Duterte. Duterte, who calls himself a "toughie," brags that he's personally killed many people and likes to...
What Trump and Suu Kyi Have in Common
Serving the Middle Class…
Republicans Admit Their Tax Plan Is All About Rich Donors
Sometimes I have to remind myself that people in “real America” with “real jobs” don’t while away their mortal hours reading about politics. But God help me, if you’ve suffered through any coverage of the Republican tax plan, you’ve probably heard three things. First,...
What Real Tax Reform Could Look Like
No matter our politics, most Americans have a beef with taxes. And it's no wonder. Working class Americans pay a much greater share of their income than the wealthiest Americans, who get away with exploiting tax loopholes and paying less than their fair share to...
Mass Incarceration is a Women’s Issue, Too
Over the last few years, our broken criminal justice system has become a national issue as horrific stories of victims of mass incarceration have made their way into the mainstream media. The dominant narrative around this issue is usually that it disproportionately...
The Pain Behind Opioid Abuse
Donald Trump recently declared the opioid epidemic a national public health emergency. At first I thought, is this the first time I approve of something Trump has done? Alas, no. And here's why: Nine years ago, I lost my brother to a heroin overdose. My brother and I...
