Rights and Democracy
Throwing a Wrench in the Engine for Innovation
My parents are both small business owners, so I often look at current events through the lens of local economies and entrepreneurs. When a federal appeals court recently struck down the Net Neutrality rules, I was immediately concerned about the impact on businesses...
The Ultimate Captive Market
Now here's a heads-they-win, tails-we-lose situation: Three of the contracts Arizona signed with private companies to house its prisoners require 100 percent occupancy. That's right: If the state fails to send along enough jailbirds to fill all the beds, it pays a...
America the Beautiful for the 21st Century
During this year's Super Bowl, Coca-Cola debuted a 60-second commercial paying tribute to the diversity of our nation. Coke's "It's Beautiful" ad featured expansive scenes of the country and shots of a wide variety of real people. Some of them were enjoying a Coke. It...
Utah’s Progressive Innovation
Utah hasn't voted for a Democratic presidential nominee since LBJ's landslide 50 years ago, but the Beehive State now stands at the cutting edge of one progressive policy. It's on course to wipe out chronic homelessness, those without shelter for more than a year,...
Winning Elections by Hook or by Crook
The chance to win Seems so remote, When the Man decides Who gets to vote. Political operatives are running websites with smiling photos of Democratic candidates as part of a fundraising campaign. But there's a catch: They're asking for money to defeat these...
Big Brother Blows It
President Barack Obama's support for the NSA's domestic spying program prompted a critic to say: "Given the unique power of the state, it is not enough for leaders to say: 'Trust us, we won't abuse the data we collect.'" Oh wait, that wasn't a critic speaking — it was...
Christie’s Priority
Whatdya know? Chris Christie knew Cars wouldn't go, They wouldn't get through. Ex-pal Wildstein used his Authority, 'Cuz vengeance, it seems, was Christie's priority.
The People’s Rebuttal
The State of our Union is strong, He says. Extreme Inequality is wrong, He says. The poor feel like they don't belong, He says. We need a new Seeger song, He says. America needs a raise, He says. We've yet to see our best days, He says. We can defeat our malaise, He...
First Things First
In the four years since the Supreme Court's infamous Citizens United v. FEC ruling, two things have become abundantly clear. First, we have a major democracy problem. Citizens United paved the way for unlimited corporate spending to distort our elections. Staggering...
Lawmakers Are Free Not to Become Narcissistic Jerks
Mark Twain spoke for me when he said: "I'm opposed to millionaires, but it would be dangerous to offer me the position." One danger that such wealth brings is that many who have it become blinded to those who don't. Thus, the news that more than half of our Congress...
