ethics
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Stop Undermining The Kennedy Center, Living Memorial To Slain President
Every day we have ample reasons to disagree with Donald Trump and his administration. From the quagmire of his making in the Middle East, to his attempt at election manipulation via the postal service, to (and please forgive me for writing this fact) the FBI updating its hiring guidelines to remove juvenile bestiality-related conduct as… Continue reading
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Yosemite: The Line We Will Not Let Donald Trump Cross
I suspect anyone who has visited Yosemite National Park knows that, when you leave, a part of you stays behind. The place pockets a piece of your heart. Yosemite is one of those rare American places where the scale of the land makes you feel minuscule in comparison. The beauty is something that no picture… Continue reading
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Dolly’s Open Hand vs. Trump’s Closed Grifting Fist
A lesson in genuinely meaningful ethics. Two very different American stories are in focus this week: rich people and what they do with their wealth. One belongs to Dolly Parton, an iconic superstar who lived a life that treated success like a resource to be shared. The other belongs to Donald Trump, who treats financial… Continue reading
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The Larger Message About Jed York, Owner Of San Francisco 49ers, Arrested In Prostitution Sting
Here we are again with a story about the unseemly side of the NFL. Just in time for the start of a new season, when many Americans will opt to sit inside on beautiful fall Sunday afternoons to watch television. San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York pleaded no contest to a pair of misdemeanor charges… Continue reading
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Karma Won: The Lesson Of The Red Card
America didn’t just lose a soccer game this week; I would argue it has lost its sense of proportion. How Donald Trump came to feel that he must be involved in a referee call in a World Cup soccer match is breathtaking. He felt so empowered that he called FIFA president Gianni Infantino to review… Continue reading
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Why Graham Platner Must Withdraw From Senate Race To Protect Democratic Party Values
I strongly lament that the guardrails of common sense and decency have eroded in our nation when it comes to our political institutions. It is from that starting point, when the political winds have shifted and Donald Trump has treated norms as disposable and accountability as optional, that I implore the Democratic Party to seek… Continue reading
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Decency, In Politics And Government, Is Really Not Complicated
This weekend, two recent news stories bounced about in my mind. Both were examples that underscore the rot in our current political climate and governing institutions. I do not wish to be puritanical in my delivery in this column, but can we agree that there was a time when certain lines were not crossed, but… Continue reading
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Why I Will Not Support The United States Soccer Team At The 2026 FIFA World Cup Games
At the risk of ruffling a few patriotic feathers, I need to say something plainly and to the point. When a nation behaves badly on the world stage, there should be consequences on the world stage. Right now, the United States is pursuing immigration and deportation policies that are cruel by design and racist at… Continue reading
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The Lowest Moment As We Watch Public Life Decline In Donald Trump’s Second Term
I was a toddler when President John Kennedy was assassinated. Over the course of my lifetime, there was always a respectfully placed invisible line around his death and the loss of life so young due to his role as our national leader. A young widow and young children, and the continuously unanswered questions of what… Continue reading
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Letter From Home: “Do They Know How To Make Grits?” 5/29/26
After an intense 12-hour day, James and I are exhausted in every sense of the word. Our friend with Alzheimer’s was moved today to an assisted living facility in a fashion that was modeled after a White House move. Everything was orchestrated from those who would keep our friend active and away from all the ‘action’,… Continue reading
Caffeinated Politics 