(Part 2 of a 2-Part Series) In Part 1 of this series, I encouraged independent voters to take a more rigorous approach in choosing our next President. I asked you to forego the expedient option of going with political party leanings and the messaging of one candidate. Also, the election is too important to base…
Your goal is worthy. I join you in wanting America to be great. This is a quest that should unite all Americans. But I worry that our country can’t truly be great as long as we remain divided, angry, and unable to agree on basic facts. It seems like all we do is fight and…
Do you ever wonder how much weight you should give to public opinion polls? For instance, if a politician has a low job approval rating, does that prove the politician is doing a bad job? Or what about when you’re responding to a survey on specific issues, such as the economy, inflation, or the U.S.-…
(Part 1 of a 4-part series) America was conceived as a country of limited government. We rejected monarchy and authoritarian rule, and instead chose to distribute power among three branches: the legislative, the executive, and the judicial. Our Constitution also established a set of checks and balances to ensure that each branch stays within its…
(Part 2 of a 4-part series) In this article we focus on proposals from Trump and the conservatives that give rise to concerns about dictatorial and authoritarian rule. We’ll touch on why Republicans view the proposals as necessary to correct for abuses of the Left and an out-of-control federal government. Then, after enumerating the major…
(Part 3 of a 4-part series) Part 2 of this series explores the Right’s recommendations to expand presidential powers. The analysis reveals that many of these proposals are dictatorial or authoritarian in nature. Several also conflict with the Constitution. And, finally, if implemented, they will threaten our democracy. Trump and the Republicans maintain that increased…
(Part 4 of a 4-part series) In this series we explore recommendations from the Right seeking to expand presidential power in the direction of dictatorial rule. This gambit is the latest in an escalation of tactics designed to win elections and seize control of policymaking. Our country has devolved from one where political parties work…
Republicans and the conservative media began blaming Joe Biden for skyrocketing inflation and gas prices just a few months into his presidency. Who doesn’t recall the incessant rebukes for creating the “highest inflation in 40 years” and gas prices in excess of $5 per gallon? Republicans point to excessive spending by Biden and the Democrats…
The news these days is rife with stories about officials being accused of “weaponizing” the federal government for political purposes. Ironically, most of these stories have their genesis in hyper-partisan politics. For example, here is what House Speaker Kevin McCarthy had to say about the Department of Justice (DOJ): “If you are the president’s leading political…