Blog

An Injustice Contrary To What Progressive Means

July 18, 2005
Posted in

Progressive judges protect those who cannot protect themselves in the political process. For example, the Warren Court expanded the rights of the criminal accused and struck down laws persecuting blacks. This tendency to protect our most vulnerable citizens belies the conservative caricature of progressives as wantonly willing to sacrifice individual rights to the whims of…

The Business Judgment Rule

July 18, 2005
Posted in

A few years ago Time-Warner’s Fortune Magazine headlined a cover story on the staggering pay spiral of top corporate bosses and why nothing will be done to stop these over-the-top compensation packages. “Whew” I reacted — this coming from one of the nation’s premier business publications — is a pretty good confirmation of a century-long…

Open Letter to George W. Bush

July 8, 2005
Posted in

On June 28, 2005 you addressed the nation in prime time about the situation in Iraq. You called the casualties, destruction and suffering in that country “horrifying and real.” Then you declared: “I know Americans ask the question: Is the sacrifice worth it? It is worth it,” you asserted and went on to explain your…

Summer Reading

July 1, 2005
Posted in

Ah, summertime reading. Set aside the e-mails, close down the computer and pick up some good books. Here are some worthy suggestions ala non-fiction: 1. Harper’s editor, Lewis H. Lapham, has written ‘Gag Rule — On the Supppression of Dissent and the Stifling of Democracy. ‘What a sharp, concise pen, he has. “Dissent is Democracy.…

Industrial Hemp

June 24, 2005
Posted in

Congressman Ron Paul, a libertarian from Texas and an obstetrician who has delivered over 6000 babies, is trying to deliver our farmers from a bureaucratic medievalism in Washington that keeps saying “No” to growing industrial hemp. Many farmers want to grow this 5000 year old long fiber plant that has been turned into thousands of…

The Liberty Bill

June 17, 2005
Posted in

It was a simple idea with long arms and legs. It came to eighth grade teacher, Randy Wright in Ashland, Virginia during a night time dream. He related it to his students who agreed to take it forward as part of their civics class. They took the concept in early 1998 to their members of…

The Perfect Political Trap

June 10, 2005
Posted in

The horrific Republicans had another two weeks of victories over the hapless Democrats. After seven Republican and seven Democratic Senators forged the compromise that averted a showdown against the filibuster, the Republicans moved the confirmation of the worst nominees for the federal circuit courts of appeals which the Democrats had vigorously opposed before they were…

Solar Power

June 3, 2005
Posted in

One of my favorite publications–one that you may never have heard about–is the Co-op America Quarterly: Economic Actions for a Just Planet. The current issue is devoted to “The Promise of the Solar Future.” Co-op America brings together buyers and sellers who want products and services that are environmentally benign and made by companies and…

General Motors Cannonball

May 27, 2005
Posted in

Veteran Car and Driver Magazine editor, Brock Yates, used to lead the notorious Cannonball race across the U.S. non-stop wildly violating every speed limit with his competing buddies. In the Sixties, he would take out after my championing safer, more fuel-efficient and less polluting cars as undermining the auto industry through federal regulatory standards. Mind…

Democratic Offensive

May 19, 2005
Posted in

As President George W. Bush rushes around the country frantically trying to find acceptance of his exaggerated, deceptive and sometimes deliberately inaccurate (note his use of the word “bankrupt” ) plan for a social insecurity system, the pundits and the polls say he is not gaining traction. A large majority still opposes his proposals for…