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Circus Politics Are Intended to Distract Us

There is nothing more dangerous than a government of the many controlled by the few. — Lawrence Lessig, Harvard law professor It is easy to be distracted right now by the bread and circus politics that have dominated the news headlines lately, but don’t be distracted. Don’t be fooled, not even a little. We’re being […]
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It’s Your Human Right to Access Russian News and Analysis Sites in English if You Want

Collage © Jan Oberg 2023 The human right to freely seek information is laid down in the American Convention on Human Rights from 1968. Article 13 states that “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought and expression. This right includes freedom to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas of all kinds.” The Universal […]
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January 6 Was Not a Revolution

Even a broken clock is correct twice a day. Likewise, an incompetent, historically ignorant, politically naive, diplomatically challenged, shallow, impulsive, narcissistic reality show host elected by a conned citizenry to the highest office in the land can occasionally get a few things right as well. I won’t get into a spitting contest over whether the […]
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Haass’s Ten Civic Obligations Need Facilities to Address Abuses of Power
A friend just gave me a book by Richard N. Haass with the intriguing title, The Bill of Obligations: The Ten Habits of Good Citizens. Mr. Haass is a self-described member of the establishment – in his words “people and institutions that have often been vilified and blamed for the failures of democracy.” Having worked in […]
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Class and Diversity in the Left
A recent expose in the New York Times documenting how U.S. corporations exploit migrant children sheds light on a crucial issue facing the American Left. Nowadays, many left activists rightly focus on identity politics. To them, diversity is the order of the day. No argument here. Years ago, Richard Penniman, aka Little Richard, put it clearly: diversity is […]
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When the Government Thinks It Knows Best

Whether the mask is labeled fascism, democracy, or dictatorship of the proletariat, our great adversary remains the apparatus—the bureaucracy, the police, the military. — Simone Weil, French philosopher, “Reflections on War“ It’s hard to say whether we’re dealing with a kleptocracy (a government ruled by thieves), a kakistocracy (a government run by unprincipled career politicians, […]
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The Home: the Most Powerful Influence on Learning
The most powerful influence on learning is a student’s home life over which teachers have no control. This is a crucial yet obvious fact that the federal and state governments incredibly refuse to acknowledge in evaluating teacher performance. Students who come from homes conducive to learning usually do well in school. Their parents do a […]
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The World Wants to Be Deceived
My title comes from a 19th century author whose name does not matter nor would it mean much if I mentioned him. It’s an old truth that has not changed a bit over the centuries. I think, however, it would be more linguistically accurate to say that most people want to be deceived, for the […]
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Don’t Bow Down to a Dictatorial Government

If all that Americans want is security, they can go to prison. They’ll have enough to eat, a bed and a roof over their heads. But if an American wants to preserve his dignity and his equality as a human being, he must not bow his neck to any dictatorial government. — President Dwight D. […]
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What’s It All About, Alfie?

Set in postwar London, Alfie features Michael Caine as a chauffeur bent on promiscuity. After impregnating his girlfriend he takes off on vacation. He continues his life of womanizing, but he can’t hide forever. A misfortune strikes and Alfie is forced to face the product of his ways. This not the crux of the question, […]