40 Articles

Tuesday, October 20, 2009
It's Time for a Change in Marijuana Laws
(4 comments) If you can get past any moral dilemma you might have about legalizing marijuana it's easy to see the benefits of doing so. Using an in-depth article from Texas Monthly magazine to get me started I explore the state of the failed drug war and the many reasons legalization makes sense.

Friday, September 25, 2009
Surprising Talk From AARP on Health Care Reform
Many seniors look to AARP for advice on health care. What many of them don't realize is that AARP makes hundreds of millions of dollars from private insurance companies like United Health by allowing them to use the AARP name when selling their products. As you might guess this has an influence on AARP's opinions on health care reform. But their recent Bulletin might surprise you.

Monday, September 21, 2009
If They Could See Themselves Through Their Children's Eyes
(2 comments) All this bad behavior being shown by so many protesters is teaching their kids to do the same. I weep for the future of this country.

Sunday, September 20, 2009
Our Heritage and Values Should Guide Health Care Debate
(1 comments) Is all this bad behavior about health care really about health care? Either way, what does it say about us as a nation? Don't we offer up life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as a right? Don't so many of us claim the U.S. to be a Christian nation? So why the confusion over what to to about health care?

Thursday, August 13, 2009
Invoking Reagan to Fix Health Care?
Syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer believes that Reagan provides the model for health care reform with his Tax Reform Act of 1986. I beg to differ.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Healthcare Forum a Big Success, But Reveals Divisions
Thoughtful discussion between opposing camps of the healthcare reform issue is hard to come by. But at "Crossroads in Health Care" July 23, 2009 in The Woodlands, just north of Houston, that is what happened. Did it change anyone's mind? Probably not, but it may have planted some important seeds that may change minds in the near future.

Thursday, July 16, 2009
Healthcare, Profits vs. People
(3 comments) Health care is the hottest topic in Washington. It will make or break the Obama administration. In the very big picture of things the debate can be boiled down to a choice between profits and people. Sadly, the loudest voices seem to be those defending the current system and condemning any new system that would reduce the profitability of those currently involved, mainly, the insurance companies.

Monday, July 13, 2009
The New (and old) Faces of the Republican Party
The Republican Party is in search of a new face to lead it out of the wilderness. But some seemed determined to continue their old ways, the policies that got them into an abyss where potential leaders are dropping like flies. It is best characterized by the cartoonish Victoria Jackson during her appearance on Fox's Sean Hannity Show.

Thursday, June 11, 2009
Two opposing viewpoints of Obama's speech in light of the Israeli/Palestinian Conflict
(2 comments) Obama's recent speech in Egypt elicited a wide range of reactions. Two of them are discussed here. Both are from Jews but the two views of the speech couldn't be further apart. It gives those of us who are not Jewish, Muslim, Israeli, or Arab a unique view into a world we can only attempt to umderstand.

Friday, May 29, 2009
Give the Middle Class a Much Needed Break
Prior to 1980 we had much lower borrowing rates and much higher savings rates. What happened? Why Deregulation of course. Has the legislative tide coming out of Washington changed for the down-trodden middle class?

Monday, April 13, 2009
THE ECONOMICS OF GREED
Bernie Madoff has been sentenced to a long jail term for his greed. However, the scam that was played on our entire nation by the mortgage industry and a compliant Washington, D.C. has yet to result in even one arrest.

Saturday, March 14, 2009
Of Guns and Prayer
(2 comments) As we approach the 10th anniversary of Columbine we will undoubtedly hear from both sides of the gun control issue about how the other side is destroying the fabric of America. Some also suggest that school prayer, or the lack of it, is tied to the issue of school shootings.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009
They Were For It Before They Were Against It
In a desperate attempt to keep themselves relevant, a small group of republican governors (most of whom have an eye on a White House bid in 2012) made a grand gesture towards the conservative base by staging a carefully crafted stimulus package rejection party in full view of the media.

Thursday, February 19, 2009
RNC CHAIR SAYS HIS PARTY CAN'T BE TRUSTED
New Republican National Committee Chairman, Michael Steele says his party can't be trusted. That's right!!! And he said it on national TV! Read more about it and the context in which it was said.

Monday, January 19, 2009
Good Riddance, W.!!!
(4 comments) You'll feel better after reading this. I know I felt better after writing it. This is venting at it's finest.

Monday, December 22, 2008
Does Obama Deserve Some Credit for Oil Price Decline?
(7 comments) OPEC has been known to drop the price of oil to suppress interest in developing alternative fuels. Is that what's happening now? Can decrease in demand really explain the price of oil dropping by 80%? Is the specter of Obama promoting alternative fuels fueling this oil price drop?

Saturday, November 22, 2008
Paulson Pulls Bait and Switch, Let's Pull One of Our Own
(6 comments) Ok, Paulson has had his chance and has blown it. He's trying to change the deal that he begged Congress for. Let's just scrap the whole thing and implement a plan of our own.

Thursday, November 20, 2008
What is a Socialist Anyway?
(3 comments) With all the ranting about Obama being a Socialist, do most people even know what that means? Apparently not.

Monday, November 10, 2008
Dear President-elect Obama,
(1 comments) Here are a couple of ideas for our new president to help get the economy going.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008
The CRA and ACORN are NOT at the Heart of This Financial Crisis
(2 comments) The extremist faction of the Republican Party is busy trying to tie Obama to this financial crisis. They are trying to do so by connecting him to ACORN and Fannie Mae and blaming the whole mess on them.

Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Why A"Bailout" is Our Best Alternative at This Time
(2 comments) While public enemy #1 is Wall Street right now we shouldn't let our anger stand in the way of acting in our own best interests.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Bailout Nation
(4 comments) George W. Bush has proven that running the nation's government like a business is not only a bad idea, it could bring the nation to it's knees. A CEO who doesn't seek consensus, shuts downs those who disagree(regulators),and only promotes loyalists who are rewarded with massive bonuses eventually ends up bankrupting his company. But like all of other bad CEO's of huge corporations, Bush will get his golden parachute.

Friday, September 12, 2008
Where Do People Get This Stuff?
A McCain spokesman said on the air the other day that they were not campaigning on issues but on personality. Shouldn't we all be appalled about such a statement from a presidential campaign? No wonder the American public is soooo misinformed. Here's an example.

Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Iranians Should Thank Russia
Should Iran thank Russia for taking the U.S. heat off of them? Is the U.S. war machine turning cartwheels over the prospect of a new cold war with old nemesis Russia?

Saturday, September 6, 2008
Is Planning a Protest a Terrorist Act?
(9 comments) Violence, intimidation, and bogus arrests are being used by St. Paul police to squelch protesters near the Republican National Convention. What's new is that they are doing it before the protests take place!

Saturday, August 16, 2008
The War On (T)Error
(3 comments) The right can't seem to give it up. There still trying to justify this so-called war and trying to scare us into thinking only they can keep us safe and that somehow they have the moral high ground. I think not.

Friday, August 8, 2008
CROWing About Injection Wells
There's ample evidence that approving a permit for injection wells at a particular site north of Houston is a bad idea. Yet, perhaps not surprisingly, they have received preliminary approval. The local debate goes on.

Saturday, August 2, 2008
The Other Tragedy of the Tennessee Church Shootings
(8 comments) While certainly tragic, the shooting at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Tennessee point to a man whose motive may be equally tragic and poignant for a nation that seems paralyzed by partisan politics.

Saturday, July 26, 2008
What Next, A Golden Calf?
(2 comments) Grace Community Church, with two large congregations in Houston, is planning on erecting an enormous cross/prayer center at each of their locations adjacent to I-45. Is this what Jesus Would Do? Or are they just building monuments to themselves?

Monday, June 23, 2008
An Historic Moment Gone Unnoticed
(8 comments) Shouldn't the presentation of articles of impeachment against a sitting president get some press? You'd think so. But not with this corporate controlled media. Kucinich described in detail for nearly five hours why Bush should be impeached. Despite his compelling arguments the event went largely unnoticed by the media and, therefore, America.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Rush Was Wrong
(3 comments) Did radio pundit/comedian Rush Limbaugh impact the Democratic process with his "Operation Chaos"? It did seem to delay the crowning of Obama as the party nominee. Was any harm done? Absolutely! He abused his freedom of speech in an attempt to derail the democratic process! How about some criminal charges!

Saturday, June 7, 2008
The Corporate States of America
Media reform is a hot topic these days as it should be. The corporatization of the media has damaged it's integrity and our democracy. But privatization of government services is just as dangerous.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Being At Peace In a Just or Unjust World
(10 comments) What is inner peace and how can we find it in an unjust world?

Friday, May 2, 2008
Double Standard for Presidential Candidates
All the buzz about Obama and his preacher leaves thinking individuals scratching their heads wondering what this is really all about. Could it be the media is biased? Heaven forbid!

Thursday, April 3, 2008
Electile Dysfunction
March Madness takes on a whole new meaning in Texas. Their hybrid popular vote/caucus vote system tested democratic party voters' patience on March 29th.

Friday, March 7, 2008
Texas, We Have a Problem!
(2 comments) Voting twice in the same election? Your first vote not really counting? Voting in the other party's primary? Voting at 1:00am? Sound crazy? Welcome to Texas politics.

Thursday, February 7, 2008
Ralph Nader Considering Raid on Dem Votes Again
(11 comments) Ralph Nader is considering yet another run at the White House. What's the point? Is the fifth time the charm? There are other ways to get your message out, Ralph. As in 2000, this is acting against your own best interests.

Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Mona Charen Should Know When Patriotism is Being Exploited
Syndicated columnist Mona Charen criticizes democrats for being unpatriotic because they focus on such things as racism, inequality, and international lawlessness and then criticizes Hillary Clinton for exploiting her patriotism. What??!!!

Thursday, January 10, 2008
Is Senator Cornyn Sincere About Freedom of Information?
Texas Senator John Cornyn has been very cozy with fellow Texan George W. Bush since he became a Senator. He has been very quick to agree with everything "W" says and does. That's why it's surprising to see him proclaim himself as a champion of the Freedom of Information Act and co-sponsor a new bill to improve upon it while he has never spoken out against George's fetish for secrecy.

Thursday, December 27, 2007
Fool Me Once...Don't Get Fooled Again
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison stands by her man, George W. Bush, with an news article in a Houston newspaper that is, well...standard political rhetoric like we've heard a thousand times before. John Basel let's her have it with both barrels pointing out the folly of continuing this inane but conventional wisdom of the neo-cons.