Bits & Pieces
Articles with unfiltered opinions
A Message to the New Generation
Your job has just begun. Every citizen’s number-one duty is to vote. But after you do that, it’s not over. Democracy is a daily struggle. No matter who’s in the top job, you have to keep the heat on. Make your voices heard. Protest injustice, take back the political process and see to it...
Privacy Revisited
For the average American citizen, the notion of privacy is extinct. Any information you put into cyberspace could come back to bite you in the ass. Retail stores sell your purchase history to third parties without your consent. Social media sites and search engines act as data mines, storing information that could later be...
A Warning From Thomas Jefferson
When it came to setting up our government, Thomas Jefferson had three concerns: tyranny of kings, tyranny of theocrats and tyranny of the wealthy. For the time being we seem to be safe from kings and theocrats. We are not, however, safe from the superrich. Here’s what Jefferson said: “I believe the banking institutions...
It’s Still the Economy, Stupid!
I’m worried the U.S. economy is about to slow down drastically. President Obama should be worried too. The signs are not good: The housing market is at its lowest since 2002, the national unemployment rate remains above 9%, and job creation is static. On top of that, the President seems ready to make massive...
Republican Bullshit
The Republicans criticized President Barack Obama for being indecisive, for delegating and for being weak on foreign policy. Obama proved them wrong by personally taking charge of the hunt for Osama bin Laden. He picked one of four plans to neutralize the al-Qaeda leader (arguably the most difficult one), then followed through from command...
Obama: No, You Can’t!
Mr. President: I’m sure you realize that for the 2012 Presidential campaign you cannot use the same threadbare rhetoric which helped get you elected in 2008. “Yes, We Can” and “The Audacity of Hope” have lost the power they once held. Young voters, black voters, progressive voters and swing voters are no longer seduced...
Let’s Fix Campaign Financing
Everyone agrees our political system is totally corrupt. The rich and powerful are buying politicians like cotton candy at a carnival. What’s happening in Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana, Florida, New Jersey and at least 11 other states is proof of that. The solution is obvious: campaign finance reform. Get the money out of politics. Make...
The Problem With Guns
People who know my history might be surprised that I am not antigun. However, I do have some concerns on the subject. The right wing says guns don’t kill people; people do. That’s bullshit. People with guns kill people. On the left the basic argument is that only the Army and law enforcement should...
