IBM Watson for President?
Reading the most recent comments by Billy and LogicFish, I got to thinking about the impact artificial intelligence might have on society, and wondering whether it could revolutionize the way we are governed. I...
Tagged: American economy
This, Too, Shall Pass
If you have stocks or invest in a pension fund, you’re probably worrying about the precipitous decline in the DOW. But don’t panic. We’ve been there before and we’ll be there again. What...
When Looters are in Charge
I wonder if all those Americans who put Trump and his minions in charge of the country feel some sense of guilt? Do they now regret their spitefulness? So they tipped over the apple...
A Cowardly Congress
Shame on you, Bob Corker (in picture, right)! Shame on you, Marco Rubio (in picture , left)! Shame on you for deciding to vote for the tax bill, after all. And shame on all...
Shredding the Safety Net
Bernie Sanders (and others) are sounding the alarm. They see the Republican tax “reform” as the first step in attacking the social safety net. Here’s how it works. First, Congress gives the rich and corporations...
The “Undeserving Poor”
Republican Senator Chuck Grassley recently defended his party’s unpopular tax reform bill by reviving the Victorian myth of “the undeserving poor.” He said the proposed tax changes would reward Americans who invest their...
The “Welfare Queen” Myth
You may have heard the story: In Chicago, the authorities found a woman who used 80 names, 30 addresses and 15 telephone numbers to collect food stamps, Social Security, veterans’ benefits for four nonexistent...
When People are Pawns
America is losing its most precious asset – its humanity. I used to think of Americans as generous, compassionate people. And I still see signs of these admirable traits. In the success of so...
The Millennial Riddle
If you’re one of the millions of Americans who became adults on or close to the year 2000, you’re being blamed for a multitude of problems, from the closing of various department stores to...
The America-First Fallacy
The right-wing propaganda machine has suddenly discovered the evils of globalization, and the Republicans are closing ranks around the isolationist promises that helped win Trump the presidency. The concept is nonsensical, of course. America’s wealth...