An editorial recently appeared in the L.A. Times entitled “What can you do about the Trumpites next door?” The author, Virginia Heffernan, begins by lamenting the fact that her Trump-supporting neighbors at her “pandemic getaway” home “just plowed our driveway without being asked and did a great job.” “Oh, heck no.” She begins. “How am … Continue reading The Parable of the Good Trump Supporter and the Ungrateful Neighbor
Populism is all the rage these days, though like many other -ism’s, it can be notoriously hard to define. It may be instructive to compare populism to Ben and Jerry’s ice cream: pleasant to the taste, unhealthy in excess, and vaguely associated with communism. Also, it comes in many flavors. Populism can arise on both … Continue reading The Perils and Promise of Populism
There’s a certain kind of adversity that bonds people together, a brand of struggle that brings out the “better angels” of our nature. We experienced just such adversity after the September 11th attacks: a unifying moment when strangers comforted each other and American flags seemed to wave from every home. It’s hard to imagine that … Continue reading 2020: The Year that Broke Us
This is the question Americans should be asking themselves right now; that is, aside from the fifty million who have already voted. Which of these two men – both in their seventies, both unafraid to go on the attack, and yet with two very different visions for America – do you want flying the plane … Continue reading Trump vs. Biden: Who Do You Want Flying the Plane?
Here's my analysis of the 11th Republican Primary Debate in Detroit, as well as some general observations and questions for each candidate. First, Trump. It should be clear by now that Donald Trump lacks the seriousness, maturity, temperament, policy knowledge, etc. to be President of the United States. Last night, he brought the Republican primary race to … Continue reading Questions for Each Candidate after the 11th GOP Debate
In the wake of their resounding victories in New Hampshire, the excitement emanating from the Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump campaigns is palpable. Both (old, white) men are populist leaders. Both have built their campaigns on the promise of what they can do for the people, though in somewhat different ways – Sanders by getting … Continue reading Are We Serious?
I wrote my first analysis of the 2016 Republican Primary race back in early August, when most Americans were still getting to know the candidates in the respective fields. In the roughly ten weeks since then, we’ve seen three debates: two Republican and one Democrat. Two Republican candidates have dropped out of the race, including … Continue reading Time For Republicans to Rally Around an Experienced Candidate
I prefer to avoid writing about politics, despite spending far more time thinking about it than I would like to admit. They are usually not happy thoughts. You see, when it comes to our society and our culture, there is a light in the darkness. In people there is hope, because in people there is Christ. … Continue reading The State of the Republican Primary Race
The Front Porch Philosopher 