Very recently a former high-ranking foreign service professional referred to Donald Trump as Vladimir Putin’s “useful idiot.” Every dictator needs useful idiots. Putin has Trump. Trump has the “Proud Boys” and other racists. Mussolini had “Black Shirts,” Hitler had “Brown Shirts,” Saddam Hussein and Slobodan Milosevic had their goons and thugs- all aspiring and practicing... Continue Reading →
A Realistic and Achievable Fix for the Electoral College
Almost every thoughtful citizen has realized by now that the current structure of the Electoral College is no longer really necessary or functional. Sadly, most of the proposals to correct the problem would require constitutional amendments or would be easy to defeat on constitutional grounds. They would either abolish the college or render it irrelevant—a... Continue Reading →
Thoughts on Progressive Democratic Messaging in the 2020 Election (…and into the Future)
This is the second of two posts which discuss the future of both the Republican and Democratic Parties. The first was titled “Withered Now: The GOP at a Dead-End.” This post deals with what I believe Democrats need to do as they go forward. In my view the Democrats are on the right side of... Continue Reading →
Withered Now: Dead-End for the GOP
This is first of two essays in which I discuss the way forward for both Republican and Democratic Parties. Part 1. Recently one of my readers suggested that I discuss what I think both major parties should do to address racism and other problems facing the US. I’m not sure that is quite the right... Continue Reading →
Some Essential Readings on the Palestinian/ Israeli Conflict: A resource and suggested reading list (Part 1)
The Dispossessed, Bisque ceramic In the last month, Gaza has been under almost daily air attacks launched from Israel. It used to be about rockets—now it started with balloons. Hardly an existential threat. The almost meaningless Netanyahu “Peace Deal” with the UAE hardly changes things, yet Netanyahu has claimed it as an excuse to finally,... Continue Reading →
The Mask Project: Art as Political Satire
The Monkey Mask (#1) Masks are on everyone's mind these days. I thought I would post a series of mask design ideas from my old ceramic days. I think these could be transferred to fabric patterns and printed. Since Trump has made monkey's out of the whole country, I thought I'd start with this. (and... Continue Reading →
History, Heritage, and the Holocaust
Currently there is a debate raging in the country about what to do with old monuments erected to celebrate the feats of the “heroes” of the Confederacy during the Civil War. I believe there is a civil solution. First, I find racism abhorrent, and I think the prominent display of these symbols of a regime... Continue Reading →
The Absurd Fallacy that Both Sides are Really the Same
A few days ago, I posted a flyer on Facebook. It was a little spoof on the old dance craze “The Limbo.” In it I suggested that Trump’s supporters were constantly “lowering the bar” and that, as a result, we were all “dancing to the same tune” (i.e. reacting to Trump’s nonsense) and would all... Continue Reading →
America’s Crossroad Ahead: Civilization or Carnage?
April 24, 2020 Times of crisis reveal what societies are really made of. We are at a crossroads. Our collective response to this pandemic will tell us whether America is a real civilization or merely a commercial enterprise. Do we truly value human lives or simply worship the ‘Golden Calf’ of the economy? Civilization is... Continue Reading →
Mind-Cast 