Morris: College Debt, Exacerbated
by Leo Morris Having an educated populace has always been seen as a necessary component of our constitutional republic. Citizens need more than the basic knowledge to earn a living; they also need to understand their civic rights and obligations as members of a self-governing community. A free, public education has therefore been one of Read the full article…
Franke: The Student Loan Bailout
by Mark Franke Politicians used to “encourage” favorable votes from citizens by tapping kegs of whiskey at the polling sites. The stakes are higher these days as our representatives in Washington D.C. think much bigger both in dollars and constituents. The other difference is that those kegs of whiskey came out of the candidates’ pockets Read the full article…
The Fall Journal Is on Its Way
If you haven’t already donated this year, please click HERE to update your membership and receive advance copies of the quarterly journal. Your support makes possible the journal, policy seminars and our weekly backgrounders and columns. The fall journal (previewed below) will begin regular distribution Sept. 22. ‘HOW DID undermining local government’s tax base come to be viewed as an Read the full article…
Franke: The Warts of Democracy
The Warts of Democracy by Mark Franke Is the United States a democracy? According to a strict definition of the term, the answer is “no.” Citizens don’t vote on proposed legislation, with the exception of infrequent ballot initiatives and perhaps in some small New England towns. We vote for people to represent us when they Read the full article…
Zoom Meeting
WE ARE PUTTING TOGETHER a group to think about campaigning, both political and civic. We call it “Foothold,” and your participation in an upcoming Zoom meeting is important. As you know, the electorate is roiling, especially at the local level and within the Republican Party. There is doubt that the old campaign rules apply. The consultants we know Read the full article…
The Outstater
Argument by Emotion REGULAR READERS KNOW that last year this page banned the use of “hypocrisy,” a perfectly innocent word of the most respectable Greek origin. Why? This generation of politicians has rendered it meaningless. Our work, however, is not done. We on the copy desk of life are trying mightily to eliminate what grammarians call “modal verbs.” Read the full article…
