Afer the January 6, 2021, storming of the U.S. Capitol by insurrectionists intent upon preventing the counting of electoral votes and overthrowing the 2020 presidential election, the news media pointed out the Capitol Building hadn’t been attacked since the War of 1812. But this isn’t a [...]
Archive for the ‘America’ Category
Having lost at the ballot box, Republican legislators will now try to repeal democracy
“Days after Trump left office [has it only been days? our release from captivity already seems like ages ago — Ed.], state Republicans have introduced a series of measures that would give legislators the power to overturn the will of voters, both in the 2020 presidential contest and in f[...]
Dilemma: Confront Red China with “red lines”?
That’s the argument being made by an anonymous writer of an advocacy piece just published (read it here) by the Atlantic Council, a private think tank that promotes U.S.-European alliances (read about it here). Rather than try to describe the paper, and the real-world background behind it, I&#[...]
Whither the filibuster?
“No decision facing Democrats over the next two years will shape the long-term political competition between the parties more than whether they end the Senate filibuster to pass their agenda to reform elections and expand access to the vote,” the Atlantic says, because the Democratic Par[...]
The case for censuring Trump
With Trump likely to become the first president acquitted of impeachment charges twice, not because he’s innocent, but because Republicans are unwilling to hold him to a Constitutional standard of behavior, or any standard of behavior whatsoever, the idea of censuring him is gaining traction i[...]
This GOPer wants Democrats dead
Really, she should be kicked out of Congress. (Read story here.) Her constituents had the right to elect her, true enough, but that doesn’t mean Congress has to put up with her. It doesn’t. The Constitution empowers the House of Representives (and Senate, too) to expel its members. This [...]
A brief history of democracy
“Political liberalism was formulated in England by John Locke as the platform of the Glorious Revolution (1688), emphasizing among other things the primacy of individual freedom, government constrained by law and consent, and the rule of law in general. Economic Liberalism was added almost a c[...]
Restoring a sense of reality
“Institutional distrust has been rising for decades. … Trust in Congress is in the basement. … We’ve made enemies out of one another.” And much of this estrangement is grounded in false beliefs and conspiracy theories. Americans once were renowned for their scientific a[...]
$20 food bill and $1400 tip
Stressful times often bring out the generosity in people. Read story here. Return to The-Ave.US Home Page[...]
What will Biden’s China policy look like?
Tougher, like Trump’s, but different in key ways. Almost certainly, China’s growing aggressiveness is the most difficult foreign policy challenge that President Biden will have to contend with. Under Trump, the U.S. adopted a tougher stance toward China, but clumsily; this likely will co[...]