Debate and Hate
Coincidences over the past few weeks have made me think a lot about civility. A colleague and I were asked to lead an after-play discussion on that topic at the Phoenix Theater; we disagree...
View ArticleIf You Can’t Say Something Nice…….
I’ve got to say, events of these last few months have really put a strain on my mother’s admonition that “If you can’t say something nice, then don’t say anything at all.” Okay–let me try. The Indiana...
View ArticleThe Kids Are All Right
Republican Presidential hopefuls keep playing to their (aging and shrinking) base. Mike Huckabee recently said something to the effect that President Obama isn’t “really” American, because he wasn’t a...
View ArticleThe Urban Archipelago
When I was doing research for my book “Distrust, American Style,” I came across an article written just after George W. Bush defeated John Kerry. The author rejected the “red state/blue state” divide,...
View ArticleMike Pence–running on retrograde
The IBJ reports that Mike Pence is coming back to Indiana “to fight Washington, D.C.” The paper noted that Pence was light on specifics, but did promise to fight health care reform and federal...
View ArticleThe Heckler’s Veto?
The Indiana Statehouse has been the focus of a lot of demonstrations over the years, and probably just as many efforts to abort–or at least minimize– those demonstrations. Remember when the KKK came to...
View ArticleWhose “Conscience”?
Several Facebook friends recently posted the same cartoon: a pregnant woman lying on an examination table getting a sonogram is looking at the machine’s screen as her doctor moves the sensor over her...
View ArticleWhat Planet Did You Say This Is?
During a televised interview, Missouri Representative Todd Akin, who is running for the U.S. Senate against incumbent Claire McCaskill, was asked about his position on abortion. Rep. Akin favors a...
View ArticleMourdock’s Akin Moment
Richard Mourdock has a problem. Unlike his ideological clone, Mike Pence, he has a tendency to tell the truth. About 45 minutes into the Senate debate, he was asked about his pro-life beliefs, and...
View ArticleThe Patriarchy
Shades of Richard Mourdock…..This is simply horrendous. Stories like this remind us that too many behaviors cloaked in language of self-righteous religious “piety” are simply an exercise in power,...
View ArticleThey Just Can’t Help Themselves
Senate Bill 371, currently passing easily through the various stages of the legislative process, requires facilities that dispense abortion-inducing drugs to meet all the structural and operational...
View ArticlePLEASE Make Them Stop!
It’s no longer possible for us mere mortals to keep up with the craziness in the Indiana General Assembly. Yesterday, Doug Masson posted about House Bill 1123. It prohibits a health insurance policy...
View ArticleSpeaking of Abortion..
Yesterday’s blog ended with a question about the motives of the anti-abortion culture warriors. Although there are obviously many sincere people who have moral or religious objections to reproductive...
View ArticleThe Economics of “Social Policy”
There are economic consequences to most policy choices. That’s just as true of so-called “social” policies as it is of decisions to build roads or wage wars. When religion is driving policy, economic...
View ArticleRape, Incest and Ben Carson
Shades of Richard Mourdock and “what God intended”! Among the many other retrograde positions he has taken, Ben Carson wants the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade and criminalize all abortions. As...
View ArticleUnAmerican Activities–War on Women Edition
Several readers have asked me why I haven’t written anything about Indiana’s horrific House Bill 1337. To be honest, words fail. Once again, national news outlets are using Indiana as an example of...
View ArticleKilling for Life…
Well, evidently, failed Presidential contender Ted Cruz had a “pro life” adviser who wants to execute abortion providers. (“Pro life” folks like these always remind me of that Cold War-era Second City...
View ArticleRecognizing Reality
The Supreme Court has finally stepped in to say “enough” to the oh-so-clever politicians trying to mask their disdain for women’s autonomy by pretending a concern for women’s health. The Texas law that...
View ArticleThe Bully Pulpit
I recently attended the bat mitzvah of a cousin’s daughter at the synagogue in which I grew up. My cousin’s daughter did a great job with her Torah portion, but I was particularly struck by the...
View ArticleTexas Tells Heidi To Go Yodel
I do love Texas. Whenever I need examples of really stupid government behavior for classroom use, I can count on the Lone Star State to supply them. A recent example, courtesy of the AP: Texas has been...
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