As a writer I love words and language. I like the force of words, how they echo in the mind long after they’ve registered. I never take for granted how powerful words can be, so when people pervert language to delude and mislead, I know stupid things can happen.
There is one long trail of stupid running behind Republican pollster Frank Luntz, aptly described as the godfather of the conservative spin machine.… [Read more]
It would take a controversial, outcome changing, and bungled call by a stand-in scab referee in the Seattle Seahawks-Green Bay Packers game to get even notorious public union buster Gov. Scott Walker (R-Wisc.) tweeting in anger for professional football team owners to end their lockout and bring back competent unionized officiating. After all, it was something as vital as Monday Night Football, and not annoyingly coddled nurses, schoolteachers, and librarians minding our kids.… [Read more]
Voters often make their choices based on where they believe they fit in. At times, determining where we fit in can be a challenge but, as a public service, I’m here to help. Fellow occupants of the working class (i.e., ‘the rest of us’) allow me to provide you with the information you need — but I’ll begin with this direct approach for those of you who are firmly planted on the right:
Unless you are part of the ’1%’, voting for the GOP doesn’t make you one of them.… [Read more]
Are you ready for the election cycle to end? When all is said and done, between each cycle we experience two years of debates, campaigns, SuperPACs, television commercials and online pop-up ads. That’s a bit much. The good thing is that all of this will come to a close soon, though not soon enough for those of us who’d like to see the decision made so that congress can get back to doing their job…whatever that may be.… [Read more]
Two weeks ago, I was fired from my job. It was undeserved, unexpected – and unexpectedly brutal. I wasn’t fired because I was lazy or because I stole or because I was watching porn on my computer or because I took a nap at my desk.
California is a “right to work” state, which ostensibly means that workers cannot be forced to join a union as a condition of employment, but what it means in reality is that basically an employee can be fired for any fanciful reason your employer can cook up, and there are very few exceptions.… [Read more]
