Reclaiming Our Democratic Values Before launching into specific ideas for improving U.S. democracy, we need to figure out where we are going, which requires reexamining and reclaiming our democratic values. What does it mean to be an American? What are we trying to accomplish for the country and the majority of its residents? What are our rights and responsibilities? Here are the values that top my list for what it means to be an American.…
Happy Independence Day and 250th Anniversary of the United States of America! This feels like a good time to release the first installment of Cleanup on Aisle 47, a short blog series to share ideas on how to strengthen democracy in the United States. I have been noodling on these thoughts for over a year and started getting them into organized posts over the 2025 winter holidays. They are meant to counteract Project 2025, The…
I was shopping for new tennis shoes last week, when I was stopped cold at the price of flip-flops. Are you kidding me? It’s now around $40 to purchase a skimpy pair of flip-flops?!? Not so many years ago, these plain slabs of plastic with chintzy plastic foot holder poked through the sole in three places were no more than $2 to $3 for a pair. These were considered cheap, throw-away beach or shower…