October 1, 2018
The question first presented by Simon and Garfunkel came to mind recently as I was reflecting on the issues facing our community, state and nation and the inability of our elected officials to work together toward a common goal. It seems politics today has gotten personal and perhaps spiteful. It has prevented, for the most […]
October 1, 2018
There is a movement afoot in the United States to ban the use of plastic drinking straws by consumers of liquid products. This is understandable considering the large volume of straws that end up in landfills, along our road sides and highways and even in our waters. In fact, it is estimated that more than […]
October 1, 2018
Equality of citizens under the law of the United States is a successive policy that has been growing and changing in slight ways since before there was a constitution. From the pilgrims to Me Too, equal rights have been continually fought over. As we advance as society so too must our policies and laws. Sitting […]
March 15, 2018
As a born and raised South Carolinian, I know first-hand that there are a variety of southern traditions that we pass down through generations. Food centered traditions are an important part of southern life, and it would not be so dear to our mother’s hearts if the food were not considered special, or unique to […]
March 15, 2018
This post first appeared in Ten Two News online on March 13, 2018. Reprinted here upon the author’s request and consent. I had planned my next column to continue my thoughts on police perspectives; however, something happened during the writing phase which changed my thoughts and plans. Chicago Police Cmdr. Paul Bauer was shot and […]
March 15, 2018
“At times the halls of power are so glutted with special pleaders that government itself seems to be gagging.” (Thomas, 1986, p. 26) This quote brings to mind imagery of lawmakers being so bombarded by special pleaders that they are in essence on a gag order under which they are essentially prohibited from sharing the details and information […]
February 12, 2018
As we recognize throughout our policy study, there are usually clear separations in political views with policy agendas. Views on immigration are no different. A June 2015 PEW Research Center trends study found that 71% of Republicans say immigrants in the U.S. are making crime worse, compared to just 34% of Democrats. The same view […]
February 12, 2018
“Policy is not made once and for all; it is made and remade endlessly. Policy-making is a process of successive approximation to some desired objectives in which what is desired itself continues to change under reconsideration” – Charles E. Lindblom In the formative days of our country, the notion of same-sex marriage would have been as […]
February 12, 2018
“I ask the chair, you know what this is? It’s a snowball, just from outside here. So it’s very, very cold out. Very unseasonal,” James Inhofe, Republican senator from Oklahoma, said shortly before he infamously threw a snowball in the Senate Chamber (as reported by Slate in February 2015). Inhofe’s performance that day was in the context […]