A simple survey on the latest announced cabinet picks 1.  Is it a dream team or a shit show? 2.  Which pick shocked you more than all the others? 3.  Which of the nominees do you think will fail to get 50 votes in the Senate? 4.  Is this "shock and awe" so that when some of these picks are withdrawn, the replacement nominee will look so much better that they will sail through confirmation?

I came across this chart on Facebook the other day and wondered what you folks would think about the subject, both the assigned values to certain degrees and the value of a college education in current society. I, personally, am against the process of forgiving student loans.  If a person signs a loan agreement and then fails to live up to that agreement, then in my view their word is of no...

I came across this article and it seemed a clear explanation of some of the issues looming before our country as the presidential election draws near. Regardless of the winner things that "we cannot do" ae likely to remain the same. People will always think their answer to a problem is absolutely correct and their opponent's answer to the same problem is absolutely wrong. But alas...

Just checking in folks. I hope everyone is doing well, enjoying the Olympics and enduring the hot weather - both actual and the political fires burning everywhere it seems. As you know I am taking a break, but I had to share something. I have dropped in on a few other political chat sites and the results were amazing. The Politics Forums for instance - some of you may have heard of it and John...

I miss the happiness, the innocence and the adventure of my childhood.  I miss the America I grew up in!  There is nothing political about this longing, but rather a statement on the cost of the progress, the changes to our psyche and our hearts and what we are missing out on in the 21st century. I came from modest beginnings, but in some ways felt "richer" in my childhood than I do now in a...

The articles, discussions and blogs tend to be serious and controversial (not all thank goodness) and people always seem angry with each other.  Comments and discussions lack civility and that seems to be the norm. So for a change - talk about something that makes you happy, share pictures of your piece of the earth. Each of these pictures was taken from my patio looking into the back yard...

The Fourth Amendment The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. No Knock Warrants, The Patriot Act, Stop...

Third Amendment No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law. The third amendment to the constitution is not a matter much discussed in the never-ending debates about all things political debates of our time, but it is important nonetheless. Cornell Law offers insight Overview of...

 “A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”  The text of the 2nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was crafted based on similar wording in the constitutions of the states at the time of its creation.  This is one of the most debated and disputed civil rights in the modern day United States...

The key difference between discussion and pontification is that the former is a dynamic process that involves both the audience and the messenger, while the latter is a static delivery mechanism for information that the messenger has deemed valuable Communication centers the audience, while pontification expresses opinions or judgments Effective communication depends as much on the receiver’s...