political discourse

Reefer Madness: Vote Yes on Question 3

by Bill Brenner September 20, 2012 Addiction

When Massachusetts residents go to the polls this November 6, they’ll have the opportunity to vote on the Massachusetts Medical Marijuana Initiative, also known as Question 3. If voters approve the initiative, medical marijuana will be decriminalized in my home state. I’m in favor of this for a variety of reasons. Mood music: [spotify:track:5p4T4XOoXQXPpGVPCEGUzE] For my fellow Massachusetts residents, here’s how the question will appear on the ballot: A YES VOTE would enact the proposed law eliminating…  [Read More]

Bill Maher: Bomb Thrower from the Left

by Bill Brenner August 16, 2012 Political discourse

We hear a lot about conservative pundits and how their rhetoric often crosses the lines of decency and civility. I made an example of Ann Coulter a couple days ago to illustrate the point. But there are also plenty of bomb throwers on the left who paint large segments of the population with the same big brush they use to attack individuals who may deserve it. Take Bill Maher, for example. Maher is a comedian…  [Read More]

America’s Struggle Through Puberty

by Bill Brenner August 7, 2012 Political discourse

In yesterday’s post, “It’s the End of American Dominance and I Feel Fine,” I suggested that it’s no big deal if America is no longer number one. But if it’s no longer the top dog, what is it? America is like a confused, emotionally exhausted child trying to find itself. Mood music: [spotify:track:0oO29Ht2H9AiENqRsq3zIT] My friend Dave Marcus offered this reaction to yesterday’s post: Not so sure I fully agree with the tone. I think its…  [Read More]

It’s the End of American Dominance, and I Feel Fine

by Bill Brenner August 6, 2012 Political discourse

America is a nation in economic decline. But that reality isn’t necessarily a bad thing. My friend Larry Walsh said on Facebook yesterday: What neither Obama or Romney is telling us is the world we’ve known for the past 70 years is over and not coming back. Both parties are trying to control the decline of the U.S. standard of living long enough to avoid having to take responsibility. Pathetic. Mood music: [spotify:track:4e9eGQYsOiBcftrWXwsVco] It’s an…  [Read More]

Chick-fil-A Controversy: Free Speech or Corporate Irresponsibility?

by Bill Brenner August 3, 2012 Political discourse

Let’s take a short quiz: The controversy over Chick-fil-A’s president opposing gay marriage is a matter of: First Amendment rights Corporate irresponsibility Both None of the above Mood music: [spotify:track:1fU41e5cCCeZddm0Lk8WnJ] If you ask me, the answer is either C and D, depending on your political and social sensibilities. Yesterday I wrote that I don’t really care about the controversy because I don’t eat at Chick-fil-A and the story looked more like one of political grandstanding…  [Read More]

I Don’t Give a Chick-fil-A

by Bill Brenner August 2, 2012 Political discourse

A lot of people have been pissed off at Chick-fil-A lately. Some are outraged that the restaurant chain’s president, Dan Cathy, came out against gay marriage. Others are outraged because a guy can’t make a social stand without people taking it out on his poultry. I wasn’t going to write about it because, well, I don’t really care. But the noise has gotten too loud to ignore. Mood music: [spotify:track:2KLjwY9kRqYVBAgeYs8FxR] We Americans love to find things…  [Read More]

When We Look in the Mirror, We See John Edwards

by Bill Brenner June 2, 2012 Crime and punishment

I admit feeling some glee over the fall of former U.S. senator and presidential hopeful John Edwards. I always thought the guy was full of himself, and cheating on his cancer-stricken wife was probably one of the shittiest examples of infidelity you could find. Yet I’m going to defend him — a little. Mood music: [spotify:track:5edNYGd8F7pEhfIQu6RenB] Edwards was back in the news this week when a jury found him not guilty on one count of accepting…  [Read More]

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