Shouldn’t leaders … lead? — No one should doubt that true leadership in our highly-partisan world is a challenge exponentially greater now than perhaps at any other time in our history. But leadership is not about reinforcing fears and divisiveness. At least it shouldn’t be. Genuine leadership as long understood at its most basic level…

Just how much danger is our democracy facing? — The promotion of authoritarian-inspired conflict, supported by too many fact-averse right-wingers, offers few advantages to citizens on either side of our expanding/dangerous cultural and political divide. An ongoing failure to address legitimate civic needs sought by both liberals and conservatives is beneficial … how, exactly? …

The right-wing guide to living in Trump World — Devote your energies and efforts to condemning anyone different from you; do so in any way you can get away with. Pay absolutely no attention to perspectives other than your own. By all means, be judgmental, narrow-minded, mean-spirited, and fearful. Make things up if you have to in order to…

Is an ending in sight? — Has Donald Trump provided his followers — anyone, actually — with specific reasons why all Americans would benefit from his ascension back to the White House? This ridiculous con of the Big Lie, fueled by his other-worldly level of corrupt motivations, doesn’t seem to offer much in the way of…

A useful tool for the unscrupulous — Resentment at being “left behind/left out” has been a sustaining force for many conservatives. That’s not to say their concerns or grievances are meritless, or that the resulting anger and despair are wholly unjustified. …

Preserving democracy is not automatic — While it may have proven true, on occasion, that one must tear down before one can rebuild, American democracy cannot be shoehorned into that adage. Not if it’s to be preserved…. If you aren’t worried about the right-wing extremists subtly taking control of many critical components of democratic [small d]…

Too many aren’t paying enough attention to the GOP — What’s the point? Addressing the many lies and misinformation bombarding Trump supporters and die-hard right-wingers is a challenging, frustrating effort. It’s like playing tennis against multiple opponents at the same time. Continuing denial of the threats posed by climate change; relentless chatter about a stolen election; banning classroom discussions of…

Neglecting policy is not the ideal strategy — Waging this hyper-partisan war of ours may be entertaining for some, gratifying for others, and frightening for the rest. It’s all but impossible to imagine that our increasingly complex, interconnected 21st Century society is best served by perpetual conflict. …

Partisan hostilities suggest not — The right-wing message machine’s greatest strength may be its ability to keep supporters in a perpetual state of righteous indignation, while simultaneously terrified of a further erosion of the America they claim is theirs. Stirred up as millions of conservative Christian Americans are about one liberal excess or another, or…