A robust free press is critical for a free democracy. “Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press and that cannot be limited without being lost,” said Thomas Jefferson.Jefferson also wrote…
“Where the press is free and every man able to read, all is safe.”
“No one more sincerely wishes the spread of information among mankind [...]
THOMAS PAINE (1737-1809), English writer and social activist, is best known for his popular essay, Common Sense, the pivotal historic call for American independence and democracy.Driven by his own longing for freedom and justice, Paine’s thinking was deeply influenced by English and French writers like Locke, Voltaire, Rousseau, and other philosophes in the movement today [...]
Continue reading about ‘Common Sense’ anniversary: The life and times of Thomas Paine
Just as individuals need a firm system of moral rules to govern our actions responsibly, such rules for governments are called “constitutions.” Constitutions keep our governments from being organized crime.As we prepare for the new administration of President-elect Barack Obama we live in a democratic republic, since the U.S. government rules our lives, we need [...]
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Can those calling for the end of war learn to practice peace in their own community? I hope so. As Gandhi advocated, we must be the change we wish to see in the world.
Continue reading about Facing the Conflict over Nonviolence Among DNC Protesters
Curiously, none of McClellan’s most telling comments during the Today interview have been included as sound bites on NBC or the other networks airing clips from the segment. The most I’ve heard on any newscast was his short comment at the start of the Today interview that he knew the White House did not want him to talk about his experiences.
Continue reading about Scant Improvement in Biased Media Coverage of McClellan Book



































Finding hope for democracy in what Obama says and how he says it
For the past eight years, we’ve had a president who stumbled over the English language so often that his handlers made sure he always read prepared statements instead of making blunders by speaking off the cuff.
In fact, if there is any area where I absolutely saw clear improvement in the performance of George W. Bush [...]
Continue reading about Finding hope for democracy in what Obama says and how he says it